Hon. Hector Garza

Judge Hector Garza is the Presiding Judge of the 195th Judicial District. It is a criminal court that hears all types of felony cases ranging from Felony DWI to Capital Murder. In 2023, Judge Garza was selected by his colleagues to be the Presiding Judge of all 17 Dallas County Criminal District Courts. His Court has been recognized by the Dallas Bar Association with the “Outstanding Criminal District Court Staff” Award. He is a former Executive Board Member of the Texas Association of District Judges.

In addition to his regular judicial duties, Judge Garza has helped hundreds of individuals obtain and maintain sobriety through his previous volunteer work as the Presiding Judge of Dallas County’s DIVERT (Drug) Court. Judge Garza is a former Executive Director on the Board of the Texas Association of Specialty Courts (TASC) where he worked with stakeholders and the legislature to obtain sustainable funding for Specialty Courts throughout Texas. In 2023, Judge Garza and his DIVERT Court Team were recognized with Outstanding Specialty Court Team Award “For Effective Teamwork & Utilizing Best Practice Standards to Save Souls.” 

Judge Garza is a graduate of Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. He is a proud alumni of the law school’s Criminal Justice Clinic. Prior to his current position, he served in private practice and as a Dallas County Assistant District Attorney. As an Assistant District Attorney, he worked his way up from Misdemeanor Prosecutor to Administrative Chief Prosecutor. In 2026, Judge Garza was recognized as a distinguished alumnus by the Dedman School of Law. Judge Garza will be teaching Criminal Law in the Spring of 2027.

Judge Garza is licensed to practice law by the Texas Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and the United States Supreme Court.

He is member of the William “Mac” Taylor, Jr. American Inn of Courts. He is a founding board member of the North Texas State Criminal Law Inn of Court. Judge Garza is also a member of the Texas Bar College and a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.

One of his proudest accomplishments came when as a first-year soccer coach to his 4-year-old son’s team they went undefeated (15-0).