Bio
Judge Sylvia Holmes assumed office as Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, in 2019, with a commitment to upholding fairness and compassion in the legal system. Re-elected unopposed in 2022, she continued her mission to serve the community. Holmes holds a BBA in Marketing from The University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business and earned her law degree from The University of Alabama School of Law in 2006.

Officers, Directors & Nominating Committee - Justice Courts Section of the State Bar of Texas

Sylvia Holmes earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business and a law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2006.

Officers, Directors & Nominating Committee

Sylvia earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business and a law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2006.

Prior to her judicial role, she worked in private practice and served as Associate Director of the Legal Services for Students Office at UT Austin for eight years.

Sylvia Holmes previously worked in private practice and served as associate director of the Legal Services for Students Office at UT Austin.

Sylvia previously worked in private practice and served as associate director of the Legal Services for Students Office at UT Austin.

Sylvia has served as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3 since 2019. She was reelected unopposed in 2022.

Sylvia Holmes has served as Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3 since 2019. She was reelected unopposed in 2022.

2026 Texas General Election

The University of Texas at Austin, Attorney, Legal Services for Students (2009 - 2014)

Law Office of Sylvia Holmes, Attorney (2007 - 2019)

IE Discovery, Inc., Legal Assistant (2006 - 2007)

Sylvia Holmes | BallotReady

The University of Texas at Austin, Associate Director, Legal Services for Students (2014 - 2009)

Texas State University, Attorney for Students (2012 - 2014)

The University of Texas at Austin, Attorney, Legal Services for Students (2009 - 2014)

Has served as Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, since 2019, overseeing minor criminal offenses and low-value civil suits.

Worked in private practice as an attorney from 2007 to 2019, providing legal advice and representation to clients.

Served as associate director of the University of Texas at Austin's Legal Services for Students Office for eight years.

Served as an attorney for students at Texas State University from 2012 to 2014, providing legal advice and representation to students.

- Has served as Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, since 2019, overseeing minor criminal offenses and low-value civil suits.
- Worked in private practice as an attorney from 2007 to 2019, providing legal advice and representation to clients.
- Served as associate director of the University of Texas at Austin's Legal Services for Students Office for eight years.
- Served as an attorney for students at Texas State University from 2012 to 2014, providing legal advice and representation to students.

Legal Experience

Summary of Findings
Judge Holmes places a strong emphasis on individualized justice. Along with her staff, she strives to ensure that each court user or visitor is heard fairly and promptly on their issues, whether they relate to civil or criminal matters before her court. To that end, she has fostered strong relationships with other courts in Travis County, and other branches of government, including the local school district.

Centers of Excellence Nomination Report on Travis County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3, Austin, Texas (Presiding Judge: Honorable Sylvia Holmes) — April 26th, 2024

WHY I'M RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION: I want everyone in my community to understand how their local court system works to support their rights. Going to court can be frightening and I will keep providing my community with clear instructions and accessible hours. As judge, I hear the stories of people in my courtroom, I help them understand what is happening, and I show respect to everyone who enters my courtroom.

Re-Elect Judge Sylvia Holmes

Judge Holmes has spent her career educating clients about their legal rights and how to stand up for themselves in legal situations. Judge Holmes makes routine court procedures simple, easy, and quick with online forms, translations in multiple languages, and easy payment options.

How does Judges Holmes help the Precinct 3 community?
Recognized as a Center of Judicial Excellence by the Texas Supreme Court and Office of Court Administration
Provides online options for traffic ticket dismissals
Created award-winning Jury Selection Video Series to assist pro se parties
Supports her staff with Just Cause labor protections for court employees

Prioritizes individualized justice and prompt, fair hearings for court users in civil and criminal matters.

Plans to continue providing clear court instructions and accessible hours.

Provides online forms, multilingual translations, and payment options to simplify routine court procedures.

Provides online options for traffic-ticket dismissals.

Created a jury-selection video series to assist people representing themselves in court.

Supports just-cause labor protections for court employees.

- Prioritizes individualized justice and prompt, fair hearings for court users in civil and criminal matters.
- Plans to continue providing clear court instructions and accessible hours.
- Provides online forms, multilingual translations, and payment options to simplify routine court procedures.
- Provides online options for traffic-ticket dismissals.
- Created a jury-selection video series to assist people representing themselves in court.
- Supports just-cause labor protections for court employees.

