Karen R. Sage

- District judges manage Texas district courts, which are trial courts with general jurisdiction, and have exclusive authority over felony cases. A judge may be presiding over a civil, criminal, juvenile, or special court. They also share jurisdiction with Texas county courts.
- Texas has over 470 district courts, each presided over by a single judge. Some courts cover multiple counties, while others are assigned to single counties based on population size.
- District judges are elected through partisan elections for four-year terms. Candidates must be between 25 and 75 years old, have lived in the district for at least 2 years, and be licensed lawyers with at least 4 years' experience.
- The annual salary for district judges ranges from $175,000 to $245,500, depending on years of service.

Presides over a trial court with general jurisdiction. 

Criminal Justice

Texas

Legal Experience

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

District Judge

Walter Ley

Karen is a judge for the 299th District Court in Travis County, Texas, where she has served since her election in 2010. She previously worked as an assistant district attorney for the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of New York, counsel in the Office of the Los Angeles Mayor, an associate at O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles, and a lecturer in criminal law ethics at the University of Texas School of Law.

Judge Karen R. Sage - Professional Background & Legal Expertise ...

Karen R. Sage is currently the district court judge for the 299th Judicial District in Travis County, Texas. She was first elected in 2010 and is serving her fourth term.

299th Criminal District Court

Karen Sage - Texas Candidate - Transparency USA

Travis County: 2022 Primary Elections Results | KUT Radio, Austin's ...

As a district court judge, created the first felony mental health docket for the county and collaborated with the Travis County Adult Probation Department to form the first SAFPF Re-Entry Docket in Central Texas.

As of January 22, 2026, Karen R. Sage’s website did not contain information on this issue.