Justice Luz Elena Chapa speaks during a campaign event last year. Credit: Instagram / luzelenachapa_campaign
Former 4th Court of Appeals Justice Luz Elena Chapa is joining the increasingly crowded Democratic field to become Bexar County’s next District Attorney, she revealed Tuesday.
“I know it won’t be easy, but I’m up for this challenge,” Chapa said in a statement. “The DA’s office needs major reform and a serious overhaul to re-establish public trust and refocus on ensuring justice for victims. I’ve earned the trust of Bexar County voters, and my continued promise is that I will safeguard that trust and deliver justice.”
During her 11 years on the 4th Court of Appeals, Chapa presided over criminal and civil appeals, but she lost the seat to Republican challenger Lori Massey Brissette last year.
Chapa earned both her BA and JD from St. Mary’s University and has spent the last quarter-century as an attorney.
If elected Bexar County DA, Chapa will fully fund and staff the office, work tirelessly for victims and Bexar County’s most vulnerable and tackle the backlog of family violence cases that have gone unprosecuted, she said in her statement.
Indeed, San Antonio has one of the nation’s highest domestic violence. Police here tallied 58,500 family-related violence calls last year.
“Victims of family violence and heinous crimes deserve better,” Chapa said.
In the Democratic primary, Chapa will take on criminal defense attorney and social media personality Shannon Locke, who officially filed to run last week. Trial attorney and former Assistant Bexar County District Attorney Jason Wolff and State Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, have also expressed serious interest in the race.
The broad interest in the race stems from current Bexar County DA Joe Gonzales announcing his intent to retire at the end of his term, leaving the seat open for the first time since 2018.
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