Fraga credits the support of her large extended family for making it possible for this working mom to serve in these ways. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. She has worked as a litigator, mediator, and amicus attorney during her legal career. Dan Simons is a former Air Force Veteran and graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law and the University of Houston Law School. 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. Monks is dedicated to being firm but fair. During his service, Judge Landrum has been highly rated by members of the Houston Bar, and he looks forward to serving you again. He remained there for over 25 years and rose to the level of Division Chief. To advance to the general election, a candidate must win a majority (over 50 percent) of the vote. They are members of Holy Rosary Catholic Church where they enjoy attending Mass each week. for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 2. Justice Terry Adams was appointed to the First Court of Appeals by Governor Abbott in 2020. 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. Photo by Van Williams. In addition to prosecuting cases for the last 3 years at the Harris County Attorney's 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. Over the years, I was also appointed by the probate judges to handle both contested and uncontested estate and guardianship matters. for District Judge, 184th Judicial District. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. for District Judge, 482nd Judicial District. Elizabeth has evaluated hundreds of cases and been to trial in both Misdemeanor and Felony court. 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. Michelle and her husband Stephen Fraga know firsthand the rewards of building strong families and strong communities. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. He has volunteered his valuable time to assist several community-based groups that focus on preventing teen suicide, domestic abuse, and poverty. Kevins commitment to the community while furthering his education resulted in receiving a Distinguished Public Service award and his Juris Doctor Degree. Kevin started his legal career as an extern with the Orange County District Attorneys Office, where he learned to balance the constitutional rights of the accused while never forgetting the victims impacted by crime. My experiences have taught me that fair, efficient, and objective dispute resolution saves time and legal costs. .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 She was born and raised in Houston and is a proud graduate of Bellaire High School. 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. 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. for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 2. Jeffrey and other officers were serving a high-level narcotics warrant to a 30-year-old suspect at the time. Harris County crime rates have skyrocketed under the Democrats leadership. Andy Taylor received his law degree from the Texas Tech School of Law in 2009 and has been practicing criminal law throughout the State of Texas for 12 years. He has dedicated his entire legal career to working in Criminal Law and successfully earned a 2018 Judicial Nomination for the Republican Party in a highly contested race. 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. Justice Adams is recognized by Texas Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America as being one of the top appellate lawyers in Texas. In addition, Bob earned his Juris Doctorate from South Texas of Law in Houston, Texas. RT @TheDemocrats: Our first lady. Rose Cardenas is a lifelong Houstonian. As a family they enjoy game nights, traveling, and fostering dogs for a local rescue. Leslie has practiced law for almost 25 years. They included visitation and geographical restriction issues, as well as complex property divisions. She is the former award-winning judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law #1 were she served for more than 8 years. Judge Prine left the bench in 2019. Sartaj has been a successful attorney practicing in a variety of different settings at the trial and appellate level for more than 12 years. For over ten years, he was recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine. We strongly urge you to consider those candidates when casting your vote. In 17 months on the bench, presided over 30 jury trials and had the lowest inventory of active cases among the 24 civil district judges as of December 31, 2016. Filing Period 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. Lance has been married to his wife Vickie for 23 years and they have one daughter, who will be a junior in the fall at Texas A&M. B. Fraga credits the support of her large extended family for making it possible for this working mom to serve in these ways. 3 in the November 2022 General Election. Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz, the race's liberal-backed candidate, said Wednesday she would recuse herself from hearing lawsuits brought by or against the Democratic Party of . 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 has been recognized in Strathmores Whos Who of Professionals, HTown Magazine, and Houstonia Magazine. We are an independent political blog and simply offer candid, mainstream perspective to help the Democratic Party improve and be successful. for District Judge, 209th Judicial District. He has practiced in both state and federal 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. Anderson Cancer Hospital, Sheltering Arms, Houston Independent School District, Young Leaders in Medicine, and the Junior League of Houston. Quyen graduated from Thurgood Marshall School of Law and has been practicing family law for over 15 years. Lance was born in Harris County and has lived here for over 45 years. 2, "Judge Clyde graduated in Top 5% of South Texas College of Law Houston and is an experienced litigation attorney -- licensed since 1990. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison Wisconsin. Fred has tried cases throughout the State of Texas and argued before both State and Federal Courts of Appeal. Heather Hudson received her law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law and has been practicing criminal appellate law as a prosecutor for 14 years. 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. for District Judge, 234th Judicial District. Erin and her husband have 2 beautiful children, 2 grandchildren and 4 crazy doggies. Jesus Guillen is married and has 2 children. