Stephanie Franco is a first-chair prosecutor in the Bexar County DA’s office. She has a law degree from the University of Texas and previously worked as a staff attorney for the Travis County Juvenile Public Defender’s Office. She is challenging Judge Stephanie Boyd in the Democratic primary.
Hear from the candidate
1. Please tell voters about yourself.
For more than a decade, I have served Bexar County as a prosecutor with the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office. Before that, I worked in Travis County as a juvenile public defender. My entire career has been dedicated to giving a voice to the voiceless, protecting victims, and ensuring justice is delivered with fairness and compassion. That calling has led me to seek the 187th bench, where I can continue serving our community with strength, integrity, and balance, and where I believe a positive change is needed.
As a lifelong San Antonio resident and as a wife and mother of two, I am deeply invested in the future of Bexar County. I seek this position not for personal recognition, but to continue my lifelong commitment to public service, to strengthen trust in our courts, and to protect the dignity of residents of Bexar County.
2. Describe your educational background.
Born and raised in San Antonio, I attended Dellview Elementary, Jackson Middle School, and Churchill High School, class of ‘03. I then obtained my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, before attending The University of Texas School of Law at Austin for my J.D.
While at UT Law, I participated in several clinics and internships, including the Children’s Rights Clinic, the Juvenile Justice Clinic, and an internship at the Equal Justice Center. My entire legal career has been focused on public service and creating a safer community for all.
3. Describe your professional experience, what type of law you’ve practiced and noteworthy accomplishments.
I am a first-chair felony prosecutor in the Violent Crimes Intake division of the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office. Aside from our division chiefs, the first-chair is the highest rank for prosecutors within the DA’s Office. In this role, I receive arrest and at large cases of capital murder, murder, manslaughter, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault-serious bodily injury, aggravated assault deadly weapon, dangerous dog attack, and aggravated assault-Public Servant. I work directly with law enforcement agencies to review evidence, determine the sufficiency of the evidence, and make charging decisions on cases. I present cases to the Grand Jury weekly, and have presented over 1,000 cases to the Grand Jury.
I also supervise lower-level prosecutors and consult with law enforcement officers on pending investigations. I meet with SAPD Homicide detectives regularly to review pending murder cases and assist in determining whether they are justified homicides. Throughout my career, I have earned a reputation as fair, ethical, and committed to justice. Jurors have contacted me after trials to commend my fierce advocacy on behalf of victims. Defense attorneys have noted my fairness in the courtroom, recognizing that I advocate strongly while always respecting the rights of all parties.
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?
Both restorative and retributive justice play an important role in our justice system, but I believe that when restorative justice can be accomplished, that should be the goal. Specifically, restorative justice assists in the healing of the victim while treating the offender with the necessary grace to allow them to take accountability, change their behavior, and make amends.
When judges are able to acknowledge the harm suffered by a victim, validate their experience, and hold the offender accountable in ways that reduce recidivism and support rehabilitation, the justice system is working at its best. While restorative justice may not be possible in every manner of crime, when it is appropriate, that is what I will seek.
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 for the 187th because I believe the people who enter a courtroom deserve respect and that a courtroom must be, first and foremost, a place where dignity is upheld. For victims of crime, justice should never feel like entertainment. It is unethical and undemocratic to continuously broadcast criminal court proceedings on YouTube, where the videos are then clipped, rebroadcast, and monetized.
I will prioritize restoring decency in the courtroom and the protection of victims’ rights, ensuring that every person who appears before the bench is treated with respect and fairness. I would be honored to earn your support to restore dignity, fairness, and integrity to this bench.
