In the primary election, four incumbent criminal Democratic district court judges. After graduation and receiving his law license, he remained with the Police Department another 14 years working in divisions such as Internal Affairs and as a lawyer in Legal Services for Chief Bradford. As an Assistant District Attorney, I gained invaluable criminal law experience, and in my civil litigation practice, invaluable experience in business dissolution and bankruptcy issues, tax issues related to retirement accounts and alimony, and issues related to separate vs. community property, all of which come up frequently in family law matters. for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 8, Place 2. Lori and Bill live in Spring with their Italian Greyhound, Lucia. Desean Jones, Danilo Lacayo, Brian Warren, Josh Hill and Lori Chambers Gray ran unopposed. from the South Texas College of Law. for Family District Judge, 309th Judicial District. Leslie has practiced law for almost 25 years. If a candidate was unopposed in the general election, their name will still appear on the general election ballot.[1][3]. With over 21 years of experience as a prosecutor and defense attorney, Jessica will bring invaluable knowledge, common sense, and experience back to the court. for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2. and earned his law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law. Mark Montgomery attended the South Texas College of Law school while working as a Houston Police Officer. For the 2022 election cycle, this website researched each political candidate that will appear on the Harris County November ballot and then endorsed those candidates (see below) that we believe will best serve the interests of all Harris County residents. She has worked as a litigator, mediator, and amicus attorney during her legal career. View all News, or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. He has also volunteered as a professional auctioneer since 1992, helping numerous non-profit organizations raise funds for worthy causes throughout Harris and Galveston County. He has since been practicing family law as an attorney since 2005 and has owned his own Family law firm since 2006. [1], The winning candidates from each major party's primary, as well as any additional minor party candidates, compete in a general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Prior to his election, Justice Jewell was a litigation and appellate shareholder at Chamberlain, Hrdlicka, White, Williams & Aughtry in Houston, Texas, where he chaired the firms appellate practice group. Voted Qualified/Well Qualified by 83% of respondents in the 2016 HBA Judicial Qualification Bar Poll. Robert H. Jackson is a decorated Police Officer and a U.S. Army Veteran. She has tried more than 100 jury trials as an attorney and as a judge presided over more than 200 jury trials. ", for District Judge, 232nd Judicial District, for District Judge, 234th Judicial District, for District Judge, 248th Judicial District, for District Judge, 262nd Judicial District. As a family they enjoy game nights, traveling, and fostering dogs for a local rescue. Fred has been a Super Lawyer in Insurance Coverage since 2007. Jeffrey and other officers were serving a high-level narcotics warrant to a 30-year-old suspect at the time. Matthew, a 20-year veteran of the Houston Police Department and a native Houstonian, wants to restore faith in the community's court system, and bring back a balanced approach to justice as well as a reasonable, common-sense approach to Harris County's criminal justice system. In addition to prosecuting cases for the last 3 years at the Harris County Attorneys Office, his legal experiences include clerking in the family law courts under Judge Georgia Dempster, Judge Denise Pratt, Judge Bonnie Hellums and facilitating permanency for children currently in the Gulf Coast Children Court. Ambers legal acumen extends outside the public sector realm of the DAs office to private practice with work in family district courts and felony courts, as well as misdemeanor courts. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; .courts-container { background-color:#fcfcfc; width:100%; border:1px solid black;padding:5px;text-align:center;clear:both; } She assumed office on January 1, 2023. Judge Louie Ditta has served as the Presiding Judge of the Harris County Justice of the Peace Court (Precinct 8, Place 2) since 1997, having been re-elected to four consecutive four-year terms in 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010. His first wife passed away and they had 2 sons who also attended school in Houston. Joshua started college at the age of fourteen and has dedicated his career to service by working for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, assisting law enforcement as an attorney for the Harris County Deputies Organization, and as a court appointed indigent criminal defense attorney. 