Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Barry Wallace as the new Criminal District Attorney for Upshur County, a statement from the governor's office confirmed yesterday. The appointment, becoming effective on November 1, 2025, will have Wallace filling the position until December 31, 2026, or until a successor is elected and assumes the role.
Barry Wallace, previously serving as the first assistant in the same office, boasts a legal background that includes membership in the State Bar of Texas and affiliations with professional bodies such as the Texas District and County Attorneys Association and the Northeast Texas Bar Association. With an honorable discharge from the United States Navy behind him, his academic credentials span a Bachelor of Arts in History from East Texas A&M University and a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University.
The appointment was announced on the Governor's official website, highlighting Wallace’s experience within the district attorney's office and his active involvement in the community as part of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church Men’s Association. The new role for Wallace is stepping into comes at a juncture where the county’s legal system faces numerous challenges, ranging from addressing crime rates to ensuring justice is served in an equitable manner.
The nature and impact of Wallace’s tenure will become clearer as his term progresses, with residents of Gladewater and the wider Upshur County likely observing his approach to matters of law and order with a vested interest. Though details on specific policies or initiatives have yet to be disclosed, Wallace's history of service in the legal field and the community may signal his upcoming strategy as the head of the prosecutor's office.
