In 2024, Tarrant County ranked among the 10 fastest-growing counties in the United States. In one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas, Tarrant County criminal defense attorneys are leading this leading new frontier of criminal justice.

Among the best lawyers in Texas, Tarrant County criminal defense attorneys square off against some of the most aggressive prosecutors in the state. Attorney Paul Saputo has faced off against the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office many times, achieving many noteworthy results.

If you’re looking for the best Tarrant County criminal defense attorney, then we want to represent you.

At Saputo Toufexis | Criminal Defense, we are looking for clients who want to hire the top criminal defense attorneys in Tarrant County.

Our commitment to providing extraordinary criminal defense and our deep understanding of Texas criminal law have allowed us to defy expectations and secure wins in some seriously challenging cases.

If you are looking for an authoritative Tarrant County criminal defense attorney, call us or book a consultation today.

What kinds of cases do our Tarrant criminal defense attorneys handle?

• Tarrant County Aggravated Assault Attorney
• Tarrant County Aggravated Robbery Attorney
• Tarrant County Assault Attorney
• Tarrant County Capital Murder Attorney
• Tarrant County Continuous Sexual Abuse Attorney
• Tarrant County Criminal Mischief Attorney
• Tarrant County DWI Attorney
• Tarrant County Illegal Voting Attorney
• Tarrant County Indecency With a Child Attorney
• Tarrant County Intoxication Assault Attorney
• Tarrant County Manslaughter Attorney
• Tarrant County Sexual Assault Attorney
• Tarrant County Trafficking of Persons Attorney

How to choose a Tarrant criminal defense attorney

It is not easy to find the best Tarrant County criminal defense attorney for your case. Choosing the right attorney is a critical decision that can significantly impact the outcome of your case.

Some attorneys specialize in certain areas of criminal defense. Make sure the attorney you choose has the right expertise for your case. It’s always important to have an attorney who communicates clearly and promptly. You should feel comfortable asking questions and discussing your case.

It’s important to consider experience, but remember that lots of experience can sometimes lead to stagnation, carelessness, and cynicism.

You should consider reputation, but remember that some of the best criminal defense attorneys challenge the status quo in court, and this can result in them not being very popular.

There’s no magic recipe for what makes the best attorney for your case, so we suggest you talk to the attorneys and get a feel for where their passion lies. Are they passionate about criminal defense or did they just start doing this because they got kicked out of the Tarrant County DA’s office? Whose side is your attorney really on?

We have never worked as prosecutors. We have dedicated our entire legal careers to perfecting the art of Texas criminal defense. Learn more about us >

Where are the Tarrant County Criminal Courts?

The Tarrant County criminal courts are located inside of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center located at 401 W Belknap St, Fort Worth, TX 76196.

Where can I search for and find criminal cases in Tarrant County?

You can find records related to Tarrant County criminal cases on the district clerk’s online portal.

Who are the Tarrant County criminal court judges? What courts are in Tarrant County?

Tarrant County has ten County Criminal Courts. These are the courts that handle most misdemeanor offenses. Tarrant County has eleven District Courts. These are the courts that handle most misdemeanor offenses.

This list starts with the Tarrant County misdemeanor courts. Jump to the felony courts.

Tarrant County Misdemeanor Courts

• County Criminal Court 1
  • Judge David Cook currently presides over County Criminal Court 1in Tarrant County. He was successful in winning the Republican primary in 2014 then won the general election without opposition. He has won every reelection, with his current term expiring in 2026. County Criminal Court 1 is located on the 5th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• County Criminal Court 2
  • Judge Carey F. Walker currently presides over County Criminal Court 2 in Tarrant County. He won the Republican Primary, runoff, and the general election in 2014 to get the chair and was reelected in 2022. His current term will end in 2026. Criminal District Court 2 is located on the 6th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• County Criminal Court 3
  • Judge Bob McCoy currently presides over County Criminal Court 3 in Tarrant County. He was appointed to this position by Governor Rick Perry in 2003 and was reelected in 2014 after winning the Republican Primary, runoff, and general elections. He has won all subsequent reelections unopposed. His current term expires in 2026. County Criminal Court 3 is on the 7th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• County Criminal Court 4
  • Judge Deborah Nekhom currently presides County Criminal Court 4 in Tarrant County. She won the Republican primary and general election unopposed in 2014. She has won all subsequent reelections. Her current term ends in 2026. County Criminal Court 4 is located on the 5th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• County Criminal Court 5
  • A former Tarrant County criminal defense attorney, Republican Judge Bradley L. Clark currently presides over County Criminal Court 5 in Tarrant County. He assumed office on January 1, 2023. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022. County Criminal Court 5 is located on the 6th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• County Criminal Court 6
  • Judge Randi Hartin currently presides over County Criminal Court 6 in Tarrant County. She won both the Republican primary and the general election in 2022. Her term is up in 2026. County Criminal Court 6 is located on the 8th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• County Criminal Court 7
  • Judge Eric Starnes currently presides over County Criminal Court 7 in Tarrant County. He won the Republican primary unopposed and won the general election in 2022. His term is up in 2026. County Criminal Court 6 is located on the 8th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• County Criminal Court 8
  • Judge Charles “Chuck” Vanover currently presides over County Criminal Court 8 in Tarrant County. He was successful in winning the Republican primary and was elected after winning the general election unopposed in 2014. He was reelected in 2022 and his current term will expire in 2026. County Criminal Court 6 is located on the 7th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• County Criminal Court 9
  • Judge Brian Bolton currently presides over County Criminal Court 9 in Tarrant County. He won the Republican primary and the general election in 2022. His term is up in 2026. County Criminal Court 9 is located on the 8th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• County Criminal Court 10
  • Judge Trent Loftin currently presides over County Criminal Court 10 in Tarrant County. He won the Republican primary and was elected in 2022. His term is up in 2026. County Criminal Court 9 is located on the 6th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.

