I have been practicing in Kerr County for 22 years and am qualified to serve as Judge of the County Court at Law for Kerr County through a combination of rigorous legal training, broad courtroom
experience, and a proven commitment to fair, efficient justice. I have built a foundation through years of hands-on practice handling civil disputes, misdemeanor criminal matters, probate issues, and contested hearings that demand decisive, rule-based judgment. My experience will aid in evaluating evidence, ruling on motions, managing crowded dockets, and issuing clear, enforceable orders—often under tight time constraints and with real consequences for families, businesses, and individual liberty. I am accustomed to maintaining neutrality, ensuring due process, and moving cases forward without unnecessary delay. I further have experience as the alternate municipal judge for the City of Ingram, Texas which provides me with the necessary experience and knowledge to control the courtroom.
The Kerr County Court at Law Judge serves as a trial-level judge with authority defined by the Texas Constitution, Texas statutes, and local jurisdictional rules. The role combines judicial decision-making, case management, and administrative oversight. The Court at Law handles criminal cases involving Class A and Class B misdemeanors, criminal appeals from Justice of the Peace courts, pretrial hearings, motions, and bench or jury trials in misdemeanor cases. The Court hears civil cases up to $250,000, Contract disputes, certain property and title issues, appeals from JP courts, family law matters, protective orders, probate & guardianship and some mental health commitments. The judge is responsible for presiding over bench trials and jury trials, ruling on motions, discovery disputes, evidentiary objections, charging the jury and entering final judgments and in misdemeanor criminal cases, sentencing. The judge must ensure fairness, compliance with procedural rules and efficient docket progression.
I’m a magna cum laude graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law. I am licensed to practice in Texas and the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. I am a member of the Texas Bar College, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association Rural Practice Committee, and the TCDLA
Pardons and Parole Committee, and previously served on the board for the Kerrville Recovery Community Coalition. I volunteer for the Kerrville Municipal Court – Teen Court, San Antonio Legal Services Association, and Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid. I have experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney dealing with complex criminal matters to include trials involving death. I handle family law cases and other civil cases in the justice court, county court at law, and the district levels. This background has given me a balanced perspective and a strong appreciation for applying the law with firmness and compassion.
The County Court at Law Judge serves as a key judicial officer responsible for administering justice across a broad range of cases prescribed by Texas law. The judge presides over civil matters within the court’s jurisdiction, including civil disputes involving amounts in controversy exceeding $500 up to $325,000.
The judge also hears misdemeanor criminal cases and handles original and appellate proceedings assigned by statute, such as appeals from the Justice of the Peace. In addition, the judge hears appeals from final decisions of the Texas Department of Insurance’s Division of Workers’ Compensation. The role includes exercising concurrent jurisdiction with district courts in proceedings under the Texas Family Code. The judge also performs probate-related duties authorized by law, including certain mental health and commitment proceedings. Importantly, the judge does not oversee county administrative matters reserved for the commissioner’s court, ensuring separation between judicial and executive county functions.
I have been a public servant for the majority of my legal career. I have been a prosecutor in the Kerr County Attorney’s office for the past four years, specifically practicing in the County Court at Law. Prior to this, I was a prosecutor in the Gillespie County Attorney’s Office. I have experience in all of the areas of law in which the Court has jurisdiction, specifically criminal law, family law, and civil law. I practice in the County Court at Law on a weekly basis and have knowledge on the operations and procedures of the Court, and have ideas on changes that can improve docket efficiency. In addition, as a prosecutor I feel as though I am specifically aware of the expectations of our community and what justice looks like to Kerr County citizens.
A judge’s duty is to be a fair arbiter of the rules, procedures, and the law. They are to be fair to all parties involved and ensure that the playing field remains level. They should apply the law as it exists to each case, and in my opinion, should not legislate from the bench. The duty of the judge is to uphold the Constitutions of both the United States and the State of Texas. The County Court at Law has jurisdiction over family law, civil law, misdemeanor criminal cases, contested probate matters, and juvenile appeals. In certain criminal cases, it is the duty of the judge to access punishment and set bonds. It is my opinion that this duty should not be taken lightly, as it directly affects the safety and welfare of the citizens of Kerr County.
I am the owner/manager of the Law Offices of Deborah S. Perry, PLLC. My love for the Hill country and the people of Kerr County has only grown, along with the firm, over the years. I have acquired a great deal of knowledge and experience since entering the legal field several decades ago. This has led me to a concentration in civil litigation, family law and criminal law, along with estate planning and probate proceedings. I have also been able to utilize my skills as a trained mediator. I has been a member of the State Bar of Texas, Federal Bar Association, San Antonio Bar Association, San Antonio Criminal Defense Attorneys, and Kerr County Bar Association. I have continuously and conscientiously assisted my colleagues to achieve the goals set forth by the State of Texas through these entities. I have been on several Juvenile and Adult Drug Court Boards.
The duties and roles of the Judge would include promoting justice in the prosecution of misdemeanor criminal cases. In addition, these duties and roles would include family law and miscellaneous civil cases. The role of the Judge would be to provide transparency and diligence in scheduling hearings and moving cases at a faster pace toward resolution with an open courtroom philosophy to all, whether individuals, businesses or families. The judge should officiate in a respectful but firm manner to both the State, Defendants, Petitioners or Respondents. The Judge should only interpret the Constitution as written by our Founding Fathers in rendering decisions and not in an effort to legislate. In addition, the Judge should rule in accordance with the law and prior statutes and precedence. Also, I believe that the Judge should be a backup to the Judicial District Courts and County Court for efficiency.
My past 25 years as an attorney have prepared me to be County Court at Law Judge. The vast majority of those years have included civil and criminal litigation in municipal, state, and federal courts
throughout Texas. In addition, I served as a law clerk for the Fort Worth Court of Appeals for two years, where I reviewed criminal and civil cases to consider trial error. I also have firsthand experience in almost all of the types of cases the County Court at Law Judge to preside over, including civil litigation, criminal prosecution, and probate litigation. I also prepared and reviewed probable cause affidavits, which provides me with the knowledge necessary to review them as a judge. But most of all, I am a very hard and tenacious worker who will find the answer if I don't know it.
The role of the Judge is more entailed than most people know. In addition to presiding over trials and hearings regarding family law matters, Class A and B misdemeanor cases, civil actions with damages less than $250,000, and probate cases, the judge has many other duties and responsibilities. These include, but are not limited to, working with the County Commissioners to determine the Court's budget, considering requests for court case information filed pursuant to Rule 12 of the Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, reviewing probable cause affidavits for civil and criminal cases, ensuring proper reporting of court dockets to the Office of Court Administration and guaranteeing standing orders and local rules are up to date and helpful.
