Sandra Avila Ramirez

Judge Sandra Avila Ramirez serves as the presiding judge of the 98th District Court, which sits as the juvenile court in Travis County. A native of the Rio Grande Valley, she was the first in her family to graduate high school, later earning her B.A. from St. Edward’s University and her J.D. from Texas Tech School of Law. Her legal career spans over 25 years, including as a legal aid attorney, prosecutor, and private defense attorney, where her practice focused on indigent, Spanish-speaking clients. Judge Avila Ramirez has dedicated her life to public service, beginning as a volunteer firefighter and EMS first responder at age 20. She remains deeply committed to serving vulnerable communities and advocating for equity in the juvenile justice system.