Mindy has lived in Austin since she was 6 years old. Her father grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and her mother in Houston, Texas. Both were the first in their families to attend college. Her grandfather worked as an airline mechanic and was a proud member of his local union. Her grandmother worked for the local newspaper selling advertisement space. Her parents met while attending the University of Texas. Mindy’s father joined the ROTC and was able to attend college on scholarship. Her mother worked for Dr. Ira Iscoe, a UT professor, in order to pay her college Her father graduated from college and was accepted by the University of Texas School of Law. He drove a delivery truck to pay his way through school. Following law school, her parents moved to Camp LeJuene, North Carolina where her father served as a J.A.G. officer in the U.S. Marines. Mindy was born on the military base at Camp LeJuene 
tuition.and, shortly thereafter, her parents returned to Texas and made their home in Lubbock. Her mother taught English at Estacado High School and her father practiced law. Her father was later elected as the Lubbock County District Attorney and then, years later, to the Texas Senate as a democrat from conservative West Texas.
Both of Mindy’s parents taught her at an early age the importance of hard work and having an education. She worked odd jobs beginning in high school including cashier for a neighborhood video store, restaurant hostess, floor sales at a department store, babysitting, camp counselor, and she received free housing working as a resident assistant at a college dormitory while attending the University of Texas.
Mindy moved to Austin, Texas in 1976 with her mother who was a single mother and a high school teacher at the time. Mindy played kickball and was a member of the Brownies and Girl Scouts growing up in Northwest Hills. She attended Westwood High School where she was selected to represent Austin at Girls State and eventually at Girls Nation. It was during her time at Girls State that she had her first opportunity to hear from then State Treasurer, Ann Richards. She clearly remembers Richards speaking to the crowd of young leaders and saying, “one day, I hope you are up here giving this speech.” She was motivated by the message and eventually was hired as an unpaid intern for Governor Ann Richards in 1991 as a young college student. Montford graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in government and then attended the University of Texas for law school. During law school, Montford enrolled in every criminal law class that was offered including the Criminal Defense Clinic and the Juvenile Justice Clinic where she received first hand experience with a temporary bar card working alongside supervising attorneys. Before graduating from law school, Montford had the opportunity to argue a case before the Third Court of Appeals and to try three jury trials as a first chair attorney.
Montford began her professional career as a misdemeanor prosecutor in Harris County. She returned to Austin and worked as the General Counsel to Democratic State Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. In 1999, Montford returned to the field of prosecution as a Travis County Assistant District Attorney. During her time in the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, Montford handled some of the toughest criminal cases including the 2003 stabbing of 9 high school students at a Halloween party and the attempted capital murder-suicide case involving a mother who poisoned her two young children with pesticide. Mindy has prosecuted some of the most dangerous sexual predators and has handled hundreds of child abuse cases involving the physical and sexual abuse of children. Montford served on the Travis County Child Protection Team where she staffed suspected cases of child abuse on a daily basis with detectives, CPS investigators, social workers, forensic interviewers, and medical personnel. Montford prepared and presented these cases before the grand jury on a weekly basis. In addition to her time as a trial court prosecutor, Montford also served in the Public Integrity Unit where she worked on the TRMPAC and Tom DeLay investigations resulting in multiple indictments. Montford has handled thousands of criminal cases and tried approximately 100 jury trials throughout her career and has practiced before every criminal district court in Travis County.
In 2003, Montford started the prosecution externship program at the University of Texas School of Law to provide law students with hands on courtroom experience and to teach them about legal and ethical issues in the field of prosecution. Montford served as the co-founder and adjunct professor for this course until she left the Travis County District Attorney’s Office in 2008. The course continues to be in existence today. In addition to her professional service, Montford has given back to the community as a board member for organizations such as the Girl Scouts, the Travis County Women Lawyers Association, and Crime Prevention Institute. She has volunteered for the Texas School for the Blind, Coats for Kids, Center Stage, and El Buen Samaritano.
“I have devoted almost my entire legal career to the criminal justice system. Having served as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney, I have practiced before every criminal district court in Travis County. These courts handle the most serious criminal offenses, and I believe I am the most qualified candidate to preside over these cases. During my time as a prosecutor, I tried approximately 100 jury trials and handled thousands of criminal cases including family violence, burglary, sexual assault, child abuse and murder. I believe it is important for our district judges to bring a depth of experience in this community and a broad based knowledge of handling a variety of cases to the bench.”