Judge Bender was appointed to the vacant County Court at Law #6 by the Collin County Commissioners Court in April 2010 following his victory in the Republican Primary runoff election. Judge Bender was unopposed in the general election and subsequently elected by the citizens of Collin County to a four-year term. County Court at Law #6 has jurisdiction for Class "A" and "B" misdemeanors, civil lawsuits seeking less than $200,000 in damages, eminent domain and de novo appeals from Justice of the Peace Courts and Municipal Courts within Collin County.

Prior to being appointed to the bench, Bender was in private law practice. His practice focused mainly on criminal defense. He was also on the Board of Directors for the Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Bender served as an Assistant District Attorney from 2004-2007 in Dallas County and Collin Counties. During his career as a prosecutor, Bender served as a Misdemeanor Prosecutor, Chief Misdemeanor Prosecutor and a Felony Prosecutor including being assigned to the Organized Crime Unit and Cyber Crimes Unit.

Bender graduated and received his juris doctorate degree from St. Mary's University School of Law in 2004 with a Concentration in Criminal Law. Prior to that, Bender studied liberal arts and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Austin College in 1995 cum laude.

Prior to and during his undergraduate education, Bender served in the United States Naval Reserve being assigned to the USS Constellation (CV-64) and then VF-202 (Superheats).

Judge Bender has lived in the Dallas area since 1979. He attended Spring Valley Elementary School, Northwood Jr. High School and graduated from Richardson High School. Judge Bender has been married for 14 years to Lynn and has a son, Brighton, 12, and a daughter, Emery, 9.