Municipal Courts

Director and Presiding Judge, Nelly Treviño Santos

Meet Judge Treviño Santos:

It is an honor and privilege to serve the public and lead the Municipal Courts. The department consists of a talented group of dedicated public servants who strive each day to provide a high level of customer service and a fair and efficient administration of justice.

Judge Treviño Santos was appointed to serve as Director and Presiding Judge for the Municipal Courts Department on February 12, 2025, by Mayor John Whitmire. Prior to this appointment, Judge Treviño Santos served over 20 years as the Deputy Director and the Chief Financial Officer for the Municipal Courts. In this role, she oversaw the Finance Division, which included oversight of the expenditure and revenue budget, the jury administration process, the court interpreters, the Juvenile Case Manager Program (a truancy prevention and intervention program), the courts’ mail functions, and safety and facilities operations.

Judge Treviño Santos is a native Houstonian and first-generation Mexican American who was raised in Houston’s Second Ward and East End area. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston and earned her Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Houston Law Center.