Nancy Hohengarten

I’m Nancy Hohengarten, a retired judge and community advocate based in Austin, Texas. For nearly two decades, I served as the elected judge of Travis County Court at Law No. 5, where I handled misdemeanor criminal cases and worked closely on issues at the intersection of criminal justice, mental health, and substance use.

During my time on the bench, I helped develop treatment court programs such as Project Recovery and played a role in the creation of the Austin Sobering Center, an initiative designed to provide safe alternatives to jail or emergency rooms for people experiencing public intoxication.

Since retiring from the judiciary in 2022, I’ve turned my focus toward environmental advocacy and community initiatives. I’m involved with the Austin Reuse Coalition and currently serve as Vice President of the Plastic Reduction Project, working to reduce plastic waste and encourage practical reuse solutions.

I enjoy learning about zero-waste efforts around the world and supporting local projects that make communities healthier and more sustainable.