Hon. Natalia Cokinos Oakes is a judge for the 313th District Court of Texas in Harris County. She was elected to the bench in 2018.
Oakes presides over the Juvenile Court and spent two years as Administrative Judge of the Juvenile Section. She also presides over GRIP Court (Gang Recidivism Intervention Program) and is a member of the TJJD Advisory Board, co-chair of the Juvenile Board, and a member of the Strategic Planning Committee.
Prior to her election, she managed her own law firm, Natalia Cokinos Oakes, PLLC, since 2000. At her firm, she handled juvenile delinquency cases, CPS cases, and adoptions. Oakes also served as Attorney ad Litem and Guardian ad Litem for children. In addition to her legal practice, she was the manager of NMC Enterprises, LLC since 1982, a repair and design business with direct sales to local retail stores.
She received a B.A. in English literature from Tulane University. Oakes went on to complete a J.D. at Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 1999. While a law student, she was an intern at Gulf Coast Legal Clinic (1998 to 1999) and a law clerk at James Foster Andrews, P.C. (1999).
She was born in Beaumont, Texas, and has resided in Houston since 1980. Oakes attends the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Before beginning her legal career, Oakes worked as a schoolteacher, teaching high school English and ESL (English as a Second Language).
She is registered as a Democrat.