The bench does not belong to the DA's Office. B. He has also served as appellate counsel in numerous trials across the 8 years of his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney. Judge Laryssa received her law degree from the University of Houston in 2003 as a Mixon Scholarship Recipient. for Family District Judge, 308th Judicial District. His first wife passed away and they had 2 sons who also attended school in Houston. Justice Jewell has been Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1998. Harris County courthouse Lori spent most of her adult life as an assistant district attorney in the Harris County District Attorneys Office. Heather Hudson received her law degree from St. Marys University School of Law and has been practicing criminal appellate law as a prosecutor for 14 years. Leslie and her husband, Houston attorney Dane Johnson, reside in Houston and have two children. .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 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! Geric is a combat veteran having served 11 years in the U.S. Army with a combat tour during Desert Storm. Before taking the bench, he handled hundreds of appeals and presented oral argument in over 100 cases collectively in the Supreme Court of Texas, all intermediate appellate courts in Texas, and several United States courts of appeals. Bob is uniquely qualified to serve as Justice of the Peace. A career public servant and lifelong Republican, Elizabeth Buss attended Thurgood Marshall School of Law before joining the Harris County District Attorneys Office where she has worked for nearly ten years. Every action you take makes a big difference. U.S. Congressional District 38 Duncan F. Klussmann Centrell Reed Diana Martinez Alexander Governor Rich Wakeland Beto O'Rourke Joy Diaz Inocencio Barrientez Michael Cooper Lieutenant Governor Michelle Beckley Carla Brailey Mike Collier Attorney General S. T-Bone Raynor Lee Merrit Mike Fields Joe Jaworski Rochele Mercedes Garza She previously served as a partner at Yetter Coleman, LLP and as an assistant Texas Solicitor General. She is married to her best friend of 14 years, Matt, and they have four beautiful children together. It's 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. Jeffrey and other officers were serving a high-level narcotics warrant to a 30-year-old suspect at the time. Monks is dedicated to being firm but fair. 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. Mark honorably retired as a Houston Police Lieutenant after 25 years of service. She sits on the boards of the TEACH, Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA and Catholic Charities. for Justice,1st Court of Appeals , Place 4. In the primary election, four incumbent criminal Democratic district court judges were beat by their opponents. failing to proactively address the violent crime wave, reckless bail bond decisions, allegations of corruption, scandals, general incompetence, etc.) In addition, Malcolm served on the Board of Directors of a Privately Held Corporation with more than 30 million dollars in annual sales. With the exception of County Judge, which is the first county office to appear, the other county races come after any county judicial elections, which we know in a . Her campaign slogan is Mama Mia Vote for Sophia, in honor of her mom. If even one is bounced, Abbott could appoint a replacement for those in the criminal courts. After years of working in property management, Judge Korduba then started her law practice and grew it to an industry-leading statewide firm. Denise Graves received her bachelors of science in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University before earning her J.D. He has handled numerous cases in the Civil District Courts and Probate Courts. Xavier Alfaro graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Government I enjoy fishing, Houstons original restaurants, and professional sports, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Duke and attending my granddaughters soccer games. 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. She sits on the boards of the TEACH, Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA and Catholic Charities. "Most of these challengers are current or former prosecutors," Jones explained. He was twice selected as Trial Judge of the Year by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists. During his service, Judge Landrum has been highly rated by members of the Houston Bar, and he looks forward to serving you again. offenders while ensuring public safety. for District Judge, 230th Judicial District, A prosecutor under iconic Harris County District Attorney Johnny Holmes and appointed to the bench by Governor Rick Perry, Brad Hart served as Judge of the 230th Criminal District Court from 2013 to 2018. Justice Terry Adams was appointed to the First Court of Appeals by Governor Abbott in 2020. Desean Jones, Danilo Lacayo, Brian Warren, Josh Hill and Lori Chambers Gray ran unopposed. Malcolm Whittaker is a highly experienced civil litigator. Frank Aguilar, Chris Morton and Hilary Unger beat their opponents. Lance was born in Harris County and has lived here for over 45 years. In 2008 Sophia was appointed to serve as a Commissioner for the City of Houston Police Officers Civil Service Commission and was elected to and served as Chairman of the Commission from 2008 to June 2022. 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. She is married to her husband, Matthew Peneguy and they have two young children. Texas County Courts at Law When not practicing law, Fred enjoys traveling with his family and playing golf. Tuesday's. As an assistant district attorney, Lori worked her way up through the ranks of the district attorneys office. Whether it be through the Houston Police Department, The District Attorneys Office, or through his work representing indigent adults and children, there is still more to be done to ensure our communitys faith is restored in the courthouse. She received her law degree from South Texas College of Law and has been practicing criminal law in Harris County for 16 years. After graduating cum laude from Georgetown University, he then attended The University of Texas School of Law and graduated with honors. (Saving Ourselves By Education and Recovery) court addressing the needs of young repeat D.W.I. Geric is a combat veteran having served 11 years in the