County Court at Law 4

Judge Toni M. Wallace serves as the Presiding Judge of County Court at Law No. 4 in Fort Bend County, Texas, a position she has held since November 2018. She is an experienced jurist with broad general-jurisdiction authority, presiding over adult criminal misdemeanors, juvenile misdemeanor and felony matters, civil cases involving damages up to $200,000, probate proceedings, guardianships, and mental health commitment and forced medication hearings.
Judge Wallace brings to the bench extensive legal experience drawn from her service as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. Her judicial philosophy emphasizes fairness, professionalism, efficiency, and respect for the rule of law, while recognizing the importance of accountability paired with access to appropriate resources and services.

Judicial Leadership & Service

Judge Wallace made history as the first African American woman appointed to a Fort Bend County Court, serving as the inaugural judge of County Court at Law No. 5 in 2016 following a unanimous appointment by Commissioners Court. She later became one of the first African American judges elected countywide in Fort Bend County.

In addition to her duties in County Court at Law No. 4, Judge Wallace has served as Administrative Judge for all six County Courts at Law during multiple terms (2019–2021 and 2024–present). In that role, she has worked to improve court efficiency and case management, including leading efforts that eliminated approximately 70 percent of inactive cases from court dockets.
Since 2022, Judge Wallace has served as Chair of the Fort Bend County Juvenile Board, providing oversight and leadership for juvenile justice policy, programming, and interagency collaboration throughout the county.

Specialty Courts & Innovative Programs

Judge Wallace is widely recognized for her leadership in developing problem-solving courts and specialty programming designed to address the underlying causes of justice involvement.

• CORE Program (Commercially and Sexually Exploited Youth Court):
  • County Court at Law No. 4 is designated as a Texas-recognized Specialty Court for the CORE Program, which serves juvenile girls who are at risk of or have been affected by commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
• S.E.A. Court (Supporting Emerging Adults):
  • Judge Wallace created S.E.A. Court, a specialty docket designed to support justice-involved young adults ages 18–24. The program focuses on accountability, education, employment readiness, and access to community-based services to reduce recidivism and promote long-term stability.

In addition, Judge Wallace is the founder and host of A.C.T. Now! (Awareness Combats Trafficking), an annual human trafficking awareness and training program serving legal professionals, educators, service providers, and community stakeholders throughout Fort Bend County.

Prior Legal Experience

Before taking the bench, Judge Wallace served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office, where she prosecuted felony, misdemeanor, juvenile, domestic violence, and drug court cases, engaging in jury trials, juvenile certifications and determinate sentence proceedings.
She also practiced law in private practice, handling criminal defense, juvenile matters, probate, real estate, family law, mediation, and ad litem appointments. Earlier in her career, she practiced insurance defense and real estate law with Houston-area law firms.

Education & Professional Memberships

Judge Wallace earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law, where she received the T. Gerald Treece Heart of an Advocate Award and served as President of the Black Law Students Association. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism in Broadcast News from The University of Texas at Austin.
She is licensed by the State Bar of Texas and is an active member of numerous professional organizations, including:

• National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• International Association of Women Judges
• Texas County Court at Law Judges Association
• Houston Lawyers Association

Teaching & Community Engagement

Judge Wallace is also committed to legal education and community outreach. She has served as an adjunct professor teaching Business Law and Ethics and Trial Simulation courses at Texas Woman’s University and Thurgood Marshall School of Law. She is a frequent CLE presenter and speaker on juvenile justice, human trafficking awareness, and trial advocacy.

Her community involvement includes outreach presentations for school districts, youth organizations, professional associations, and civic groups throughout Fort Bend County and the greater Houston area.

Judge Toni M. Wallace remains dedicated to upholding the integrity of the judiciary while promoting efficiency, accessibility, and public trust in the justice system. Through her leadership on the bench and in the community, she continues to work toward a court system that is fair, effective, and responsive to the needs of the citizens of Fort Bend County.

Office Address
Fort Bend County Justice Center
1422 Eugene Heimann Circle, Courtroom 2E
Richmond, TX 77469

Mailing Address
County Court at Law No.4
301 Jackson Street
Richmond, TX 77469

Telephone
281-238-1995