Yolanda Huff was a defense attorney for 22 years before she was elected to County Court at Law No. 12 in 2018, defeating an incumbent Republican for the seat. She oversees the mental health specialty court and faces one Democratic primary challenger this year.
Hear from the candidate
1. Please tell voters about yourself.
I am Judge Yolanda Huff. I preside over County Court 12 and the Mental Health Court. I am currently running for my third term as Judge. I was a Solo Practitioner (Defense Attorney) for 22 years before I ran for Judge and won. Since taking the bench on January 1, 2019 I have been asked to serve on the board of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and (TASC) Texas Association of Specialty Courts. I have been a member of NAACP for several years and was recognized as an “Outstanding Woman” by NAACP in 2019. One of my greatest accomplishments since taking the bench has been the founding of the Bexar County Specialty Courts Coalition. I chair this coalition in which the goal is to educate the community about specialty courts. In 2020 I was awarded the “Pioneer Woman Award” by the Bexar County Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department (SBED). In 2021 I was invited by the Supreme Court of Texas and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to serve on the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health. In 2023 I was awarded the Distinguished Jurist Award by the African American Section of the State Bar of Texas. Most recently, I was awarded the Judicial Outstanding Speciality Court Judge for the State of Texas by TASC (Texas Association of Specialty Courts). In 2024 I was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame.
2. Describe your educational background.
I am from a military family. I was born in Texas but raised in North Carolina until my 10th year in high school. My family moved back to Texas. I graduated high school in Austin, Texas and attended UT Austin. After college I worked three years for the Lt. Governor of Texas. I moved to San Antonio to attend Law School and I have been here ever since. I am a mother of three and I have raised my family here.
3. Describe your professional experience, what type of law you’ve practiced and noteworthy accomplishments.
As a defense attorney my practice consisted of criminal law and CPS/Adoptions. I worked as a solo practitioner for 22 years. I applied my experience as a defense attorney and a leader in the community to the bench. I believe that Judges need to be in the community more. I strive to educate the community about the judiciary and treatment courts.
My advocacy in the community has led to the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority awarding me the Peace and Justice award in spring of 2023. The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) awarded me their Community Award in 2024 for all of my community involvement. Lastly, in 2024 the San Antonio Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women honored me with the Legendary Advocate Award.
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?
I believe Judges must protect the constitutional rights of defendants while protecting the community. I believe in giving people a second chance. I believe in therapeutic justice. I do not believe the mentally ill should be in jail or prison. People find themselves in the court system because they are experiencing generational trauma.
How to help these people but ensure the safety of the community. In the specialty courts we strive to get people on the right path in life. The goal is to make each defendant an asset to the community not a liability. These treatments courts are for high risk, high needs individuals. My mental health court is extremely successful.
We deal with the mental health issues and the substance abuse issues. If a defendant successfully completes this 12 month program they have a 97% chance that we will never see them in the court system again. This is a true success. After completion of the program the case is dismissed and the case is totally expunged from the defendant’s record, giving them a true fresh start in life.
5. Why are you seeking this office, and why did you decide to be a candidate in the political party you chose?
I am seeking reelection to finish improving the mental health court and to keep serving as a mentor for young women in the community. I am doing great work in County Court 12 and the mental Health Court. I want to finish what I started. I chose the Democrat Party because they most closely align with my core values and morals.