U.S. Army with a combat tour during Desert Storm. Dan would like to continue his passion by earning your vote to serve our justice system as a judge. Before that, he practiced as a Certified Public Accountant. for District Judge, 185th Judicial District. Tonya McLaughlin is a native Texan. Photo by Van Williams. The application must be . Michael West received his law degree from South Texas College of Law-Houston, in 1992. Judge Laryssa received her law degree from the University of Houston in 2003 as a Mixon Scholarship Recipient. He became Board Certified in Family Law in 2007 and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. With over 21 years of experience as a prosecutor, defense attorney and District Court Judge, Kristin has the experience to ensure that the criminal justice system works efficiently to give our community and its citizens the justice they deserve. Her current term ends on January 1, 2027. Texas Statutory Probate Courts Zachary is a graduate of Baylor University and St. Marys University School of Law. The people of Harris County deserve a judge who will follow the law, treat everyone fairly, and give public safety the importance it deserves. Geric was raised by a single Mexican mother with 2 siblings. 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. Harris County, Texas contains 60 judicial districts, four probate courts and one county court. Quyen graduated from Thurgood Marshall School of Law and has been practicing family law for over 15 years. Apply today! | Harris County Democrats Michael grew up in Pasadena where he and his wife of 36 years, Laura, raised their 3 children. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1976 Press Photo Bob Sobeo, candidate for Harris County Chairman, Texas at the best online prices at eBay! for Family District Judge, 257th Judicial District. He was born in Port Arthur, Texas and has lived in Harris County for 38 years. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The primary election proved to be a shake up for judges in Harris County. View all News, or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. When they get to a race and they don't know anything about the candidates, they tend to vote based off gender," Jones said. Kevin has been practicing law for over 14 years now in private practice while also serving as a Judge Advocate with the Texas State Guard and working on his LLM at Baylor Law School. 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. 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. Political Advertising paid for by the Harris County Democratic Party, Odus Evbagharu,Chair. His legal affiliations include the State Bar of Texas, The United States District Court for the Southern District, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Houston Bar Association. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The primary election proved to be a shake up for judges in Harris County. In 1983, Bob began his legal career by establishing his legal practice. Since leaving the district attorneys office, Lori has spent the last three years representing indigent defendants in Harris County. Chuck Silverman, Abigail Anastasio, Amy Martin and Greg Glass all came up short. In his spare time, Joshua provides legal and tax services to various nonprofits. Since leaving the district attorneys office, Lori has spent the last three years representing indigent defendants in Harris County. 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. Xavier is currently a Deputy Division Chief at the Fort Bend County District Attorneys Office Geric has been practicing family law since 2007. (Section 172.022, Texas Election Code). Bruce Bain is an accomplished trial attorney with 35 years of civil trial experience. She has volunteered at M.D. Please note, the application along with the filing fee or petition in lieu of filling fee must be filed at the same time with the proper filing authority. While with the Houston Police Department, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award and named Police Officer of the Year. For over ten years, he was recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine. UPDATE 11/9/22: The general election results are in. Jessica and her husband, Michael, have been married for 20 years, have two children, and one spoiled pug. 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. Leslie has practiced law for almost 25 years. "It's an educated and relatively informed group (of voters in the primary), but really no one can be informed about all of the judges we have on our Harris County ballot," Jones said. 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. 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. She is married and has two children. 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. 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. While at the District Attorneys Office, Nathan prosecuted an array of offenses while serving in both specialty divisions, such as Major Offenders and Child Abuse, and in the trial bureau, where he was recently promoted to Division Chief. As an election integrity expert, she supports entities across the nation to have strong election security. for Family District Judge, 313th Judicial District. Remember, early voting runs from Oct. 24 - Nov. 4, and election day will be on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. They are also blessed with 2 beautiful granddaughters. Judicial candidates. for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 2. Fred Shuchart received his law degree in 1985 from Washington University School of Law and has been practicing law for 37 years. She is married to her best friend of 14 years, Matt, and they have four beautiful children together. Joshua has lived in Harris County more than three decades and grew up in Jersey Village. Prior to coming to the bench, I was licensed to practice in all Courts in the State of Texas, the United States District Court (Southern District), the United States Court of Appeals (5th Circuit), and the United States Tax Court. Then, after more than 20 years, Lori left the office as the chief prosecutor for the 208th District Court. Amber Cox is a seasoned attorney with 18 years of civil and criminal court experience. Then, after more than 20 years, Lori left the office as the chief prosecutor for the 208th District Court. for District Judge, 208th Judicial District. He has also served as appellate counsel in numerous trials across thestate. Will Archer has 25 years of experience as a practicing Attorney. For more on this story, follow Mycah Hatfield on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Texas County Courts Filing Period Since 2019, Paula has worked at the law firm of Shellist, Peebles, McAlister. This example of selfless service led her to begin her training after law school at the Harris County District Attorney's Office where she handled all types of criminal cases. He was born in Harris County and has lived here for over 45 years. 