2. Photo by Van Williams. Throughout his years of service, Judge Ditta has served as a frequent speaker before numerous civic, professional, and educational organizations and as an instructor for Justices throughout the State of Texas. Michael West received his law degree from South Texas College of Law-Houston, in 1992. If our Democratic candidates can dominate the urban areas, win in the suburbs, andat least be competitivein the rural areas, we CAN winstatewide elections. He graduated with Honors from the University of Houston Law Center and was Chief Justice and Chair of the U. of H. Law Center Honor Court. As a whole, Harris County criminal court judges came under fire for issues relating to releasing violent offenders on low bonds. 3 in the November 2022 General Election. Geric was raised by a single Mexican mother with 2 siblings. Harris County Judge Hidalgo who has three years in office behind her and nearly $1.5 million in her campaign war chest ahead of the upcoming election defeated an extremely popular. Geric is a combat veteran having served 11 years in the U.S. Army with a combat tour during Desert Storm. A career public servant and lifelong Republican, Elizabeth Buss attended Thurgood Marshall School of Law before joining the Harris County District Attorney's Office where she has worked for nearly ten years. Jason Luong, who currently serves as judge in the 185th district court, will face current Harris County prosecutor Andrea Beall in a run off. In 2012 he served as a State Delegate at the Convention in Fort Worth and was a Member of the Rules Committee. Since taking the bench as Justice of the Peace, Judge Laryssa has made countless strides to improve customer service, increase and pilot new technology programs, and guarantee efficiency in her courtroom. Governor Greg Abbott appointed Justice Randy Wilson to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in December 2020, effective January 2021. They included visitation and geographical restriction issues, as well as complex property divisions. Leslie and her husband, Houston attorney Dane Johnson, reside in Houston and have two children. from the South Texas School of Law and clerked for various family law firms during his time as a student. for District Judge, 262nd Judicial District. Its critical that we elect experienced and qualified judges to restore law and order and make public safety the top priority in Harris County lives quite literally depend on it. He was born in Houston Texas and has been living in Harris County his whole life. sign up for updates. April Farris was appointed to the First Court of Appeals by Governor Abbott in 2021. Jones said several factors contribute to the shake up of judges: bond, where the candidates were on the ballot, and whether they are male or female. As an (almost) lifelong resident of Harris County, she can't imagine a better place to live with her two dogs, Penny and Roch. After she received her law degree, she moved back to Houston and has been practicing law in the bayou city since 1986. Justice Adams is recognized by Texas Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America as being one of the top appellate lawyers in Texas. She also held office as Parish Council President, Vice-President, and Secretary for multiple terms in each role and was appointed in 2012 to the Legal Affairs Committee for the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the U.S.A. He also spent 7 years as a for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. He has been licensed and practiced civil litigation in the Harris County Courts for 30-years. He graduated from the University of Houston, earning a B. Harris County Democratic judges avoid major losses in felony courts after violent crime attack ads. for District Judge, 482nd Judicial District. Thats why 68 Republican judicial candidates have stepped up to run for office this November. "They aren't going to check the name.". Another officer was shot during the encounter as well. On Tuesday afternoon, the Houston Chronicle reported that Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, a Democrat, said she wanted a change in leadership and intended to replace election administrator. Beall ( Democratic Party) ran for election for judge of the Texas 185th District Court. Chambers USA named Wilson as one of the leading commercial litigators in America. In addition, Judge Ditta served as the Presiding Administrative Judge for all 16 Harris County Justice Courts from 2002-2004 and the Co-Presiding Administrative Judge from 2000-2002. For years Fraga has been bringing leadership, fresh ideas, and high energy to good causes in our community. He has been married for 22 years to Alyssa Lemkuil, a former state district court judge, with one daughter starting her second year of college. Bob has worked on all types of Civil Cases, Foreclosures, Evictions, Family Law, Immigration cases, and Criminal Cases, including Traffic Ticket Defense. A. in Business Administration with a major in accounting. Fraga credits the support of her large extended family for making it possible for this working mom to serve in these ways. Our office is openMonday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 AM - 4 PM. Bruce has handled cases before civil district courts throughout Texas, before the Texas Courts of Appeals, and the Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals En Banc. Jessica was raised in a law enforcement family, watching daily as her father put on his uniform and hit the streets to protect the citizens in their