Alicia “Ali” Perez is an immigration lawyer who co-founded the immigrants’ rights group SA Stands. She previously worked as an assistant public defender and as an Assistant District Attorney in Bexar County. She’s challenging Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez in the Democratic primary.
Hear from the candidate
1. Please tell voters about yourself.
My name is Alicia Perez, I am 45 years old, married with four sons and we live in near-downtown San Antonio. I have been active in leadership in my local bar association, bringing attorneys together for social support and legal education. I helped create a local organizing collective called SA Stands that allows community members to amplify their voices by working together. I always find a project and try to rotate between social justice and social joy to keep life balanced and the energy positive.
2. Describe your educational background.
I attended the City University of New York School of Law (CUNY Law), a public-interest–focused law school known for training lawyers to serve communities and strengthen access to justice. CUNY Law emphasizes practical skills, ethical decision-making, and an understanding of how legal systems affect everyday people.
My legal education grounded me in constitutional principles, statutory interpretation, and professional responsibility, while also emphasizing the importance of fairness, due process, and respect for the role of courts in a democratic society. That foundation has guided my work across multiple practice areas and continues to shape how I approach the responsibilities of judicial service.
3. Describe your professional experience, what type of law you’ve practiced and noteworthy accomplishments.
I have been a licensed Texas attorney since 2007 and have practiced law for nearly two decades across multiple parts of the justice system. I started at the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid in Weslaco, Texas. My experience includes work as a public defender, prosecutor, immigration attorney, and family violence protective orders and custody issues. I currently practice in Bexar County courts in criminal defense and am familiar with the day-to-day realities faced by litigants, lawyers, court staff, and judges.
This breadth of experience has given me a practical understanding of how cases move through the system and where delays, confusion, or unnecessary hardship can occur.
Throughout my career, I have focused on protecting due process, ensuring people understand court procedures, and resolving cases efficiently without sacrificing fairness. My work has reinforced the importance of clear communication, firm but respectful courtroom management, and consistent application of the law.
4. Philosophically, how do you balance the public’s desire for restitution in all types of crimes, while also providing a productive path forward for offenders who don’t pose a danger to the public?
Courts can serve multiple purposes at once: accountability, public safety, fairness, and the orderly resolution of disputes. Balancing these interests requires a careful, case-by-case approach grounded in the law rather than ideology.
Restitution and productive paths forward matter and can often happen at the same time. Victims deserve to be heard, protected, and made whole to the extent the law allows. At the same time, the justice system works best when consequences are proportional and tailored to the actual risk posed by an individual. For people who do not present a danger to the public, productive paths forward can reduce repeat involvement with the courts and strengthen community safety over time.
A judge’s role is not to advocate for outcomes but to manage cases fairly, apply the law as written, and ensure that all parties understand the process and their obligations. Judges protect the process and ensure dignity for the court and parties. I will respect the hard work that the parties do to come to agreements when they are lawful and meaningful. Clear expectations, timely hearings, and consistent rulings promote both accountability and compliance. When courts operate efficiently and respectfully, they are better able to meet the needs of victims while also encouraging lawful behavior and stability going forward.
5. Why are you seeking this office, and why did you decide to be a candidate in the political party you chose?
I am running to be a judge who manages cases promptly, treats everyone with dignity, and applies the law consistently and transparently. I believe strong courts are not about politics, but about process: making sure hearings happen on time, orders are clear, and every party has a meaningful opportunity to be heard.
I chose to run in the Democratic primary because the party’s values align with my long-standing commitment to access to justice, due process, and equal treatment under the law. I hope to increase ADA access at the courthouse as part of my emphasis on delivering due process for all.
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