Mary Ann Espiritu at a glance
- Current role
- Statutory County Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Mary Ann Espiritu
Statutory County Court Judge · Travis County Court at Law No. 5
Biography
Professional career
- The presiding judge of Travis County Court at Law #5 in Austin, Texas, serving since January 2023 and currently running for re‐election in November 2026
- Lawyer: Licensed since 2001, with over 20 years in private practice as a defense attorney and partner in her own firm
- Public Service: Former Staff Attorney for the Texas Department of Public Safety
Education
Additional information
- Community Work: Served on nonprofit boards, including a substance use disorder recovery network, and has provided free legal aid to detained protesters.
- Judge Espiritu emphasizes dignity, respect, and fairness in the courtroom, championing diversion programs and supporting individuals in recovery.
- Judge Espiritu presides over County Court at Law #5, which handles criminal cases in Travis County, including initial appearances, bail hearings, and other pretrial matters.
- She focuses on making justice accessible and equitable, and on treating each person as more than a case number.
- She is also a member of the committee overseeing Travis County Counsel at First Appearance (CAFA), a program ensuring legal representation at the earliest stage after arrest, which is critical for bail and release decisions.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
Statewide
In civil district and county court proceedings, the court may permit or require electronic participation after appropriate notice; compelled electronic participation for oral-testimony proceedings requires good cause or party agreement, and a jury trial requires party agreement.
Upon appropriate notice by a party or the court, a court may allow or require a participant to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means, except as otherwise provided in (2).Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings ↗
Recording and broadcasting
Statewide
Civil district and county trial courts may permit courtroom recording or broadcasting only under Supreme Court guidelines, with the required party and witness consent, or for ceremonial proceedings.
A trial court may permit broadcasting, televising, recording, or photographing of proceedings in the courtroom only in the following circumstances:Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Travis County Court at Law No. 5
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Travis County Court at Law No. 5
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings ↗Travis County Court at Law No. 5 official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Travis County Court at Law No. 5 official directory ↗