About Maritza

Former Chief Prosecutor and Harris County Criminal Court Judge

Maritza Antu is the Republican nominee for the 14th Court of Appeals, Place 5. She began her career in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, where she served for 10 years and advanced to the role of Chief Prosecutor. Throughout her career, she has tried over 85 cases to a jury, handling a range of cases from misdemeanors to capital murders. Her work in the Child Abuse Division, where she secured over 20 convictions for child sexual assault, is particularly distinguished. Recognized as a “Legal Leader on the Rise” by Texas Lawyer Magazine in 2013, she is an advocate for victims and is known as a tough-on-crime prosecutor.

In October 2021, Governor Greg Abbott appointed her as the first Judge of the 482nd Criminal District Court in Harris County. In a single year, Antu reduced the court’s backlog by 50%, and maintained one of the highest case disposition rates among the district courts. More importantly, she accomplished this task while focusing on the safety of the residents of Harris County.

In January 2023, Antu returned to her own law practice which focuses on indigent defense and helping low-risk and non-violent offenders reintegrate into society. Fluent in Spanish, she provides critical support to bilingual clients in greater Houston.

Antu is married to Judge Matthew Peneguy, and they have two beautiful children, Daniella and Diego. They are members of St. Anne Catholic Church. Antu earned a B.S. in Public Relations from the University of Texas and a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center.

Awards

• “LEGAL LEADER ON THE RISE” IN TEXAS LAWYER MAGAZINE IN 2013
• APPOINTED JUDGE OF THE 482ND DISTRICT COURT IN 2022
• ENDORSED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT