Judge, County Court at Law No. 12 - Texas Ballot Compare

Deborah Dietzmann

Republican

On ballot as: Deborah Dietzmann
Current role: Public defender (per candidate)
Background: Bachelor's degree in psychology, Texas Tech University
J.D. (1998); State Bar lists both Texas A&M School of Law and Texas Wesleyan University
Licensed Texas attorney (since 1999)
Born at Lackland Air Force Base (per candidate)
San Antonio resident for more than 30 years (per candidate)
Experience: Private practice (per candidate)
Pro bono service, a significant portion of her work (per candidate)
Assistant District Attorney, Bexar County District Attorney's Office (start of career); felony and misdemeanor prosecution
Top priorities: Says the role of the judiciary is "to apply the law fairly and without bias, not to legislate from the bench"
"I am prepared to run an efficient, organized, and professional courtroom that treats all parties with respect"
"Public safety will always be my highest priority"
Says she is "determined to address the revolving-door cycle of repeat offenders who are arrested and quickly released"
Tidbits: Judicial philosophy: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire, says the proper role of the judiciary is "to apply the law fairly and without bias, not to legislate from the bench"
Court administration: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "I am prepared to run an efficient, organized, and professional courtroom that treats all parties with respect"
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: Not found

Lauren Zamora

Democratic

On ballot as: Lauren Zamora
Current role: Assistant district attorney, Conviction Integrity Unit, Bexar County District Attorney's Office
Background: B.A. in political science and business administration, Trinity University
J.D., St. Mary's University School of Law
Graduate of Antonian College Preparatory
Licensed Texas attorney (since 2005)
NAMI Texas board member (2021–2023) (per candidate)
Says San Antonio has always been home
Experience: Co-founder, Bexar County Community Court (2023) (per candidate)
Bexar County District Attorney's Office (since 2019)
Own law practice (13 years): juvenile and adult criminal defense, family law and child welfare law (per candidate)
Assistant Public Defender, Laredo (start of career)
Democratic primary (March 2026): won over incumbent Judge Yolanda Huff
Top priorities: "I subscribe to restorative and transformative justice"
Says she will "emphasize the use of personal recognizance bonds and other non-monetary conditions for defendants who are not considered a threat to the community"
"I am committed to both the success of specialty courts and an efficiently run court, ensuring cases do not languish for years."
"I believe judges should be more than legal experts"
Tidbits: Judicial philosophy: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "I subscribe to restorative and transformative justice, which recognize that people involved in the justice system may have both caused and suffered from harm."
Court administration: In a San Antonio Report questionnaire: "I am committed to both the success of specialty courts and an efficiently run court, ensuring cases do not languish for years."
Endorsements: Bexar County Young Dems (primary)
Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio (primary)
Campaign website: zamoraforjudge.com