Judge, 496th District Court (Harris County)

Dan Simons was appointed judge of the 496th District Court by Governor Greg Abbott on January 7, 2025¹². Before that he was a criminal defense attorney and owner of Dan Simons Law Firm, and earlier an assistant district attorney in Harris County². He was the Republican nominee for Harris County District Attorney in 2024¹. He advanced unopposed from the Republican primary for a full term and faces Democrat Ramona Franklin in the general election¹.

• Judge, 496th District Court, Harris County, by appointment of Governor Greg Abbott on January 7, 2025; current term ends December 31, 2026¹²
• Criminal defense attorney and owner, Dan Simons Law Firm; previously an attorney with the Thiessen Law Firm and an assistant district attorney, Harris County District Attorney's Office²
• U.S. Air Force, 1996 to 1999; honorably discharged¹²
• Bachelor's degree, Sam Houston State University, 2008; J.D., Thurgood Marshall School of Law, 2011; graduate degree, University of Houston, 2013; licensed in Texas since November 2012¹³
• Ran as the Republican nominee for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 8 in 2018 (lost to Democrat Franklin Bynum), for Criminal Court at Law No. 11 in 2022 (lost to incumbent Democrat Sedrick Walker II), and for Harris County District Attorney in 2024 (lost to Democrat Sean Teare, 50.9% to 49.1%)¹. Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the 496th District Court on January 7, 2025, for a term ending December 31, 2026². Advanced unopposed from the Republican primary on March 3, 2026, and faces Democrat Ramona Franklin in the November 3, 2026 general election¹.