Julian Ramirez, Attorney

Native Texan Julian Ramirez, 58, is a licensed attorney who has worked in the Harris County criminal courts for more than 32 years. A second-generation U. S. citizen, Julian’s story epitomizes the American Dream. 

Julian’s great-grandfather was recruited to the U. S. from Mexico in 1908 to help build railroads. The move ensured a better life and security for his family and generations to follow. Julian’s grandparents became sharecroppers, raising their children on a Fort Bend County farm during the Great Depression. Like many Mexican Americans of the time, his parents attained only a grade school education. However, the value of an education coupled with hard work was not lost on his parents. They raised seven children in a two-bedroom house without air conditioning “across the tracks” on Rosenberg’s working-class north side. They faithfully attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Church every Sunday and made sure each of their seven children graduated from high school and attended college.

Growing up, Julian and his siblings stocked shelves and worked the cash register in the small family grocery store to help support the family. The experience taught him the value hard work and the importance of providing a service to the community. 

Julian received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 and his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1989 from the University of Texas at Austin. Julian’s dedication to public service led him to a 27-year career at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. 

Julian prosecuted thousands of felony cases and tried more than 150 first chair jury trials for crimes ranging from death penalty capital murders to DWI’s. He was promoted to chief felony prosecutor in 1994, managing large dockets of felony cases, and division chief in 2007. He has overseen multiple felony courts, the public corruption unit, and the civil rights division. He has also handled many gang cases, high-profile matters, and complex investigations. 

His retirement from the DA’s Office in December 2016 was a short one. When the current DA recused her office from handling hundreds of cases, district court judges appointed Julian to prosecute more than 50 of them. He has continued to try violent crime cases, including capital murder and murder, to guilty verdicts. 

Julian has been asked many times to share his expertise by teaching police officers at the Houston Police Academy and prosecutors at the DA’s Office and across the state. Julian has taught thousands of police and prosecutors on various criminal and investigative topics. 

Julian is active in the Memorial Park 1^st Ward congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and his son’s boy scout troop. He lives in Houston with his wife, Caroline Dozier, their 13-year-old son, and their two dogs.