Biography

• B.A., with honors Economics & Political Science, Yale University (1984)
• J.D., University of Texas School of Law (1987)
• Former Assistant Texas Attorney General
• Former Assistant General Counsel, Texas Department of Banking
• Former Assistant Nueces County Attorney
• Former Assistant Nueces County District Attorney
• Former Nueces County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 1
• Judge, County Court at Law No. 2 - serving since 2003

Before her election as judge, Lisa Gonzales built a strong record as an attorney prosecuting crime and protecting consumers.  She’s also a wife, a mother and a Nueces County native deeply committed to justice and the safety of our families.

Born and raised in Nueces County, Lisa graduated from Mary Carroll High School, where she was a two-time state finalist in both track and cross-country.  She went on to attend Yale University, competing in cross-country while earning a degree in Economics & Political Science with honors in 1984.  After college, Lisa came home to Texas to pursue a degree at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin, where she graduated and passed the bar in 1987.  

Since law school, Lisa Gonzales has devoted her career to public service. She began her legal career working as an Assistant Texas Attorney General in the Insurance, Banking and Securities Section protecting Texas consumers. As a Nueces County prosecutor, she represented the State and victims of crime in justice, county and district court.  Elected as a Nueces County Justice of the Peace in 1996, she worked diligently to reduce a significant case backlog.  Since being elected as Judge of County Court at Law Number 2 in 2002, she has presided over thousands of cases spanning civil, criminal, mental health and probate matters - including more than 600 jury trials. 

Description of Office

Nueces County Courts at Law have jurisdiction over criminal misdemeanors, probate matters and civil lawsuits. Their civil jurisdiction is more than that of the Justice of the Peace courts and the same as that of the District Courts.