community. Of these, 60 are for various county criminal, civil, and family courts; four are for appellate court benches;and four are for justices of the peace. She was born in Argentina, and emigrated to the United States with her family as a young child. Jessica and her husband, Michael, have been married for 20 years, have two children, and one spoiled pug. Justice Adams has been married for thirty-eight years and has three children. She started her career as a prosecutor in the Harris County DAs office and currently runs her own private criminal law practice. . Texas County Courts My experiences have taught me that fair, efficient, and objective dispute resolution saves time and legal costs. Prior to serving on the court of appeals, Justice Adams was the head of the appellate practice group at a large litigation firm in Houston. Maria Valeria Brock received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 1990 and has been practicing law for over 30 years. 3. Folks who say they want to protect children should help me end. Justice Adams, now back in private practice, has been an appellate lawyer for more than thirty years. Xavier has spent nearly In addition, Sophia is a member and Past President (2013-2015) of the Downtown Houston Pachyderm Club, a member of the Greater Houston Pachyderm Club, and previously served on the National Pachyderm Foundation Board. I have often represented executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, and beneficiaries in complex probate proceedings, and recovered millions of dollars in assets lost through fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Her legal career has spanned over three decades and delved into many levels of litigation, probate, transactional, and real estate/property matters. Judge Laryssa received her law degree from the University of Houston in 2003 as a Mixon Scholarship Recipient. I am also a member of the Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association and Attorneys in Tax and Probate. After years of working in property management, Judge Korduba then started her law practice and grew it to an industry-leading statewide firm. As an election integrity expert, she supports entities across the nation to have strong election security. Judge Maritza Antu was appointed by Governor Gregg Abbott to be the first Judge of the 482nd Criminal District Court. Please SCROLL DOWN (14 pages)to view our candidate endorsements. Powell, the lone African-American male incumbent to lose re-election to the district court bench in Harris County, secured a place on the ballot after the Harris County Democratic Party initially . for District Judge, 228th Judicial District. As an attorney with now over 30 years experience in probate, trust guardianship, estate planning, and elder law, I have developed a reputation for handling the matters entrusted to me with diligence and integrity. 713-802-0085. Todd Frankfort, a lawyer with over 27 years experience, is a native Houstonian and 5th generation Texan. Apply today! He has been in Harris County for over 40 years and is proud to call Texas his home with his wife, two sons, five daughters and three grandchildren. If no candidate in a race wins the majorityas in cases where more than two candidates are competing for a seata runoff election is held between the top two candidates. The experience I garnered served me well during my eight years on the bench. Our phones are staffed Monday through Friday from 10 AM until 4 PM at (713) 802-0085 , or email us at: harrisdemocrats@harrisdemocrats.com. Mark honorably retired as a Houston Police Lieutenant after 25 years of service. He also spent 7 years as a seasoned criminal defense attorney. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Geric was raised by a single Mexican mother with 2 siblings. Sophia is a lifelong member of St. George Orthodox Christian Church, where for approximately 20 years, she served as an elected member of the Parish Council. .courts-container hr {background-color:#f0a236;padding-bottom:2px;}, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Texas Supreme Court For those reasons and for advancing safety in our community, Judge Hart was named 2018 Judge of the Year by the Texas Gang Investigators Association for his legal stewardship which allows justice to be served in a timely manner and for his outstanding contributions in the battle against gangs and organized crime., for District Judge, 232nd Judicial District. Nile Copeland has been helping in the community for many years through work as well as through various groups and organizations. Married for 14 years with three sons Gregory (11), Stephen (11) and Andrew (6), they are committed to showing the next generation the importance of civic responsibility and the value of personal freedoms. She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska but grew up in Harris County, Texas. Kevin Fulton has dedicated his life to serving others. 4. