Harris County officials have unanimously appointed Jonathan Fombonne as the next Harris County Attorney, following Christian Menefee’s five-year leadership, which transformed the office into a model of progressive and effective public law.

Under Menefee, who took office in 2021, the County Attorney’s Office expanded its influence beyond traditional legal work. The office tackled high-profile legal battles with state leaders, defended the county’s budget, challenged unsafe environmental practices, and held corporations accountable. Menefee also built new divisions focused on consumer protection, recovering homes for families affected by deed fraud and slumlords, and pursued cases against price gougers and major corporate misconduct, including Big Tobacco and Volkswagen.

Environmental justice became a hallmark of Menefee’s tenure. His office pushed for federal oversight of a cancer-linked site in the Fifth Ward, blocked landfill expansions, forced pollution reductions from industrial facilities, and worked to preserve county energy programs. Beyond the courtroom, Menefee forged coalitions to advance policies including fair-chance hiring, higher contractor wages, enhanced library cards for youth and undocumented residents, and safety standards for county construction projects. He also launched a nationally recognized summer legal academy for local students.

Menefee credited the office’s career attorneys and staff for embracing his vision, emphasizing that their work showed how local government can be bold, smart, and people-focused. As he continues his campaign for Congress, Menefee framed his experience leading Harris County’s legal team as the type of results-driven public service needed in Washington.

Jonathan Fombonne, previously Deputy Harris County Attorney and Menefee’s chief deputy, will now serve as the county’s chief civil legal counsel, advising elected officials and representing Harris County in complex litigation. Fombonne has led legal strategy on high-profile public law, corporate, and environmental cases and has served as trial and appellate counsel in many of the office’s landmark matters.

Fombonne said he is honored to take the role and is committed to ensuring the office remains a force for fairness, accountability, and progress. His appointment reflects his deep experience and longstanding dedication to public service, as well as his ability to guide the office through this period of transition while building a strong foundation for the future.

Menefee praised Fombonne’s capabilities, calling him one of the best lawyers he knows and highlighting his instrumental role in building the office into a leading example of effective local government.

The Harris County Attorney’s Office represents Texas’s largest county in all civil legal matters, providing legal counsel to elected officials and employees. It includes eleven legal practice divisions and the Robert W. Hainsworth Law Library, supporting both county operations and public access to legal resources.