Judicial Administration

Going to court can be frightening and I will keep providing my community with clear instructions and accessible hours. As judge, I hear the stories of people in my courtroom, I help them understand what is happening, and I show respect to everyone who enters my courtroom.

HAPPY HOMES: Texas is a great place to own a home and it can be a wonderful place to rent, so long as the tenant understands how the laws affect the landlord's duties. Judge Holmes has unrivaled experience successfully representing tenants and landlords in both residential and commercial leasing disputes. Judge Holmes will provide both parties the chance to explain their side of the story and present evidence.

Said she listens to courtroom participants, explains proceedings, and treats everyone entering her courtroom with respect.

Plans to give both parties an opportunity to explain their side and present evidence.

- Said she listens to courtroom participants, explains proceedings, and treats everyone entering her courtroom with respect.
- Plans to give both parties an opportunity to explain their side and present evidence.

Judicial Philosophy

As of July 22, 2026, Sylvia Holmes’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Baseline Performance Measures:
Travis County Justice of the Peace 3, scored strongly across all four performance areas, but stood exemplary in Court Operations and Access and Fairness. The court provides ample resources and information to court users and court visitors. Forms, appropriate attire standards, and information on what to expect when visiting the court are provided online in both English and translated Spanish. The court also maintains ongoing relationships with Lively Middle School and McNeil High School, for which Judge Holmes supports regular court in the classroom field trips.

Committed to community service, she’s a lifetime member of the Travis County Women Lawyers Association and volunteers in various initiatives, including supporting the Community First Village and fostering civic engagement among students with Early Act First Knight. Passionate about mentoring aspiring legal minds, Judge Holmes strives to make a meaningful impact and foster a stronger, more inclusive legal community.

Supports regular court-in-the-classroom field trips for Lively Middle School and McNeil High School.

Volunteers in initiatives supporting Community First Village.

Volunteers with Early Act First Knight to foster civic engagement among students.

- Supports regular court-in-the-classroom field trips for Lively Middle School and McNeil High School.
- Volunteers in initiatives supporting Community First Village.
- Volunteers with Early Act First Knight to foster civic engagement among students.

Community Involvement

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Sylvia Holmes

- Plans to continue providing clear court instructions and accessible hours.
- Provides online forms, multilingual translations, and payment options to simplify routine court procedures.
- Provides online options for traffic-ticket dismissals.
- Created a jury-selection video series to assist people representing themselves in court.
- Supports just-cause labor protections for court employees.

Sylvia Holmes has a bachelor 27s degree in marketing from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from the University of Alabama. She lives in Austin.

Sylvia is an attorney and a justice of the peace. She has served as a justice of the peace for Travis County since 2019. Before taking the bench, she worked as an attorney for the Law Office of Sylvia Holmes from 2007 to 2019. She also served as an associate director of legal services for students at the University of Texas at Austin from 2014 to 2009. Earlier in her career, she worked as an attorney for students at Texas State University from 2012 to 2014 and as an attorney for the University of Texas at Austin from 2009 to 2014. She also worked as a legal assistant at IE Discovery, Inc. from 2006 to 2007.

Sylvia is currently a Travis County Justice of the Peace - Precinct 3. She was first elected to this position in 2018. She previously served as a member of the New Mexico House of Representatives from 2011 to 2012.

Sylvia Holmes - Ballotpedia

Has over 20 years of experience in small claims and misdemeanor criminal law.

Serves as the 3rd Vice President of the Justices of the Peace & Constables Association of Texas.

Serves as a board member of the State Bar of Texas Justice Courts Section.

Buket Urgen

Mauricio Mendez

- Justices of the Peace oversee Justice Courts, trial courts for civil cases up to $20,000, and misdemeanor cases punishable only by fine. They also perform marriages, issue warrants, conduct preliminary hearings, and serve as notaries.
- Texas has 835 Justice Courts, each presided over by a single judge. Every county has between one and eight precincts based on the county's population, each with its own Justice Court.
- Justices of the Peace are elected through partisan, precinct-wide election to four-year terms. 
- Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, have been a Texas resident for at least 12 consecutive months, a district resident for at least six consecutive months, and registered to vote in that precinct.
- The annual salary for Justices of the Peace ranges from $19,207 to $151,805 and is by the county's Commissioners Court.


Presides over civil cases and fine-only misdemeanor cases.