---
title: "Melanie Castillo | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-castillo"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Melanie Castillo

San Antonio Municipal Court · Municipal Judge

## Profile

- Court: San Antonio Municipal Court
- State: Texas
- Role: Municipal Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### limited criminal remote appearance

Scope: statewide

For the specific fine-and-cost hearings governed by Articles 45A.258 and 45A.259, a justice or municipal judge may allow a defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference when an in-person appearance would impose undue hardship.

Evidence excerpt: If the justice or judge determines that requiring a defendant to appear before the justice or judge in person for a hearing under Article 45A.258 or 45A.259 would impose an undue hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge may allow the defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference.

[Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx)
- [Official roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx)
- [Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx)
- [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-castillo",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-castillo",
      "name": "Melanie Castillo | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Melanie Castillo, San Antonio Municipal Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-07",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-castillo#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-castillo#judge",
      "name": "Melanie Castillo",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-castillo",
      "jobTitle": "Municipal Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "San Antonio Municipal Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Texas",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/texas"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Melanie Castillo",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/melanie-castillo"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Alternate Municipal Court Judge – City of Fair Oaks Ranch (since Oct 2019)
- Full‐Time Judge – City of San Antonio Municipal Court (since June 2018)
- Melanie Ann Castillo is a full‐time Municipal Court and Magistrate Judge for the City of San Antonio, Texas, serving since 2018, and also an alternate municipal court judge for Fair Oaks Ranch
- Night Magistrate Judge – San Antonio Municipal Court (appointed in 2020)
- In a 2020 announcement, Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia welcomed Castillo as Judge and Night Magistrate, noting her commitment to “vision, service, and relationships” in the court
- held the role of Attorney at Castillo Snyder P.C. (2010–2020)
- her practice areas include criminal law and government/administrative law

### Education

- Juris Doctor (JD) from St. Mary’s University School of Law (2010) and a Master of Public Administration from The University of Texas at San Antonio (2007).
- She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Child Development and Family Relationships from The University of Texas at Austin (2004).

### Additional information

- Co‐founded Fiesta Wishes, Inc. (2017–present)
- Was Assistant Director at Bright Horizons (2000–2007)
- Listed among the city’s full‐time judges on the official San Antonio court directory.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7a6578736340dbebb75e89c7) — 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](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.
- [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0fa5a7f51969f3609de00053) — 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](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.