Susan Piel
Republican · TX · Judge, Denton County Criminal Court No. 2
Susan Piel has been a Denton County criminal court judge since voters elected her in 2018. A former Denton County assistant district attorney who led the misdemeanor and family violence units, she says she is a principled, conservative, tough-on-crime judge.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 9 records
Signed rules protecting confidential court information. Staff could report misconduct, but unauthorized leaks could lead to firing or prosecution.
February 27, 2025
Source: dentoncounty.gov
Signed a rule returning cash bonds after criminal records were cleared. Unclaimed funds went to the state.
February 10, 2025
Source: dentoncounty.gov
Signed jail rules covering bail and appointed lawyers. The rules also authorized mental-health care and release for extraordinary medical conditions.
January 16, 2024
Source: topics.txcourts.gov
Seconded funding an intake juvenile probation officer with state aid. The proposed budget lacked that funding. Passed 12-0.
August 10, 2023
Source: dentoncounty.gov
Joined county courts in delaying nonessential in-person hearings during COVID-19. Essential hearings, including juvenile detention matters, continued.
March 16, 2020
Source: dentoncounty.gov
Signed rules giving magistrates authority over bail before charges were filed. The rules required risk assessments and mental-health information.
January 1, 2020
Source: dentoncounty.gov
Had the dismissal of a coworker's race-discrimination promotion claim against her upheld. The federal appeals court found the claim lacked facts and was speculative.
January 31, 2014
Source: ca5.uscourts.gov
Was among the prosecutors representing the state in Daniel Orand's appeal of a child sex-offense conviction. The appeals court reversed the conviction because an almost twelve-year delay between indictment and arrest violated his speedy-trial right.
April 10, 2008
Source: leagle.com
Prosecuted a 2005 anti-gay assault on Chris McKee as a hate crime; the jury acquitted the defendant. She had earlier prosecuted Joshua Abbott for killing a gay man without a hate-crime charge, and that jury acquitted him on self-defense in May 2006.
April 5, 2007
Source: dallasvoice.com
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 1 favorable
Prosecuted former detective Robert Lozano for killing his wife. His murder conviction and 45-year sentence were upheld on appeal.
January 26, 2012Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: cases.justia.com
Past race Susan Piel ran in:
- Denton County Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 2 · November 3, 2026 · Denton County, Texas · incumbent