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} Paula Goodhart has practiced criminal law for 29 years. Our phones are staffed Monday through Friday from 10AMuntil 4PMat(713) 802-0085,oremail us at: harrisdemocrats@harrisdemocrats.com. He has been in Harris County for over 40 years and is proud to call Texas his home with his wife, two sons, five daughters and three grandchildren. Beall led the race by 13% in the primary. Sophia is a lifelong member of St. George Orthodox Christian Church, where for approximately 20 years, she served as an elected member of the Parish Council. Being moderate Democrats, we are naturally inclinedto endorse Democratic candidates. Family District Judge, 280th Judicial District. Justice Jewell has been Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1998. Geric has been practicing family law since 2007. (Saving Ourselves By Education and Recovery) court addressing the needs of young repeat D.W.I. She is a past member of HCRPs Military Partnership Committee. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The primary election proved to be a shake up for judges in Harris County. I am a proud graduate of the University of Houston, where I received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, and of South Texas College of Law. He served 10 years as the Precinct Chairman of Precinct 216 Senate District 13 (2007 - 2016). He has been lead counsel in thousands of cases, ranging from small controversies to cases to large. Harris County crime rates have skyrocketed under the Democrats' leadership. Leslie and her husband, Houston attorney Dane Johnson, reside in Houston and have two children. Tami then went to law school, raised a family and began her law career as a criminal defense attorney prior to becoming a prosecutor. Geric is a combat veteran having served 11 years in the U.S. Army with a combat tour during Desert Storm. for Family District Judge, 257th Judicial District. Whether it be through the Houston Police Department, The District Attorney's Office, or through his work representing indigent adults and children, there is still more to be done to ensure our community's faith is restored in the courthouse. Growing up in San Antonio, my parents instilled in me two valuable lessons, ones that I have carried with me through my three decades of practicing family law here in Houston, my eight years as a Harris County family court judge, and now in my service to you as a family law arbitrator and mediator. A graduate of Stephen F. Austin University with a BS in Anatomy and Physiology and with a law degree from South Texas College of Law, Amber is also a mom to two wonderful daughters, Addison and Camryn. This political blog is also not part of the Harris County Democrats Association formed in 1953 by Mrs. Frankie Randolph and later led by Chair Woman Billie Carr. For more on this story, follow Mycah Hatfield on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We strongly urge you to consider those candidates when casting your vote. Jessica was raised in a law enforcement family, watching daily as her father put on his uniform and hit the streets to protect the citizens in their community. for Family District Judge, 314th Judicial District. As judge of Harris Countys 308th Family District Court, I resolved over 400 cases per month across the full spectrum of family law matters. For over ten years, he was recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine. She was elected to this position in November 2014. Graduating with her law degree from South Texas College of Law in 1988, which included a summer program in law at Oxford University, Sophia became a licensed attorney with the State Bar of Texas that same year, then launched her law practice in 1991. Rose Cardenas is a lifelong Houstonian. Candidates seeking the nomination of the Democratic or Republican Party must file (1) a candidate application, and (2) a filing fee or petition in lieu of filing fee. He is a father of three young children and desires to serve Harris County residents to help restore justice and order. Judge Antu is a 17-year veteran criminal lawyer. for Family District Judge, 312th Judicial District. for Family District Judge, 308th Judicial District, for Family District Judge, 309th Judicial District. Find an event near you . From my father, I learned that every conversation starts with listening, and from my mother, the compassion to accept people as they are. Geric holds an Associate's Degree in Transportation, a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, is a certified teacher, has a Master's Degree in Education Intervention, and has his Juris Doctorate (Magna Cum Laude). Zachary is a graduate of Baylor University and St. Marys University School of Law. He has forty years of experience in the criminal justice system including 11 years as a prosecutor in the City of Southside Place and six years as counsel for the misdemeanor veterans court. Leslie has practiced a mix of civil and criminal law and, from 1997 until 2000, worked in the Harris County Attorneys Office representing public officials, deputies, and correctional officers in civil litigation. Mark Goldberg received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston and has been practicing law for over 25 years. Her campaign slogan is Mama Mia Vote for Sophia, in honor of her mom. Three Democratic candidates and five Republican candidates are running for the Harris County Precinct 2 commissioner position in the upcoming March primaries. Malcolm understands civil disputes and has