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Heather's legal career was inspired by her father, who also served as a prosecutor in Harris County for many years before he was elected to the 14th Court of Appeals. Geric was raised by a single Mexican mother with 2 siblings. Having lived in Houston his entire adult life, this is especially true for 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. Sophia is a member of the Rotary Club of Houston International and the Middle Eastern Heritage Club of Houston. [1] The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas has jurisdiction in Harris County. Judge Michael Landrum served Harris County as a district court judge for six years but was swept out of office in the 2018 election. "They can signal, 'I am going to be tougher on crime,' while being fair in the sense of they are still Democrats. He has been co-parenting 3 children for over 30 years. from the South Texas School of Law and clerked for various family law firms during his time as a student. 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. Register to vote. After our review, we proudlyendorsed approximately 80% of the Democratic candidates. Sophia is a native Houstonian with her own solo law practice. for Family District Judge, 247th Judicial District. Jesus Guillen received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in 2014 and has been practicing family law for 7 years. In addition, she has a history of working with domestic violence victims and owns her family law firm, which she has been practicing her entire career. 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. Robert H. Jackson is a decorated Police Officer and a U.S. Army Veteran. Will Archer has 25 years of experience as a practicing Attorney. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas Rules Committee and its Appellate Sub-Committee, and is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. B. Join our Team HCDP as a Precinct Chair, volunteer to call voters, knock doors, become a fellow, or join our leadership academy. Houston, Texas 77020 He has been lead counsel in thousands of cases, ranging from small controversies to cases to large. Thats why 68 Republican judicial candidates have stepped up to run for office this November. seasoned criminal defense attorney. Eight current Democratic criminal court judges won their race in the primary. He has been part of Harris County for over 5 decades, working tirelessly to make it a better, safer place for everyone. 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. 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. Justice Jewell has been Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1998. 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. 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. for District Judge, 263rd Judicial District. The Harris County Democratic Party is dedicated to the ideal that everyone deserves an equal shot at life, . Since 2019, Paula has worked at the law firm of Shellist, Peebles, McAlister. In his spare time, Joshua provides legal and tax services to various nonprofits. 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. Register Today Lend a hand He was born in Houston and has lived in Harris County all his life. Individual seeking a County office as an Independent candidate must file for a place on the ballot with the Harris County Judge: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo 1001 Preston, Suite 911 Houston, Texas 77002 Phone: 713-274-7000 Fax: 713-755-8379 Her husband, Bill Delmore, spent 27 years as a prosecutor at the Harris County District Attorneys Office and is currently a prosecutor in Montgomery County, where he has worked for Republican District Attorney Brett Ligon since he took office on January 1, 2009. Harris County, Texas contains 60 judicial districts, four probate courts and one county court.[1]. Read More FILE - Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a dinner for the South Carolina Democratic Party on June 10, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard, File) Read Less 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. Judge Laryssa received her law degree from the University of Houston in 2003 as a Mixon Scholarship Recipient. She and her husband, a retired Assistant District Attorney, have four grown children and one grandchild. Andy has lived in Harris County for the last 12 years where he has worked to represent and serve the people of Harris County not only in criminal matters of all degrees but also in many other practical and personal ways. Judge Clyde was the highest HBA rated County Civil Court Judge while on the bench from June 2015 through December 2016, with zero reversals and only 1 modification on appeal. He was elected the Presiding Judge of the 246th District Court in 2014. (Section 172.022, Texas Election Code). Jessica and her husband, Michael, have been married for 20 years, have two children, and one spoiled pug. Our office is openMonday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 AM - 4 PM. Only a handful of Democratic candidates ran that year. I have tried cases in Harris County, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, Brazoria County, Galveston County, Dallas County, Bexar County, and in State and Federal Court. Mark Montgomery attended the South Texas College of Law school while working as a Houston Police Officer. for Family District Judge, 246th Judicial District. Monks is dedicated to retaking the courthouse and restoring respect for our criminal justice system. Judge Clyde was the highest HBA rated County Civil Court Judge while on the bench from June 2015 through December 2016, with zero reversals and only 1 modification on appeal. Jason Luong, who currently serves as judge in the 185th district court, will face current Harris County prosecutor Andrea Beall in a run off. Gardner has twin boys and loves spending time with his family and friends. Joshua has lived in Harris County more than three decades and grew up in Jersey Village. for Family District Judge, 315th Judicial District. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 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. Sonya Aston is a sixth generation Houstonian, who has dedicated her life to public service through, environmental enforcement, enforcing tax collection laws, working at Transtar during emergency events, administering elections for Harris County for eight years, drafting state legislation, and much more. After practicing in St. Louis, he moved to Houston in 1990 to marry the love of his life, Lee Kathryn Shirley and has two children, Emily and Stephen. I believe in justice and fair treatment for all parties. Xavier Alfaro graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in Government 4. 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. Elizabeth and her husband, Bryan, live in Houston with their rescue dog, Hans. 