Paul L. LePak

Biography

Paul L. LePak is the presiding judge of the 264th Judicial District Court (“D Court”) in Bell County, Texas. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Greg Abbott on June 25, 2018, and is currently running for re-election as the Republican nominee, unopposed in the November 2026 general election.

The 264th Judicial District Court has general jurisdiction over felony criminal cases and civil matters. Judge LePak has presided over a wide range of cases, including serious felony offenses — murder, aggravated assault, drug trafficking — as well as civil litigation involving substantial financial claims.

Prior to his appointment, Judge LePak worked as an attorney in private practice in Central Texas, where he handled criminal defense and civil litigation matters. His experience in both criminal and civil law provides him with a balanced perspective on the cases that come before his court.

Judge LePak earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Bell County Bar Association, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, an honor limited to 2.5% of Texas attorneys.

Judge LePak’s current term expires December 31, 2028. He is running for re-election in 2026 as the Republican nominee and faces no opposition in the November general election.

Credentials & Education

Education

• Marquette University — B.A. in Political Science
• Villanova University School of Law — J.D.

Bar Admissions

• State Bar of Texas

Professional Memberships

• Bell County Bar Association
• State Bar of Texas
• Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
• Texas Bar Foundation (Fellow)

Appointment

• Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott, June 25, 2018

Professional History

Private Legal Practice — Attorney Practiced criminal defense and civil litigation in Central Texas prior to judicial appointment.

264th Judicial District Court — District Judge (June 2018 – Present) Appointed by Governor Abbott. Presides over felony criminal cases and civil litigation. Currently running unopposed for re-election in 2026.

Paul L. LePak is the presiding judge of the 264th Judicial District Court (“D Court”) in Bell County, Texas. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Greg Abbott in 2018. Prior to his appointment, Judge LePak worked as an attorney in private practice. He earned a B.A. in political science from Marquette University and a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Bell County Bar Association, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Case Load & Decision Summary

Based on an analysis of 1172 recently resolved cases, the following is a summary of the judge’s major caseload and how they typically decide them.

The Success Rate measures how often the Plaintiff/Filer (e.g., the landlord, debt collector, or state) wins a judgment. Cases that were dismissed or resulted in a judgment for the defendant lower this rate. Active or pending cases are excluded.