successfully guided numerous individuals and corporations though the process. Growing up in San Antonio, my parents instilled in me two valuable lessons, ones that I have carried with me through my three decades of practicing family law here in Houston, my eight years as a Harris County family court judge, and now in my service to you as a family law arbitrator and mediator. seasoned criminal defense attorney. He is board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Ambers legal acumen extends outside the public sector realm of the DAs office to private practice with work in family district courts and felony courts, as well as misdemeanor courts. With the insight gained from these casesover 38,000 of themI will, in serving as your arbitrator or mediator, help you see the strengths and weaknesses of your case as a judge or jury would, and thus help avoid unnecessary expenses and stress of going or returning to court. Her practice has largely been devoted to child protective services, juvenile, and family law, representing children, parents, relatives, foster parents, and DFPS within those areas. offenders while ensuring public safety. Maria Valeria has four children, who, although they are now adults, continue to be her greatest joy. Learn more about the Republican judicial candidates and crime in Harris County below and contribute to the partys joint judicial campaign to help get them elected! HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The primary election proved to be a shake up for judges in Harris County. Register Today Lend a hand She has since been a practicing attorney for over 30 years. She started out as a police officer, was promoted to investigator then Sergeant. Prior to making ourendorsement, we considered, among other things, each candidate's record, prior job performance, ethics, education, qualifications, priorities, stand on the issues, and vision for the future. I am a member of the State Bar of Texas Real Estate, Probate and Trust Section, Taxation Section and Litigation Section and the Houston Bar Association Probate, Trusts and Estate Section, Taxation Section and Litigation Section. Notauthorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. She was born in Viet Nam but has lived in Harris County for 18 years. As an (almost) lifelong resident of Harris County, she cant imagine a better place to live with her two dogs, Penny and Roch. Justice Jewell is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Houston Bar Association, and a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. for District Judge, 270th Judicial District. 8 years of his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney. Since leaving the district attorneys office, Lori has spent the last three years representing indigent defendants in Harris County. As an assistant district attorney, Lori worked her way up through the ranks of the district attorneys office. As an election integrity expert, she supports entities across the nation to have strong election security. That's why 68 Republican judicial candidates have stepped up to run for office this November. She sits on the boards of the TEACH, Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA and Catholic Charities. I also served two terms as a member of the District 4A grievance committee (which disciplines attorneys) and served as Chair in 1994. I also had a career with the Houston Police Department, retiring as a Lieutenant. Houston police officers shot: 1 officer killed, 1 injured while executing warrant in NE Harris Co. Texas is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. As a fifth-generation Latino Texan, Leo Farias understands the states culture, needs, and struggles. In the primary election, four incumbent criminal Democratic district court judges were beat by their opponents. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. Fred Shuchart received his law degree in 1985 from Washington University School of Law and has been practicing law for 37 years. Xavier Alfaro graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and earned his law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law. Michael graduated from Baylor University with a BBA, majoring in Finance and Economics. Jesus Guillen received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in 2014 and has been practicing family law for 7 years. Bob is married to Mei Wolfe and their daughter attends public school. Texas Court of Appeals During that time, Judge Hart became known for low dockets, fair trials and justice delivered. In addition, he was appointed as a Special Justice of the Texas Supreme Court to hear an appeal of a large commercial case. The ballot contained more Independents than Democrats in the judicial races. Anderson Cancer Hospital, Sheltering Arms, Houston Independent School District, Young Leaders in Medicine, and the Junior League of Houston. The family enjoys taking an active role in their church, schools, and neighborhood, bringing their spirit of teamwork to community causes, and sowing the seeds of patriotism. Candidates for federal office must file a federal application (PDF). Gardner has twin boys and loves spending time with his family and friends.

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