Travis County District Attorney José Garza Appoints New Director of Special Victims Division
Travis County, TX — Today, Travis County District Attorney José Garza announced that he has appointed Assistant Director Andrea Austin to be the new Director of the Special Victims Unit, overseeing the family violence and sexual assault units.
Andrea Austin has worked for over two decades as a prosecutor. She started her career at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office in 1998, where she tried homicides, hardcore gang cases, family violence cases, child abuse cases, sexual assaults, and general felonies for over ten years. Andrea started at the Travis County District Attorney’s Office in 2011, where she worked for over twelve years in the Trial Court Division. She was promoted to Team Lead in 2014 and worked in the 167th and the 390th District Courts. She has tried homicides, sexual assaults, family violence cases, and general felonies at the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. In total, Andrea has tried over 75 jury trials. Andrea was promoted to the Assistant Director of the Trial Court Division in 2021.
“We are grateful to Ms. Austin for bringing her wealth of trial and prosecutorial experience to this role,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “Ms. Austin demonstrated as Assistant Director of Trial Court that she was up for the challenge, and we look forward to having her in this position.”
The former Director of Special Victims Unit, Erin Martinson, has stepped down from the position due to health reasons. She will continue working in the Special Victims Unit as a liaison on sexual assault cases between our office and the Austin Police Department.
“Erin Martinson, not just while at the Travis County District Attorney’s Office but during her entire career, has made Travis County a safer place and ensured that our most vulnerable victims got the justice system they are entitled to,” said Travis County District Attorney José Garza. “She also taught us all the importance of treating each and every victim who walks through our doors with dignity and respect, and her impact on that alone will always be a part of TCDA. I look forward to working with her in her new role.”
“As the Director of the Special Victims Unit with DA Garza, it has been an honor to lead a team that supported survivors of violence throughout the criminal justice process with dignity and respect,” said Erin Martinson. “The goal has always been to establish a justice system that survivors can trust by involving them in the entire process and letting their experiences guide how we handle prosecutions. I know that Andrea Austin supports that goal, and SVU will thrive under her leadership.”