On Jan. 1, Audra L. Riley, a 1998 graduate of Liberty-Eylau High School, became the judge of Dallas County Criminal Court No. 3.
In the Democratic Party Primary, held in mid-July, Audra garnered 75,952 votes in the race for District 3 State Criminal Court, according to the Sachse News. She easily defeated her opponent, who took home 46,965 votes, making Riley the nominee.
She ran unopposed in November.
Audra began her career as a prosecutor at the Dallas County District Attorney's Office in the Misdemeanor Division, where she moved up the ranks and then moved to the Felony Division.
She graduated with honors from Sam Houston State University with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology. She then attended and graduated with honors from Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law while simultaneously working as a correctional officer with the Texas Department of Corrections.
Audra is the daughter of Darnell and Rita Riley of Texarkana, Texas.