Judge Lori Ann DeAngelo — twenty years a Harris County felony prosecutor, later a criminal defense attorney in private practice, twice appointed by Governor Greg Abbott, and the first presiding judge of the 495th District Court.
Public safety. Victims’ rights. The rule of law.
Judge Lori Ann DeAngelo spent more than twenty years as a felony prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office — handling capital murders, sexual assaults of children, and complex narcotics conspiracies.
She later practiced as a criminal defense attorney in private practice, seeing the system from both sides of the courtroom. That dual experience — prosecutor and defense counsel — is the foundation of a fair, prepared, and principled bench.
Governor Greg Abbott appointed her to the 487th Judicial District Court on November 7, 2023, and again on December 19, 2024 as the first presiding judge of the newly created 495th Judicial District Court, effective January 1, 2025. She lives in Spring, Texas with her husband, Bill Delmore, a Montgomery County prosecutor.
The 495th is one of three new Harris County felony courts created by the Texas Legislature to attack the violent-crime backlog. Judge DeAngelo built it from day one — operations, staff, procedures.
Governor Greg Abbott appoints Lori Ann DeAngelo — a 20-year veteran of the Harris County DA’s Office and then private practitioner — to the 487th, one of three new felony courts created to confront Harris County’s violent-crime backlog.
Governor Abbott appoints her again as Judge of the newly created 495th Judicial District Court, effective January 1, 2025, for a term set to expire December 31, 2026, or until a successor is elected and qualified.
She takes the oath and stands up a new felony court from scratch — staff, procedures, and a docket built for serious cases. In her own words: “I was sworn in today as judge of the 495th District Court. Thank you Governor Abbott for giving me the opportunity to continue to serve the people of Harris County. Happy New Year!”
Judge Lori Ann DeAngelo advanced from the Republican primary for the 495th District Court and is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. “It’s official. Judge DeAngelo for the 495th! It’s been an honor to serve the people of Harris County and I look forward to continuing our good work in the 495th District Court.”
Official appointment announcements: Nov. 7, 2023 ↗ · Dec. 19, 2024 ↗
Verified moments from the docket — not slogans.
“Props to the 495th District Court Judge Lori DeAngelo for ordering No Bond to the defendant charged with the Murder of 28 year old Ambrosia Swaim. The suspect was wanted for a Felony (Burglary) out of South Carolina.”
A jury in the 495th District Court, with Judge DeAngelo presiding, found Miguel Zelaya-Ponce guilty of repeated unlawful sexual conduct involving a child who was 10 years old. The case followed a multi-agency arrest operation involving Texas DPS, the Texas Rangers, and DPS Highway Patrol.
The 495th was created to help clear Harris County’s violent-crime backlog. From day one, Judge DeAngelo has focused on a tight, lawful docket: victims heard, cases prepared, and serious offenders not treated as a revolving door.
Independent Harris County courthouse reporting by Jeff Ross’s Show Me The Justice lists trial results where Judge DeAngelo presided. Prosecutors and defense counsel try the cases; juries decide guilt. These entries show a working felony docket on the hardest crimes — and due process when the evidence does not meet the burden.
Cause No. 1862176 · Jury trial · Week of Aug. 15, 2025 · State: Danielle Oxford & Maria Juarez
Cause No. 1778921 · Jury trial · Week of Mar. 14, 2025 · State: Rebekah Wrobleske & Renee Serrato
Cause No. 1812160 · Jury trial · Week of June 12, 2026 · Defense: Dan Krieger & Anthony Smith
Cause Nos. 1861636 / 1861657 / 1861658 · Jury trial · Week of Sept. 12, 2025 · Defense: Kandice Horsey, Jackie Carpenter & Lynda Jetton
Source: ShowMeTheJustice.com (weekly “Rosster” of courtroom winners). List is illustrative, not exhaustive.
Andy Kahan publicly credited Judge DeAngelo with ordering no bond in a murder case involving a defendant also wanted on a South Carolina felony burglary charge.
Source: Andy Kahan on X ↗At Crime Stoppers’ Holiday Memorial Remembrance Tree ceremony, families placed personalized ornaments or photographs in memory of loved ones. Kahan’s public post names DeAngelo among the officials supporting the event.
Source: Andy Kahan on X ↗ Event details: Crime Stoppers ↗The Governor’s December 2024 release identifies her prior work as an attorney in private practice and as an assistant district attorney for Harris County for more than 20 years.
Source: Office of Gov. Abbott ↗Public trial listings from the 495th include both guilty and not-guilty jury verdicts in cases Judge DeAngelo presided over. The jury decides the verdict; the judge presides over the case.
Source: Show Me The Justice ↗Judge DeAngelo was appointed as the first judge of the 495th Judicial District Court, effective January 1, 2025, for a term ending December 31, 2026, or until a successor is elected and qualified.
Source: Harris County District Courts ↗The Governor’s release lists her State Bar of Texas and Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association memberships, along with a University of Florida journalism degree and Baylor Law J.D.
Source: Office of Gov. Abbott ↗
Judge DeAngelo has received the endorsement of the “C” Club of Houston for the 2026 election cycle (as reported by Ballotpedia). Additional endorsements will be posted as they are confirmed.
Source ↗Pictured with fellow district judges from Harris County’s newest felony courts — created by the Legislature to confront the violent-crime backlog. All three Republican. All three appointed by Governor Abbott.
From the swearing-in to Republican clubs, neighborhood meetings, and fundraisers — only the current term and the current campaign. Not the old races.
Day one on the new court. Thanked Governor Abbott for the opportunity to keep serving Harris County. Built the 495th from the ground up.
Present for the Holiday Memorial Tree remembrance — standing with victims’ families and those who work public safety every day.
Lunch with Judge Emily Detoto for a criminal-justice presentation by Senior Judge Denise Collins. Showing up for colleagues who take the work seriously.
Spoke as Judge of the 495th District Court at the Super Neighborhood 22 monthly meeting — with other Republican judicial candidates — before neighborhood leaders.
Out with fellow Harris County district judges from the newest felony courts — 495, 496, and 497 — the Republican bench built to attack the backlog.
Fundraiser with Judge Dan Simons (496th) and Jessica Caird (1st Court of Appeals) — packing the room with supporters for the 495th race.
On the slate with other Republican judicial candidates under Aaron Cichon’s West Loop Conservatives — early-voting push for the general election.
Advanced from the Republican primary. On the ballot November 3, 2026 — to keep serving Harris County from the 495th District Court.
Every dollar carries a message of experience, integrity, and justice to Harris County voters. Secure giving through RaiseTheMoney. Volunteer hours matter just as much — block walks, calls, signs, and neighborhood conversations.
General election: November 3, 2026 · 495th District Court · Harris County, Texas
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