"Award Winning Jurist"
"Latina Judge of the Year"
Hispanic National Bar Association
"Amicus Award"
St Mary's University School of Law
"Legal Profession Award"
Mexican American Bar Association
"Hall of Fame Inductee"
Texas Teen Court Association
"Distinguished Alumni"
Fox Tech High School
MEET CATHY
Strong Judicial Leadership Delivering Results for our Community
Judge Catherine Torres-Stahl currently presides over the 175th District Court, a court handling all felony matters and a specialized Prostitution Prevention Court called Esperanza Court. She has the privilege of being an adjunct faculty member at her alma mater, St. Mary’s University School of Law, teaching a Trial Advocacy course. She is the former Deputy Director and General Counsel for the Bexar County Community Supervision and Corrections Department and a former adjunct professor at the University of Texas in San Antonio for the Criminal Justice Department.
Judge Torres-Stahl has spent the majority of her 29 year law career in the criminal justice arena, with over 20 of those years in a judicial capacity. She is a former Criminal Defense and Family Law practitioner with Gonzales & Torres-Stahl. Prior to that she was elected to the 144th District Court, where she presided as a District Court Judge over felony criminal matters. For 10 years, prior to her election to this bench, she was a Municipal Court Judge presiding over Juvenile matters, initiating several early intervention programs for juveniles and the Teen Court in San Antonio. Her legal career began as an Assistant District Attorney, prosecuting in the areas of Family Violence, Juvenile and Appellate law. She is a native San Antonian having attended Fox Tech High School and St. Mary’s University undergraduate, graduate school and graduated from the law school in 1993.
Judge Torres-Stahl, has had the privilege of being awarded the Latina Judge of the Year Award from the Hispanic National Bar Association in 2010; the Amicus Award from St. Mary’s University School of Law Center for Legal & Social Justice, the Political Award from La Prensa and the Legal Profession Award from the Mexican American Bar Association. Additionally, as a cancer survivor she has been honored by the ThriveWell Cancer Foundation and received the Inspire Award from the SAISD Foundation.
Judge Torres-Stahl has dedicated countless hours to many boards, commissions and bar associations in pursuit of the advancement of women, the protection of children and the promotion of diversity. She is the past Co-chair of the Hispanic National Bar Association Judicial Council and former President of the Mexican American Bar Association in San Antonio. She is a past member of the St. Mary’s University School of Law Hispanic Alumni Board, St. Mary’s University School of Law Alumni board. She was recently appointed by the Texas Supreme Court as Chair of the Court Reporter Certification Advisory Board. Currently sitting on the YWLA Primary and Angie’s Angels’ Foundation boards, a State Bar of Texas Fellow, an Advisory board member for Las Misiones (recognized UNESCO World Heritage Site), former Board Member of MABA and former Co-Chair of the National Association of Women Judges 2018 Conference Gala, Pan American League member and an Honorary Girl Scout. She is married to Paul Stahl, who is the Chair of the San Antonio Public Library and has two children, ages 23 and 26.
EDUCATION:
Fox Tech High School Graduate 1984
St. Mary’s University, B.A., Cum Laude, English Communication Arts 1988
St. Mary’s University School of Law, J.D. 1993
PAST PARTICIPATION ON BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND COMMITEES:
Commission on Children & Families, Commissioner
Citizens Commission on City/County Service Integration, Member
Market Square Commissioner
FBI Citizens Academy
US Air Force 433rd Airlift Wing, Honorary Commander
Hispanas Unidas, Board Member
Healthy Futures of Texas, former board member
Latina Girl Scout Advisory Committee
Mentor for Municipal Court Internship with South San and Fox Tech High Schools.
Mentor for St. Mary’s Law Alumni & Hispanic Law Student Association
Municipal Court Law Day Committee, 2000-2003
City of San Antonio July 4th Children’s Parade, Chair,
2000-2005
Monticello Park Neighborhood Association, former member
Jefferson/Woodlawn Lake Neighborhood Association, former member
Panelist for various bar association presentations
Speaker at various area elementary, middle and high schools, including alternative schools. Speaker for various Leadership programs.
EXPERIENCE:
Deputy Director and General Counsel, Bexar County Adult Probation, 2012 to present
Criminal Defense and Family Law Attorney, Gonzales & Torres-Stahl, 2010 to 2012
144th District Court Judge, 2006 to 2010
City of San Antonio Municipal Court Judge, 1997 to 2006; Juvenile judge and Magistrate. Implemented Teen Court for Municipal Court, August 2002 serving the youth of the entire City of San Antonio. Overseeing and providing training for Teen Court.
Associate Attorney, Scott Jones & Associates, 1997. Civil practice.
Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, 1994 – 1997; Prosecution in Family Violence Unit, Appellate Section, Juvenile Section and General Trial Courts.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
San Antonio Bar Association
College of the State Bar of Texas
Mexican-American Bar Association, President in 2003
St Mary's School of Law Alumni Association, Board Member
Hispanic Law Alumni Association, St Mary's University
Women’s Bar Association
San Antonio Bar Foundation
Texas Municipal Courts Education Center
Hispanic National Bar Association,
- Judicial Council President
- Liaison to the Board of Governors
- Latina Commission
Hispanic National Bar Association Corporate Council Conference, 2015 Co-Chair
League of Women Voters
Teens in the Driver’s Seat Coalition
Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women