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. Xavier will be the kind of judge who always puts our community and the Constitution first. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. 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.He has handled hundreds of appeals in every court of appeals in Texas, the Supreme Court of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. She has worked as a litigator, mediator, and amicus attorney during her legal career. She has a unique perspective on justice due to her time working in the Responsive Interventions for Change docket aimed at getting non-violent drug offenders who needed treatment to reestablish themselves in society. 12, said it is "disingenuous to suggest that because we let people out of jail on a. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022. Judge Karen Maisano will buck tradition and run in the Republican primary for Lancaster County Court judge despite failing to win an endorsement from the party's county committee. Im a long-time attorney, arbitrator, and former Harris county criminal court judge in Houston, Texas. He is only one of two persons ever named by Law Dragon as one of the 500 Leading Judges in America and one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Justice Adams, now back in private practice, has been an appellate lawyer for more than thirty years. About Us - HCDLA Brian Staley received his law degree from South Texas College of Law and has been practicing civil and appellate law for 26 years. He now serves as a Mediator and Arbitrator. Immediately after, Nathan moved to Houston, where he began practicing civil law for a brief time before joining the Harris County District Attorneys Office in 2007, where he is still employed. Rory graduated from Duke University School of Law. He has a Masters Degree in Business (M.B.A.) from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Southern California. 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. President's Message: A. in Business Administration with a major in accounting. Xavier is currently a Deputy Division Chief at the Fort Bend County District Attorneys Office where he supervises 12 prosecutors in 6 County Courts at Law. They included visitation and geographical restriction issues, as well as complex property divisions. Nile has been there as a volunteer mediator, in drafting wills in will clinics, in assisting in immigration forums, and sometimes he rolls up his sleeves with friends to do some labor with hurricane relief through groups such as the freemasons, shriners, bar associations, conservationist groups and whomever needs a helping hand in the neighborhood we call Texas. 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. She started her legal career as a prosecutor under Johnny Holmes in 1998 and has worked for seven different district attorneys in Harris County before leaving in February of 2019 under the Kim Ogg administration. Lance has dedicated his entire career to serving the public. He served 10 years as the Precinct Chairman of Precinct 216 Senate District 13 (2007 - 2016). Currently an Assistant District Attorney with the Harris County District Attorneys office, Ambers work as a prosecutor has been to maintain the communitys safety while seeing that justice is done. Resolutions passed by Executive Committee. Kevin Fulton has dedicated his life to serving others. A proud Texan, Zachary has made Houston his home for the past six years, and he is an active member of Christ Church Cathedral. Nathan Moss grew up in North Texas before attending the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a BA in Government. State Representatives. Mark has practiced criminal and family law for over 24 years. Todd Frankfort, a lawyer with over 27 years experience, is a native Houstonian and 5th generation Texan. She received her law degree from South Texas College of Law and has been practicing criminal law in Harris County for 16 years. In 2008 Sophia was appointed to serve as a Commissioner for the City of Houston Police Officers' Civil Service Commission and was elected to and served as Chairman of the Commission from 2008 to June 2022. 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. She was a tough-on-crime prosecutor for 12 years successfully securing convictions against defendants charged with violent offenses like murder, capital murder, and sexual assault of children. Before being appointed, and subsequently elected, Paula served as felony chief prosecutor at the Harris County District Attorneys Office where she worked for 14 years. Cindy Hide received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center and has been licensed to practice law since 1984. He graduated first in his class. He has been part of Harris County for over 5 decades, working tirelessly to make it a better, safer place for everyone. Notauthorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. In addition, Bob earned his Juris Doctorate from South Texas of Law in Houston, Texas. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. And, instead of giving low bond to everybody, giving low bond to non-violent offenders but rationing up bonds for the violent offenders.". sign up for updates. He owns his firm with his wife, Karleana, who he is raising two children with. If a candidate was unopposed in the general election, their name will still appear on the general election ballot.[1][3]. Website Facebook . Ramirez is a native Texan and a product of the University of Texas School of Law. He graduated from the University of Houston, earning a B. Rory practiced law for over twenty years in Houston. 4. 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. 