Judge Jeffers was born in Dallas, Texas, where her love of law began. Her parents came from farming families and didn't have the chance to graduate high school.

Precinct 5 | Travis County, Texas

She completed her undergraduate degrees in 1992 with a B.J. in Journalism and a B.A. in History from the University of Texas at Austin. After graduation, she went to work for the Office of Attorney General in its Crime Victims’ Compensation Program, which was still in its infancy.

After graduation, she went to work for the Office of Attorney General in its Crime Victims’ Compensation Program, which was still in its infancy. Her experience there solidified that she would attend law school. After returning to the University of Texas for her law degree, she became a licensed Texas attorney in 2000.

Judge Tanisa Jeffers was sworn in as Justice of the Peace, Pct. 5 on December 18, 2024. An Austin resident for over 30 years, she is also the proud mother of three young adults — two daughters and one son.

Tanisa Jeffers was born in Dallas, Texas. She earned a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Texas at Austin, followed by a law degree from the university. She has been an Austin resident for over 30 years and is the mother of three.

JP Precinct 5 - Travis County, Texas

Tanisa was born in Dallas, Texas. She earned a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Texas at Austin, followed by a law degree from the university. She has been an Austin resident for over 30 years and is the mother of three.

Following law school, Judge Jeffers specialized in family and criminal law in Travis County and the surrounding counties. She focused on cases involving clients with mental health diagnoses (MHMR), demonstrating a deep understanding of their unique legal needs.

Her work supporting clients with mental health issues led to her being appointed as the Travis County Drug Court Defense Attorney from 2014-2018. Because of her mental health background, Judge Jeffers was appointed by the Austin City Council as a Substitute Associate Judge in March 2018 for the Austin Municipal Court.

Her work supporting clients with mental health issues led to her being appointed as the Travis County Drug Court Defense Attorney from 2014-2018. Because of her mental health background, Judge Jeffers was appointed by the Austin City Council as a Substitute Associate Judge in March 2018 for the Austin Municipal Court. In that role, she later served as the full-time Night Court Magistration Judge.

Judge Jeffers is dedicated to serving her community, having previously served on the boards of both the Downtown Austin Community Court and the State Bar of Texas Committee on Legal Services to the Indigent. During the pandemic, a time when violent crime greatly increased, Judge Jeffers was proud to return to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and serve as Hearing Officer for the Texas Crime Victims Compensation Program.

Tanisa most recently served as a hearing officer for the Texas Crime Victims Compensation Program at the Office of the Attorney General. She previously specialized in family and criminal law, served as the Travis County Drug Court Defense Attorney, and served as a substitute associate judge and later as the full-time Night Court Magistration Judge for the Austin Municipal Court.

Judge Tanisa Jeffers was elected as Justice of the Peace, Pct. 5, in Travis County, Texas, in November 2024. In her courtroom as JP for Precinct 5, she strives to improve the criminal justice system by providing opportunities for individuals to share their stories, resolve legal issues, and access valuable community resources.

The race for JP5 was Jeffers’ third in the last four years, after she lost to Dimple Malhotra for County Court at Law No. 4 in 2020 and Mary Ann Espiritu for CC5 in 2022. She’s been an attorney in Austin for two decades and already served as a magistrate judge for the county’s JP courts.

Tanisa Jeffers Wins Big in JP5 Contest

Tanisa was elected as Justice of the Peace for Travis County Precinct 5 in November 2024. She previously ran for County Court at Law No. 4 in 2020 and County Court at Law No. 5 in 2022, but did not win.

Tanisa Jeffers Wins Big in JP5 Contest - The Austin Chronicle

Tanisa Jeffers was elected as Justice of the Peace for Travis County Precinct 5 in November 2024. She previously ran for County Court at Law No. 4 in 2020 and County Court at Law No. 5 in 2022, but did not win.

2026 Texas General Election

Became a licensed attorney in Texas in 2000.

Specialized in family and criminal law in Travis County and surrounding counties after law school.

Served as Travis County Drug Court Defense Attorney from 2014 to 2018.

Served as a substitute associate judge for the Austin Municipal Court beginning in March 2018, conducting hearings and issuing rulings.

Later served full-time as the Austin Municipal Court's Night Court Magistration Judge, presiding over cases within the court's jurisdiction.

Returned to the Texas Office of the Attorney General during the pandemic as a hearing officer for the Crime Victims Compensation Program.

Has served as Travis County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 5 since being sworn in on December 18, 2024.

- Became a licensed attorney in Texas in 2000.
- Specialized in family and criminal law in Travis County and surrounding counties after law school.
- Served as Travis County Drug Court Defense Attorney from 2014 to 2018.
- Served as a substitute associate judge for the Austin Municipal Court beginning in March 2018, conducting hearings and issuing rulings.
- Later served full-time as the Austin Municipal Court's Night Court Magistration Judge, presiding over cases within the court's jurisdiction.
- Returned to the Texas Office of the Attorney General during the pandemic as a hearing officer for the Crime Victims Compensation Program.
- Has served as Travis County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 5 since being sworn in on December 18, 2024.

Legal Experience

“We intend to create a community resource center around the legal kiosk,” said Tanisa Jeffers, Travis County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5.

Information is available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese at the kiosk on the first floor of the courthouse at 1000 Guadalupe Street in Downtown Austin. It is designed to remove barriers that keep Texans from getting the legal help they need to get the best possible outcomes.

Free legal help is now available at a self-service kiosk at the Travis County Courthouse

Plans to create a community resource center around the courthouse legal-help kiosk.

Strives to improve the criminal justice system by helping people share their stories, resolve legal issues, and access community resources.

- Plans to create a community resource center around the courthouse legal-help kiosk.
- Strives to improve the criminal justice system by helping people share their stories, resolve legal issues, and access community resources.

Judicial Administration

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

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

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Tanisa Jeffers

- Strives to improve the criminal justice system by helping people share their stories, resolve legal issues, and access community resources.

Tanisa is from Dallas, Texas. She attended Skyline High School. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism and a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Texas at Austin. She has a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. She lives in Austin with her three children.

Tanisa is a judge at Austin’s Municipal Court. She works at Austin’s Municipal Court. She previously worked as a defense attorney for 20 years, representing people accused of crimes, and began her legal career at the Texas Attorney General’s Office in its Crime Victims’ Compensation Program.

Free legal help is now available at a self-service kiosk at the Travis ...

Has specialized in representing the mentally ill for more than 20 years.

As a member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Jeffers represented many indigent clients and advocates for ending the criminalization of poverty in the legal system.

Sees every case in the courtroom as an opportunity to hear people's stories, help resolve legal issues, protect victims, and connect individuals to community resources.

Supports modernizing JP Courts by implementing technology to increase participation and create a more electronic, paperless court system.

Supports providing virtual court attendance to reduce default judgments in eviction and civil cases.

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.