Elisabeth Earle

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Elisabeth is from Austin, Texas. She attended Austin public schools. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and a law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law. She lives with her husband, Jeffrey Clark, and their two daughters in Austin.

Elisabeth is a Presiding Judge. She works at the Travis County Court-at-Law bench, where she has served since 2002. She previously worked at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in London; the Texas Senate Jurisprudence Committee; the Governor’s Office Criminal Justice Division for Governor Ann Richards; the Travis County Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor focusing on domestic violence cases; and as a Municipal Court Judge for the City of Austin.

Elisabeth Earle is currently the Presiding Judge of Travis County Court-at-Law #7. She was first elected to the County Court-at-Law bench in 2002 and has continuously served as Presiding Judge since then.

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As a municipal court judge, helped create the Downtown Austin Community Court (DACC), the first community court in Texas and the seventh in the United States.

As a judge, Earle founded the Travis County DWI Court, which aims to help people with substance abuse issues through counseling and treatment.

Legal Experience

As of January 22, 2026, Elisabeth Earle’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Philosophy

As a county court judge, founded the Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Court in 2008.

Served as Presiding Judge over the County Court at Law Judges since 2011.

As a judge, founded the Travis County DWI (driving while intoxicated) Court, an intensive, treatment-based program designed to reduce repeat offenses and break the cycle of addiction.

Judicial Administration

Received the MADD National President’s Award for Criminal Justice.

Ethics & Conduct

Served on the boards of the Salvation Army, Community Action Network, and Leadership Austin.

Mentors young people through programs like the National Women Judges’ Color of Justice, which encourages students from all backgrounds to pursue careers in law.

Community Involvement

- A County Court-At-Law judge handles misdemeanors, such as assault of a family member, property theft between $750 and $2,500, and using force against a law enforcement officer. They also handle civil cases where the amount in question does not exceed $200,000. 
- County Court-At-Law judges conduct arraignments, pre-trial hearings, and jury trials, as well as accept guilty pleas. 
- They are elected in a partisan, county-wide election to a four-year term. 
- Candidates must be a U.S. citizen, at least 25 years old, have been a Texas and county resident for at least 24 consecutive months, a practicing lawyer and/or judge in Texas for at least four years, and registered to vote in that county.
- The annual salary for County Court-At-Law Judges ranges from $174,000 to $244,500, depending on years of service and how much they receive as a county supplement.

Handles civil and criminal cases from District Courts.

Travis

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Travis County Court-At-Law Judge, Democratic Primary

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