Tarrant County Felony Courts

• Criminal District Court 1
  • Judge Elizabeth H. Beach currently presides over Criminal District Court 1 in Tarrant County. Judge Elizabeth H. Beach was appointed by Governor Rick Perry in 2013 and was reelected unopposed under the Republican ticket in 2014 and 2018. She won the Republican primary in 2022 and was reelected, with her current term ending in 2026. Criminal District Court 1 is located on the 5th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• Criminal District Court 2
  • Judge Wayne Salvant currently presides over Criminal District Court 2. He was appointed to the bench in 1995 and has won every subsequent reelection. His current term ends in 2024. Criminal District Court 2 is located on the 6th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• Criminal District Court 3
  • Judge Douglas A. Allen currently presides over Criminal District Court 3 in Tarrant County. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Greg Abbott in 2022. He won the Republican primary in March 2024 and will be running for reelection in the general election in November 2024. Criminal District Court 3 is on the 7th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• Criminal District Court 4
  • Judge Andy Porter currently presides over the Court 4. He won both the Republican primary and the general election in 2022. His current term expires in 2026. Criminal District Court 4 is located on the 8th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• 213th District Court
  • Judge Chris Wolfe presides over the 213th District Court. He assumed office in 2018. His current term ends on December 31, 2024. Judge Wolfe is running for re-election for judge of the Texas 213th District Court. He was unopposed in the Republican primary, and he is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. The 213th District court is located on the 5th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• 297th District Court
  • Judge David C. Hagerman presides over the 297th District Court. Hagerman worked as a prosecutor in the Ellis County and Tarrant County district attorney’s offices for over 20 years. Republican Judge Hagerman most recently won re-election after the general election on November 8, 2022, was canceled. The 297th District court is located on the 5th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• 371st District Court
  • Republican Judge Ryan Hill presides over the 371st District Court in Tarrant County. He was appointed to the court on March 23, 2022, by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Hill won re-election for judge after the general election on November 8, 2022, was canceled. His current term ends on December 31, 2026. The 371st District Court is located on the 5th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• 372nd District Court
  • Judge Julie Lugo presides over the 372nd District Court in Tarrant County. She assumed office on January 1, 2023. A career prosecutor, Republican Judge Lugo won election for judge of the Texas 372nd District Court outright after the general election in 2022 was canceled. The 372nd District Court is located on the 6th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• 396th District Court
  • Long-serving Judge George Gallagher presides over the 396th District Court. He was reelected in 2014. His current term ends on December 31, 2024. Republican Judge Gallagher is currently running for re-election. The 396th District Court is located on the 6th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• 432nd District Court
  • Judge Ruben Gonzalez presides over the 432nd District Court in Tarrant County. He was appointed by Governor Rick Perry and sworn in on October 1, 2009. He was successful in winning the Republican primary in 2014 and then won the general election with no opposition. He has run unopposed in every election since. Most recently, he won re-election outright after the general election in 2022 was canceled The 432nd District Court is located on the 6th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.
• 485th District Court
  • Judge Steven Jumes presides over the 485th District Court. Incumbent Steven Jumes defeated John Brender in the general election for Texas 485th District Court on November 8, 2022. Judge Jumes also ran for election for County Criminal Court 9, but Jumes lost in the 2022 Republican primary. The 432nd District Court is located on the 6th floor of the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center.

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