Abigail Anastasio has close to 15 years of experience as a judge, criminal defense attorney and prosecutor. Ms. Anastasio was elected to the 184th Harris County Criminal District Court in 2019, where she had consistently the highest clearance rate and the most effective docket until her term ended at the end of 2022.
Ms. Anastasio started her career as an Assistant District Attorney (ADA) for Harris County. As an ADA, she tried and handled thousands of cases, ranging from misdemeanors to the most complex felonies. She honed her trial skills and worked in specialty divisions, including the domestic violence division. These experiences would later give her a clear advantage in defending the cases that she once prosecuted. In 2013, Ms. Anastasio, started her private criminal defense practice, where she successfully handled hundreds of criminal cases, earning her honors as a Super Lawyers Rising Star. Her trial wins, dismissals, and returns of no indictment include the most serious offenses such as capital murder, aggravated robbery, sexual abuse of a child, among many others.
Following the election win in 2018, Ms. Anastasio presided over the 184th District Court the following 4 years, dealing with a significant case backlog resulting from two life-altering events: Hurricane Harvey and the COVID pandemic. Throughout this time, Ms. Anastasio not only successfully reduced the case backlog, but she also consistently ranked among the top across all Harris County Criminal Courts in lowest average age of case combined with a reduction of individuals on bond and in jail. While on the bench, Ms. Anastasio presided over one of the highest number of jury trials, including multiple murders, sex abuse cases, and other serious felonies.
As an accomplished attorney and a former judge, Ms. Anastasio has a unique perspective of the entire criminal legal system, which few others possess. This perspective means that Ms. Anastasio can counsel not just from a defendant’s point of view, but also that of a judge and a prosecutor.
Ms. Anastasio is a graduate of the University of Houston and South Texas College of Law. She is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Texas and various other organizations.