The following Q&A was sent to each candidate in August 2026. Responses provided were submitted by the Sun’s press deadline in mid-October and fit within a given wordcount.
Sarah Moore (Republican)
Why did you choose to run for district judge?
I am running for Judge because this is the next chapter in a life I've built around service, community, and deep experience in the law. A mom of four and a Williamson County resident, I’ve spent nearly two decades putting in the work that matters most when a courtroom decision affects real families. The robe is much more than a symbol: it is a promise that the people of Williamson County deserve a judge with experience they can trust, judgment they can count on, and a heart for service that carries beyond the bench into the community.
What prior experience do you have that qualifies you to serve as a judge?
I don’t just believe in experience — I’ve built my career on it. I am Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a published legal author, and the recipient of the 2020 Lone Star Prosecutor Award for ethical prosecution and victim advocacy. I currently serve as a felony prosecutor and have led attorney teams and specialty units across multiple District Attorneys’ offices. I’ve been lead counsel in more than 100 felony jury trials, experience that can only be earned in the courtroom.
If elected, what would you hope to accomplish with your time in office?
I want the people of Williamson County to have complete confidence that their court is fair, prepared, and firmly grounded in the law. Judges must bring more than legal knowledge to the bench; they must bring judgment shaped by real courtroom experience and an understanding of how decisions affect families, victims, and defendants. My goal is to elevate professionalism, ensure efficient and respectful proceedings, and apply the law evenly, with fairness grounded in compassion and common sense.
What is your legal philosophy?
My life outside the law — as a parent, volunteer, community leader, and neighbor — informs how I see justice: it’s not an abstract ideal, it’s something that should make life better and safer for every family in Williamson County.
I believe the best Judges allow the parties to the litigation to do their jobs and apply the law evenly. I firmly believe that no one is above or beneath the law.
How does your political ideology influence your interpretation of the law?
As a Christian and a Conservative, I believe both in individual responsibility and the value of life. In other words, I believe in fairness, firmness, and compassion. With an even application of the law as it is written, there is a time and place for any combination of the three. A good Judge does not allow political ideology to influence the application of the law: I see the job as applying the law evenly to all, as it is written, and doing so with fairness grounded in compassion and common sense.
Outside of your candidacy, what are you known for in your neighborhood or small community?
My commitment to service doesn’t stop at the courthouse door. I serve on the board of the WilCo Women’s Center and am active in local civic organizations including the Rotary Club of Georgetown, where I serve as Chair of the Human Trafficking Awareness Committee, Helping Hands, The Caring Place, Isaiah 117, Mission 4031, Georgetown Area Republican Women, Leander Area Republican Women, Republican Club of Sun City, JBMHope, and many others around Williamson County. I believe I am known for regularly investing my time, talent and treasure to help and serve others.
Leslie Booker (Democrat)
Why did you choose to run for district judge?
Williamson County has been my home for 20 years. I have seen both sides of the courtroom, and that’s really shaped me into someone who can be fair, knowledgeable and steady. Great qualities for a district judge. The county has grown in many ways: population, culturally, religiously and racially. It’s important that our justice system reflects the community for which it serves, like every other aspect of the county. Professionally, I would offer balance to the bench through my experience on both sides of the courtroom, as a felony prosecutor and a defense attorney.
What prior experience do you have that qualifies you to serve as a judge?
With more than 30 years of legal experience, I’ve tried tough criminal cases, from capital murder and child sexual abuse to family violence and drug offenses. As a former prosecutor, I believe in being very tough when necessary but always fair. My broader legal experience also includes juvenile, family law involving divorce, child custody, and CPS, as well as some bankruptcy experience.
If elected, what would you hope to accomplish with your time in office?
I raised my kids in Williamson County, so I understand the importance of public safety. Safety is number one for everyone: residents, kids, seniors and local businesses. Also, an efficient courtroom. An efficient courtroom requires a judge to be respectful of everyone in the system. Victims, plaintiffs and defendants must be treated with dignity. Lawyers, law enforcement and staff should be treated as professionals. Lastly, when it comes to nonviolent offenses, there are smarter resolutions to be considered. We cannot ignore mental health issues either. Let’s use every resource we have but never lose sight of keeping our community safe
What is your legal philosophy?
It’s simple: follow the law while making smart and efficient decisions within the law. And when I say follow the law, I mean all laws including Constitutional laws. Not just follow protocol or go along with what has been in practice. As judge, I will listen to contested issues and sound arguments and base my rulings on the facts and evidence within the bounds of the law.
How does your political ideology influence your interpretation of the law?
In short, it does not. Which is why my mantra is and has been since day one of this campaign: Bound by the Law…Not by Politics. While judicial candidates normally run on a political party ticket, we cannot campaign on political ideologies. I do not answer to political insiders or special interests. I do not owe the local/state/federal political establishment anything. My job would be to uphold the law, respect the Constitution and make sure everyone who comes into my courtroom gets fair and unbiased justice.
Outside of your candidacy, what are you known for in your neighborhood or small community?
Outside my legal work, most people around the county know me from the pool or local races. I am an avid swimmer and endurance athlete who has completed more than 10 Ironman triathlons and attempted an English Channel swim in 2022. I’ve also worked to help kids get comfortable in the water and learn how to swim. I stay busy with a few civic groups, too. Honestly, wherever I go, someone stops me and asks, “Hey, are you still swimming?” My answer never changes: Absolutely!