Harris County
Juvenile District Judge, 315th Judicial District
Leah Shapiro
Democratic Incumbent- On ballot as
- LEAH SHAPIRO
- Current role
- Judge, 315th District Court, Harris County
- Background
- Bachelor of arts in philosophy, New York University
- Law degree, St. Mary's University School of Law
- Fifth-generation member of a Galveston family (per campaign)
- Grew up in Round Rock (per campaign)
- Experience
- Elected 2018; sworn in January 2019
- Second term began 2023
- Presides over CARE Court (specialty court serving victims of juvenile sex trafficking)
- Member, Harris County Juvenile Board
- Harris County Public Defender's Office, Juvenile Division (from 2011)
- Began her career as an assistant district attorney, Harris County District Attorney's Office
- Top priorities
- "I strive each day to make decisions to provide the best outcomes for the family, youth, and community."
- "All children and families, regardless of financial circumstances, deserve quality representation."
- Tidbits
- Judicial philosophy: "I strive each day to make decisions to provide the best outcomes for the family, youth, and community."
- Court administration: Campaign site: "Eliminated backlog inherited in 2019 and ended 2025 with the lowest active caseload in the Juvenile Justice Center."
- Endorsements
- Houston Police Officers' Union (shared endorsement)
- Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
- Houston Association of Women Attorneys
- Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus PAC (primary)
- Bay Area New Democrats (primary)
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- Houston Chronicle (primary)
- Lesley Briones, County Commissioner, Precinct 4 (primary)
- Adrian Garcia, County Commissioner, Precinct 2 (primary)
- Gene Wu, Texas State Representative (primary)
- Emmanuel Guerrero, Council Member, District C, Pasadena (primary)
- Area 5 Democrats (primary)
- Asian Texans for Justice Action Fund (primary)
- Bay Area Democratic Movement (primary)
- The Greater Heights Democratic Club (primary)
- Harris County Tejano Democrats (primary)
- Houston Black American Democrats (primary)
- Houston Progressive Caucus (primary)
- Mexican-American Bar Association of Houston (primary)
- Campaign website
- judgeleahshapiro.com
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