About Judge Sara Maynard
Born in Europe while her father served abroad in our nation’s military, Judge Maynard has always understood the importance of service. As a child, she learned that her great grandfather was tragically killed in the line of duty while serving as a Sheriff’s Deputy in East Texas. Looking up to members of her family that fought to defend our way of life, Judge Maynard chose to continue that legacy of service in the justice system.
After a long and successful legal career, she was appointed by the Smith County Commissioners Court to fill the bench vacancy in January of 2023. Since taking the bench, she has effectively administered justice, reduced case backlog, and saved taxpayer dollars through responsible department budgeting and management.
After earning her bachelor’s degree from Dallas Baptist University and her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, Judge Maynard practiced law in Smith County for over 25 years. Over the course of her career, she garnered experience from a variety of roles within the legal community, including owning and operating a thriving, Tyler-based private practice for over 20 years. For 15 of those years, she also represented child abuse victims in Smith County CPS cases to ensure that the children’s best interests were being protected. Most recently, before her appointment, she served as a Smith County Assistant District Attorney prosecuting cases in juvenile court. As one of only 68 attorneys in Texas that are Board Certified in Juvenile Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Judge Maynard is uniquely qualified to preside over the Court’s extensive family law docket.
In addition to her comprehensive legal background, Judge Maynard has a proven record of servant leadership to our community. She has served as a Precinct Chair and Parliamentarian for the Smith County Republican Party, volunteered as an Election Judge, served as Secretary for the Smith County Republican Club, and been an active member of many community organizations. While serving as a Commissioner of Smith County Emergency Services District #2, she worked tirelessly to effectively support 11 fire departments in Smith County and ensure transparency for tax dollars spent.
Before wearing the robe, Judge Maynard enjoyed coaching the nationally recognized Good Shepherd School debate team for over twenty years. She recently celebrated 35 years of marriage with her husband, Roy, who works as a Senior Writer with the Texas Public Policy Foundation. They have three children and attend Christ Church in Tyler.