Michael Edward Mery at a glance
- Current role
- District Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Michael Edward Mery
District Judge · Texas 144th District Court
Biography
Professional career
- In summary: Michael Edward Mery is a seasoned Texas judge with a long record in criminal justice, mental health court reform, and public service, currently facing a political challenge in the 2026 election for the 144th District Court
- Democratic Party judge of the 144th Criminal District Court in Bexar County, Texas, serving since January 1, 2021, with a term ending December 31, 2026
- Section Chief of Child Abuse Litigation at the Texas Attorney General’s Office (1992–1994)
- Assistant District Attorney for Bexar County (1989–1992)
- Mery emphasizes fairness, dignity, and reform in the criminal justice system, and has been described as “a judge you can trust”
Education
- J.D., University of Texas at Austin School of Law (1982)
- in Government, Cornell University — B.A. (1978)
Additional information
- The general election for this seat is scheduled for November 3, 2026.
- Began his judicial career in 1999 as the first judge of Bexar County Court at Law No. 12, where he also helped establish and preside over the county’s first Mental Health Court.
- Private practice as a lawyer for over a decade
- handling criminal defense, civil litigation, probate, and juvenile matters
- Native of San Antonio and has over 26 years of judicial and legal experience.
- Currently incumbent of the 144th District Court, presiding over serious criminal cases.
- handling family law and civil cases.
- He subsequently served on the 37th Judicial District Court for eight years
- His campaign materials note his commitment to ensuring all parties are treated with respect and justice.
- 43.3% of the vote).
- Fluent in Spanish; raised in San Antonio by Lebanese immigrant parents
- He has also served on multiple boards, including the Catholic Lawyers’ Guild, the Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio’s Young Adult Ministry, and the Nix Healthcare Systems Institutional Review Board.
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
Texas 144th District Court
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
Texas 144th District Court
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 ↗Texas 144th District Court official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Texas 144th District Court official directory ↗