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Antonia Arteaga earned a bachelor's degree in government and sociology from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from St. Mary's University.

Antonia is a judge on the 57th District Court in Bexar County, Texas. She was first elected to the bench in 2008. 

Texas elections, 2024 - Ballotpedia

Antonia previously worked as a private practice attorney.

Antonia is currently a judge of the Texas 57th District Court. She was first elected in 2008 and is currently serving her fourth term. 

Antonia currently serves as a judge for the Texas 57th District Court. She was first elected in 2008, and is serving her fifth term.

As a lifelong public servant, Arteaga has nearly two decades of judicial experience and was the first woman elected to the 57th District Court in Bexar County in 2008.

As a district court judge, "has presided over hundreds of complex civil cases."

- As a district court judge, "has presided over hundreds of complex civil cases."

Legal Experience

Commits to maintaining court efficiency and transparency to ensure public trust in the appellate courts of South and Central Texas.

Commits to maintaining court efficiency and transparency to ensure public trust in the appellate courts.

- Commits to maintaining court efficiency and transparency to ensure public trust in the appellate courts.

Judicial Administration

Believes in a judicial system that is "fair, impartial, and accessible to everyone — regardless of background, income, or circumstance."

Said "[t]he Constitution and the rule of law must guide our courts."

- Believes in a judicial system that is "fair, impartial, and accessible to everyone — regardless of background, income, or circumstance."
- Said "[t]he Constitution and the rule of law must guide our courts."

Judicial Philosophy

As of January 22, 2026, Antonia "Toni" Arteaga’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Serves as the president and founding member of Texas Latinx Judges, Bexar County Chair of the National Association of Women Judges, and is a past president of the Texas Association of District Judges.

- Serves as the president and founding member of Texas Latinx Judges, Bexar County Chair of the National Association of Women Judges, and is a past president of the Texas Association of District Judges.

Community Involvement

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Antonia "Toni" Arteaga

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Walter Ley

Velia is from El Paso, Texas. She has a bachelor's degree in economics from Columbia University and a Juris Doctor degree from St. Mary's University School of Law. She lives with her husband, Cesar, and their three sons.

Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2024 - Ballotpedia

Velia J. Meza is from El Paso, Texas. She has a bachelor's degree in economics from Columbia University and a law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law. She lives with her husband, Cesar, and their three sons.

Velia currently works as an adjunct professor of advocacy at St. Mary's University School of Law and teaches pre-law courses at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She has her own firm. She previously worked as a district court judge and worked in the 226th District Court of Bexar County. 

Velia J. Meza is currently a judge for Place 2 of the Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals. She was elected in 2024 and is serving her first term.

Court of Appeals - 4th District | Bexar County, TX - Official Website

Velia is currently a judge for Place 2 of the Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals. She was elected in 2024 and is serving her first term. 

As an attorney, practiced law across South Texas for 17 years, focusing on criminal, family, and civil matters.

As an attorney, researched, drafted, and filed legal documents, and provided defense and counsel to clients, focusing on criminal, family, and civil matters.

As a district court judge, conducted thorough hearings, applied the law, and exercised judicial discretion.

- As an attorney, researched, drafted, and filed legal documents, and provided defense and counsel to clients, focusing on criminal, family, and civil matters.
- As a district court judge, conducted thorough hearings, applied the law, and exercised judicial discretion.

As of January 22, 2026, Velia J. Meza’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Served as a co-chair of the Firearms Transfer Subcommittee for San Antonio's Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence and as a Board of Directors member for the Texas Center for the Judiciary.

Serves on the Judicial Administration Specialty Advisory Committee for the Texas Board for Legal Specialization and works with the National Trial Team at St. Mary's University School of Law.

Helped develop an alternative to incarceration program, Bexar County Gives Back.

- Served as a co-chair of the Firearms Transfer Subcommittee for San Antonio's Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence and as a Board of Directors member for the Texas Center for the Judiciary.
- Serves on the Judicial Administration Specialty Advisory Committee for the Texas Board for Legal Specialization and works with the National Trial Team at St. Mary's University School of Law.
- Helped develop an alternative to incarceration program, Bexar County Gives Back.

Velia J. Meza

- In Texas, appeals from district and county courts, except death penalty cases, go to one of 14 intermediate courts of appeal.
- The chief justice presides over court meetings, manages the court's administration, and has the authority to assign justices or judges to specific cases.
- Justices are elected in partisan elections for six-year terms.
- The yearly salary for a Court of Appeals justice in Texas is between $192,500 and $255,050 based on the total number of years they have served, plus an additional bonus of $13,475 for Chief Justice duties.

Oversees a court that handles appeals of lower trial court decisions.

This sample ballot may not include all local party roles or measures on the official ballot. The listed candidates serve only within their party, and the propositions do not change the law.

Texas Court of Appeals Chief Justice, Division 4, Democratic Primary

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Legal Experience

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement