Betsy Stukes serves as the Chief of the Holistic Division at the Harris County Public Defender's Office (HCPDO), where she leads a multidisciplinary team focused on client-centered advocacy and addressing the underlying challenges that impact individuals involved in the criminal legal system.

Betsy began her legal career in private practice as a criminal defense attorney before joining HCPDO in 2019. She defended clients in criminal court with the Felony Trial Division and later developed the office’s first parole practice within the Holistic Division. Betsy served as the Assistant Chief of the Holistic Division before becoming Division Chief in 2026.

Betsy earned her law degree from The University of Texas School of Law and holds two undergraduate degrees from the University of Georgia. She taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston for eleven years, and she received the Texas Exes Teaching Award for her work as a teaching assistant in criminal law during law school. Betsy currently co-chairs HCPDO’s Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Committee.