Chance Oliver
Republican · TX · Judge, Denton County Criminal Court No. 4
Chance Oliver has been a Denton County criminal court judge since voters elected him in 2018. He says he is committed to fair and equal treatment under the law and wants to build a stronger team to address community mental-health needs and public safety.
Where Chance Oliver stands, based on their records
Supports
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (2 records)
Track record
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 2 support
Created a court docket to monitor treatment for defendants whose court-ordered assessments identified mental health needs. A July 2022 state report said the docket checked that defendants met their treatment requirements in the community.
July 13, 2022Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: texasjcmh.gov
Helped host a two-day county workshop on mental health needs at each stage of the justice system. Judges, jail staff, lawyers and treatment providers identified gaps in care and ways to divert people into treatment.
March 4, 2022Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: texasjcmh.gov
Track record — General
General · 9 records
Signed a county plan for appointing lawyers to misdemeanor defendants who could not afford counsel. It set lawyer qualifications, a rotating appointment process, payment rules and a way to challenge denied fees.
October 22, 2025
Source: tidc.tamu.edu
Signed a policy protecting internal court drafts, deliberations and sealed records from unauthorized disclosure. Staff had to report accidental disclosures. The policy allowed disclosure needed to report misconduct or illegal acts to the proper authorities.
February 27, 2025
Source: dentoncounty.gov
Signed county court rules requiring free viewing, in some format, of public court records, including electronically filed documents. The rules preserved restrictions on confidential records and allowed charges for copies.
February 27, 2025
Source: topics.txcourts.gov
Signed an order returning cash bail deposits after a person's criminal records were cleared. Administrative fees were deducted. Unclaimed funds went to the state comptroller.
February 10, 2025
Source: dentoncounty.gov
Signed rules appointing part-time jail magistrates to handle bail, legal representation and emergency protection. The rules also authorized mental-health treatment and release for extraordinary medical conditions.
January 16, 2024
Source: topics.txcourts.gov
Signed an order requiring arrest warrants when defendants missed court and the judge filed a signed certificate of that absence. The clerk issued the warrant unless an active warrant already existed.
February 22, 2023
Source: dentoncounty.gov
Seconded and voted for a change to the county's juvenile legal-defense plan. It required formal replacement of appointed counsel when a child's family hired a lawyer. The Juvenile Board approved it unanimously.
February 3, 2023
Source: dentoncounty.gov
Joined county judges in issuing COVID-19 court guidelines that postponed jury trials and most in-person proceedings. Essential matters continued, with remote hearings where possible.
March 25, 2020
Source: dentoncounty.gov
Joined county judges in adopting procedures that gave the magistrate court authority over bail before formal criminal charges were filed. The order required custody, risk-assessment and mental-health records. Authority transferred to the assigned trial court once charges were filed.
January 1, 2020
Source: dentoncounty.gov
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 1 favorable
Served among the Denton prosecutors representing the State in Guadalupe Reyes's family-assault appeal. The appeals court upheld the conviction. It allowed witness statements made under the stress of the attack and Reyes's admission before his arrest.
June 14, 2001Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: caselaw.findlaw.com
Past race Chance Oliver ran in:
- Denton County Judge, County Criminal Court at Law No. 4 · November 3, 2026 · Denton County, Texas · incumbent