Leadership and Legacy: Judge Anchondo on DWI Treatment Court Innovation in Texas

Justice Speaks Podcast #78

In this episode, Justice Speaks continues its series highlighting the role of judicial leaders in advancing treatment court practices across the United States. This episode is sponsored by OpAns.

About Judge Anchondo

In this episode, we interview the Honorable Robert Anchondo, a DWI Treatment Court Judge in El Paso, Texas, and the earliest adopter of the specialty court model in the state. With more than two decades on the bench and a key role in the development of DWI Treatment Courts nationwide, Judge Anchondo offers an in-depth discussion on the evolution, challenges, and future of specialty courts in Texas and beyond.

Judge Anchondo begins by telling us about his personal and professional path. Raised by a single mother, he developed an early sense of discipline, responsibility and an interest in politics. His interest in public service emerged during his youth and continued into college and law school. He explains that after graduating from Thurgood Marshall School of Law, located in Houston, he returned to El Paso to practice law alongside his brother. Not long after, he was encouraged to apply for a position as a municipal court judge. He accepted the role learning how to be judge while presiding over traffic matters.  In 2001 he was appointed to serve on the county’s criminal court at Law 2, presiding exclusively over criminal matters, including misdemeanor and impaired driving cases, explaining he is now in his sixth term.

DWI Treatment Court

In 2004, Judge Anchondo informs us that he established the first DWI Treatment Court in Texas, at a time when treatment court models were still gaining traction nationally. He shares how this decision was influenced by conversations with leaders in the field, including Judge Kent Lawrence and Judge Patrick M. Garcia. Judge Anchondo explains he recognized the limitations of a traditional adjudicative approach and sought to implement a court model that emphasized treatment, accountability, and long-term recovery. His initiative laid the foundation for a treatment-focused system that has since become a national example of best practices in addressing impaired driving.

The Stanley Goldstein Hall of Fame Treatment Court Award

Judge Anchondo discusses how he feels to be the 2025 recipient of the Stanley Goldstein Hall of Fame Treatment Court Award, which was presented at the 2025 All Rise Conference in May. During the interview, he reflects on the significance of this honor and underscores the importance of mentorship in the judiciary. He expresses his commitment to encouraging newly appointed judges to adopt treatment court models and to fostering the ongoing development of existing programs through collaboration and continuous learning.

He talks about how the El Paso DWI Treatment Court has evolved significantly over the past two decades. Initially developed with limited resources, the court is now a designated Mentor Court under the Impaired Driving Solutions Division at All Rise.  (Formerly the National Center for DWI Courts). Judge Anchondo outlines how the court has been sustained through a combination of county funding and federal grants. He credits a consistent and multidisciplinary team of stakeholders for supporting the court’s operations and adapting to changes in policy, practice, and participant needs.

DWI Treatment Court System Challenges

The conversation also turns to broader system challenges, including the need for increased funding, improved access to training, and the development of infrastructure to support therapeutic justice. Judge Anchondo emphasizes the importance of building treatment courts that are inclusive and responsive to diverse populations, including women, and Native American communities. He also notes the increasing complexity of participant needs and calls for data systems capable of evaluating outcomes and guiding program improvement.

Conclusion

Finally, Judge Anchondo then highlights the particular difficulty of providing consistent and high-quality DWI Treatment Court education in a state as vast and diverse as Texas. With courts located across rural, suburban, and urban areas, ensuring that judges and team members receive timely, relevant, and accessible training presents ongoing logistical and funding challenges. He underscores the need for coordinated state-level support and infrastructure to bridge these geographic and resource gaps.

We wish to thank Judge Robert Anchondo for sharing his insights and experiences on Justice Speaks. We also wish to thank OpAns for sponsoring this podcast episode.