"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
Catherine Torres-Stahl is currently the Deputy Director and General Counsel for the Bexar County Community Supervision and Corrections Department and an adjunct professor at the University of Texas in San Antonio for the Criminal Justice Department. She has spent the majority of her 22 year law career in the criminal justice arena. She is a former Criminal Defense and Family Law practicitioner 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 4 years. 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. Her legal career began as an Assistant District Attorney, prosecuting in the areas of Family Violence, Juvenile and Appellate cases for over 3 years.
Ms. Torres-Stahl, has had the privilege of being awarded the Latina Judge of the Year Award from HNBA in 2010; the Amicus Award from St. Mary’s Univ School of Law Center for Legal & Social Justice; and the Legal Profession Award from the Mexican American Bar Association.
Ms. 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 currently serving on the St. Mary’s University School of Law Alumni Board, a State Bar of Texas Fellow and member of the San Antonio Bar Association and Texas Probation Association.
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