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. The elections are closed, however, in that voters may not participate in the proceedings (a runoff primary or a convention) of another party thereafter. April is an honors graduate of Harvard Law School and Abilene Christian University. 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. 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. After that, Nathan stayed in Austin and attended the University of Texas School of Law, receiving his JD. Prior to taking the bench, I served as an Assistant District Attorney for Harris County before running a successful general civil litigation practice and, soon, devoting my practice to family law. Justice Adams has been married for thirty-eight years and has three children. [1] The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas has jurisdiction in Harris County. "They can signal, 'I am going to be tougher on crime,' while being fair in the sense of they are still Democrats. Andrew founded the Bayley Law Firm in 2010 that he currently runs with his wife and partner, Yalda Bayley. Lori holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Baylor Law School. Harris County Democratic judges avoid major losses in felony courts Justice Adams is recognized by Texas Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America as being one of the top appellate lawyers in Texas. Voter Guide & Election Information | Harris County Democrats Archer has also assisted many Attorneys with cases pending in these courts. Governor Greg Abbott appointed Justice Randy Wilson to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in December 2020, effective January 2021. First name Last name Email Address Justice Kevin Jewell was elected to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals on November 8, 2016. Until every county-wide Republican up for election in November 2016 was swept out of office, Judge Clyde had earned a reputation for FAIRNESS and for treating all people with RESPECT and courtesy, while faithfully following the law. Bob is married to Mei Wolfe and their daughter attends public school. 1960 Pressefoto Jack Matthews des demokratischen Exekutivkomitees I am also a member of the Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association and Attorneys in Tax and Probate. My experiences have taught me that fair, efficient, and objective dispute resolution saves time and legal costs. 189th Judicial District After our review, we proudlyendorsed approximately 80% of the Democratic candidates. Mark has practiced criminal and family law for over 24 years. She started her career as a prosecutor in the Harris County DAs office and currently runs her own private criminal law practice. He has been licensed and practiced civil litigation in the Harris County Courts for 30-years. Sartaj has been a successful attorney practicing in a variety of different settings at the trial and appellate level for more than 12 years. As a family they enjoy game nights, traveling, and fostering dogs for a local rescue. She resolved thousands of cases from DWI to aggravated robbery, child abuse, and capital murder. He was born in Houston Texas and has been living in Harris County his whole life. This example of selfless service led her to begin her training after law school at the Harris County District Attorneys Office where she handled all types of criminal cases. Judge Wilson received a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Arlington and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law School. Elizabeth and her husband, Bryan, live in Houston with their rescue dog, Hans. Family District Judge, 280th Judicial District. ROBERT FICKMAN'S 2022 HARRIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY JUDICIAL ENDORSEMENTS Friends - The Harris County District Attorneys Office has SHAMEFULLY encouraged assistant district attorneys and pro- prosecution candidates to run against some of our best incumbent judges in the Democratic Primary. Our Judicial Candidates - Harris County Republican Party With the experience and the work ethic that drove him through college, law school and years of practice in our courts, voters can be sure they will be getting a hardworking judge with common sense. A voting surge cleared the Harris County courtrooms of all elected Republican judges, leaving only Democrats on the bench in civil, criminal, family, juvenile and probate courts. From my father, I learned that every conversation starts with listening, and from my mother, the compassion to accept people as they are. Lance was born in Harris County and has lived here for over 45 years. Both positions are volunteer positions without pay. In TV spots, the . He served 10 years as the Precinct Chairman of Precinct 216 Senate District 13 (2007 2016). The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas has jurisdiction in Harris County. He has served as an Associate Judge in the Houston Municipal Courts and is currently the Chief Investigator for the Harris County District Attorney's Office. He is also a small business owner. 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. state. As a fifth-generation Latino Texan, Leo Farias understands the state's culture, needs, and struggles. He has been co-parenting 3 children for over 30 years. Register Today Lend a hand 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. During that time, Judge Hart became known for low dockets, fair trials and justice delivered. 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. Jessica has continued to serve the community in indigent defense and works in the countys drug courts helping clients overcome drug addiction. 3. She is an experienced litigator including having worked on the Exxon Valdez case and Enron matter and participated in litigation in support of the City of Houston, Harris County Tax Office, and County Clerk. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. Lance started his career in criminal law after being hired by Johnny Holmes to work as a prosecutor for the Harris County District Attorneys Office. As a family they enjoy game nights, traveling, and fostering dogs for a local rescue. Elizabeth has evaluated hundreds of cases and been to trial in both Misdemeanor and Felony court. Judge Genesis Draper, a Democrat who is running for re-election to Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. We are an independent political blog and simply offer candid, mainstream perspective to help the Democratic Party improve and be successful.