Candidate Crystal Chandler running for County Court Judge #13

ADA Crystal Chandler Running for Judge

 
Fourteen-year veteran Assistant Criminal District Attorney Crystal Chandler is the first candidate to file for a place on the 2014 Republican Party Primary ballot in the election for judge of County Court at Law No. 13. 

County Court 13 is specially designated to handle domestic violence cases. Created by the legislature in 2009, it became the second criminal court in Bexar County to handle these complex cases which transcend age, economic and social boundaries.

Chandler understands the human and social cost of familial situations gone wrong and is committed to securing the families of Bexar County for the future. “Because domestic violence has far-reaching effects in our community, this court deserves a judge with unique experiences in the courts and beyond,” she explained. “To me, that means someone who has demonstrated a heartfelt desire to protect families and a genuine commitment to serving the citizens of Bexar County.”

Chandler not only possesses years of experience prosecuting felony and misdemeanor family violence cases in the trial courts but also handles complex legal issues before the appellate courts. 

After graduating magna cum laude from the University of Incarnate Word and obtaining her law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law, Chandler worked for two years as a briefing attorney at the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest criminal court in Texas. In 1999, she returned to San Antonio to work at the Bexar County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, becoming a felony prosecutor assigned to the family justice and victim protection division the following year. 

In 2006, Chandler joined the criminal trial division, where she served as a first chair prosecutor for the 399^th Judicial District Court. In 2007, she joined the appellate division, and has litigated appeals on behalf of the state before the intermediate Court of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Chandler is also a co-founder and former board member of Chapter 61 Ministries, a non-profit organization engaged in the fight against human trafficking. In 2009, when Chapter 61 started an initiative called Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) to fight human trafficking through the trucking industry, Chandler traveled throughout the state speaking about human trafficking at trucking conventions and conferences as well as at other venues. TAT is now a national non-profit, which in 2013 was named to the United Nation’s list of 100 Best Anti-Human Trafficking Practices in the world.

Since 2009, Chandler has served as an adjunct professor for San Antonio College, teaching in the criminal justice department and paralegal program. She also educates other lawyers in continuing legal education courses offered by the National District Attorney’s Association, the Texas District and County Attorney’s Association and the District Attorney’s Office.

Chandler is married and the mother of two boys. For more information on Crystal Chandler, go to www.crystalchandlerforjudge.com