257th Family District Court

Judge Sandra Peake has presided over the 257th Family District Court in Harris County since January 1, 2019. Her current term ends on December 31, 2026. 

Judge Peake has been a resident of Harris County for more than 40 years, after having moved from Minnesota earlier in her life. According to her professional and public-record profiles, she was admitted to the Texas bar on December 30, 1982. She has practiced law for over three decades, focusing extensively on family law, wills and probate, and consumer bankruptcy.

Since taking the bench, she has focused on making the 257th Court more accessible and efficient. Under her leadership, the court established an “Express Docket” for uncontested matters and scheduling and implemented hybrid/virtual hearings. These measures were guided by a desire to make family court more responsive to real people’s needs, and to ensure fair treatment regardless of a litigant’s financial situation, background, or complexity of case. She has spoken about her belief in fairness, impartiality, and transparency — including her decision to avoid wearing any robe accessories (such as political-party pins) that might suggest bias, saying that justice must “appear” as well as be done. 

Disclaimer: The information contained in this biography is provided by Eaton Family Law solely for general informational purposes. Eaton Family Law does not endorse, recommend, or have any association with the judge(s) listed on this page. Their inclusion is for informational reference only. Information may be incomplete, outdated, or subject to change; Eaton Family Law disclaims all liability for reliance on this content.