Travis County District Court Judge Chantal Eldridge is reportedly running unopposed in the upcoming November election, a development that brings renewed attention to a series of controversies surrounding her tenure and past conduct. These include a 2006 sexual assault accusation, questions about her impartiality in a sexual assault case, and the employment of a registered sex offender as her court coordinator. The renewed scrutiny is particularly sharp following the death of 26-year-old UT engineering graduate Larissa Herold, whose alleged killer was reportedly released under circumstances linked to Judge Eldridge.
In 2006, Eldridge, then an attorney, was accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old Brazilian foreign exchange student living in her home. According to the student's account, Eldridge gave him alcohol and suggested strip poker, leading to a sexual encounter in his bedroom while her 8-year-old son was present. The placement company subsequently banned her, but the Travis County District Attorney's office declined to prosecute, citing the student's return to Brazil and discrepancies in statements. Eldridge, who maintained her innocence, went on to win her judicial election that November. A grand jury also declined to indict her in 2018 when the allegations resurfaced during her campaign.
Further controversy arose in 2019 during Eldridge's first trial as a judge, involving a man convicted by a jury of raping his cleaning lady. Judge Eldridge reportedly declined to issue a jail sentence, prompting the District Attorney's office to file a motion for her recusal. A visiting judge subsequently ordered her off the case, concluding that "a reasonable person would question her impartiality on sexual assault." Prosecutors also highlighted that Eldridge had employed a registered sex offender as her court coordinator, a detail that further fueled concerns about her judgment in cases involving sexual offenses.
The tweet specifically alleges that Eldridge "kept a criminal on the street -- until he killed 26-year-old UT engineering grad Larissa Herold." This grave accusation suggests a direct link between a judicial decision made by Eldridge and a subsequent tragic outcome, intensifying public debate about her suitability for continued judicial service. As of the current date, Judge Eldridge is reportedly running unopposed for re-election, which could mean these controversies will continue to be a focal point for public discussion and criticism.
