Judge Juli Mathew Secures Third Consecutive Term in Texas

HOUSTON, Nov. 4:
Indian American Judge Juli A. Mathew has secured a third consecutive four-year term as Judge of Fort Bend County Court at Law No. 3 in Texas, following her victory in the November 3 general election.

Mathew, the Democratic candidate, received 180,804 votes, accounting for 59.96 percent of the total, while her Republican challenger, Jessica Jaramillo, secured 120,735 votes, or 40.04 percent, according to unofficial election results. Mathew won by a margin of more than 60,000 votes.

The victory extends her tenure on the Fort Bend County bench through 2030, marking another milestone in the judicial career of the Kerala-born judge who made history in 2018.

A native of Vennikulam near Thiruvalla in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district, Mathew became the first Indian American woman elected to a judicial position in the United States in 2018. She assumed office in January 2019 and successfully retained her seat in the 2022 election.

Mathew moved to the United States with her family during childhood and grew up in Philadelphia. She earned her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and later graduated from Delaware Law School. Before her election to the judiciary, she practiced law for more than 15 years.

During her tenure, Mathew has presided over civil, criminal, juvenile, probate and guardianship cases. Among her notable initiatives is the establishment of Fort Bend County’s Juvenile Intervention and Mental Health Specialty Court, which focuses on rehabilitation, accountability and support for young people facing mental health challenges.

Her re-election marks another significant achievement for the Indian American community, particularly Malayalis in Texas and across the United States. Mathew’s journey from Kerala to the American judiciary has drawn attention as an example of the growing representation of Indian Americans in public service.

With her latest election victory, Judge Juli Mathew is set to continue serving the residents of Fort Bend County for another four years, completing her third consecutive term in 2030.