Second Court of Appeals

Justice Place 7

Lee Gabriel (2010 to 2020)

Lee Gabriel was born on July 26, 1954, in Fort Worth, Texas.  She received both her undergraduate and law degrees from Texas Tech University.  While in law school, she was a member of The Texas Tech Law Review, the Board of Barristers, and the Order of the Coif.

After graduating from law school in 1980, Gabriel spent two years working as a law clerk for United States District Judge Halbert O. Woodward.  In 1982, she went to work as a felony prosecutor in the Denton County District Attorney’s Office.  She became the First Assistant District Attorney in 1986 and remained in this role until 1989, when she was appointed by Governor William P. Clements, Jr. to serve as judge of the 367th District Court in Denton County.  She presided over that court until 2010, when Governor Rick Perry appointed her to the Second Court of Appeals.  She served as a full-time justice until 2020 and continues to serve as a visiting judge, sitting by assignment in both appellate and trial courts.

In addition to her work as a judge, Gabriel, who is Board Certified in both Criminal Law and Criminal Appellate Law, served on and chaired the Criminal Law Specialization Committee for the State Bar of Texas and served on the Judicial Conduct Commission.  She has served on the Judicial Advisory Council to the Community Justice Assistance Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  She is currently the chair of the Ethics Committee of the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas.  Gabriel has also served many roles with the Texas Center for the Judiciary, including serving on its board of directors and on the curriculum committee.  She has taught at Texas A&M University School of Law and Texas Woman’s University.  She has also served as an officer in the Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court and on various committees for the Tarrant County Bar Association.