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. After graduating cum laude from Georgetown University, he then attended The University of Texas School of Law and graduated with honors. She is married to her best friend of 14 years, Matt, and they have four beautiful children together. Sartaj grew up in Spring, Texas and attended Klein High School. Xavier began his career with the Harris County District He is a member of the State Bar of Texas Rules Committee and its Appellate Sub-Committee, and is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. As an (almost) lifelong resident of Harris County, she cant imagine a better place to live with her two dogs, Penny and Roch. Mark Montgomery attended the South Texas College of Law school while working as a Houston Police Officer. He is currently married and enjoys his 3 grandchildren. Stay Informed. 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. 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. 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. In 1983, Bob began his legal career by establishing his legal practice. She has handled a broad range of legal matters, representing individuals, corporations, and small businesses on both sides of the docket and serving in a representative capacity as ad litem. With her heart for public service and her strong commitment to our community, Michelle Fraga stands ready to step into the arena. Fred has been a Super Lawyer in Insurance Coverage since 2007. Then, after more than 20 years, Lori left the office as the chief prosecutor for the 208th District Court. To learn more about judicial selection in Texas, click here. She has handled a broad range of legal matters, representing individuals, corporations, and small businesses on both sides of the docket and serving in a representative capacity as ad litem. Matthew, a 20-year veteran of the Houston Police Department and a native Houstonian, wants to restore faith in the communitys court system, and bring back a balanced approach to justice as well as a reasonable, common-sense approach to Harris Countys criminal justice system. Denise Graves received her bachelors of science in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University before earning her J.D. Nathan Moss grew up in North Texas before attending the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a BA in Government. 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. A lifelong Conservative, she believes it is an exciting time to be a Republican in Harris County. He owns his firm with his wife, Karleana, who he is raising two children with. Jessica has continued to serve the community in indigent defense and works in the countys drug courts helping clients overcome drug addiction. 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. "This kind of, in some ways, taints all of the sitting judges, so by being an incumbent judge, there is a belief among a subset of Democratic primary voters that that person is lax on crime," Mark Jones, political science professor at Rice University, said. To view our blog poston the 2022 election, please click on the link below: HarrisCountyDemocrats.com Comments on the 2022 General Election Results. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. Kevin Fulton has dedicated his life to serving others. As an election integrity expert, she supports entities across the nation to have strong election security. "Most of these challengers are current or former prosecutors," Jones explained. Xavier will be the kind of judge who always puts our community and the Constitution first. for District Judge, 189th Judicial District. April is an honors graduate of Harvard Law School and Abilene Christian University. Texas District Courts Partisan primaries are held if even one candidate has filed for a position. During that time, Judge Hart became known for low dockets, fair trials and justice delivered. Harris County Republican Party | 8588 Katy Freeway, Suite 445 Houston, TX 77024 | (713) 838-7900 . Dan would like to continue his passion by earning your vote to serve our justice system as a judge. Judge Maritza Antu was appointed by Governor Gregg Abbott to be the first Judge of the 482nd Criminal District Court. Geric was raised by a single Mexican mother with 2 siblings. 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. After graduating cum laude from Georgetown University, he then attended The University of Texas School of Law and graduated with honors. Mark Goldberg received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston and has been practicing law for over 25 years. Resolutions passed by Executive Committee. Dan Simons is a former Air Force Veteran and graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law and the University of Houston Law School. He was born in Port Arthur, Texas and has lived in Harris County for 38 years. 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. Geric is a former teacher who taught 9th grade math. "They aren't going to check the name.". 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. Since leaving the district attorneys office, Lori has spent the last three years representing indigent defendants in Harris County. Justice Jewell is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Houston Bar Association, and a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. Tami then went to law school, raised a family and began her law career as a criminal defense attorney prior to becoming a prosecutor. The Harris County Democratic Party is NOT doing anything to assist the 22 electeds. Lori holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Baylor Law School. First name Last name Email Address 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. for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 2. 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. 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. 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. Texas Court of Appeals President's Message: He has handled numerous cases in the Civil District Courts and Probate Courts. for District Judge, 263rd Judicial District. 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. 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. 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. Fred Shuchart received his law degree in 1985 from Washington University School of Law and has been practicing law for 37 years. Harris County courthouse for District Judge, 269th Judicial District, for District Judge, 270th Judicial District, for District Judge, 281st Judicial District. Joshua has been married to his wife, Jenny, for 20 years, who is an entrepreneur, running the successful Shaka Power Yoga in Cypress and also a SUP yoga program in Humble, Cypress, and Texas City. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. While with the Houston Police Department, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award and named Police Officer of the Year. Houston police officers shot: 1 officer killed, 1 injured while executing warrant in NE Harris Co. He also spent 7 years as a seasoned criminal defense attorney. To gather this candidate profile data, our research included, as applicable, online searches, review ofmedia reports, visiting each candidate's website, reviewing candidate questionnaires, listening to candidate interviews, observing candidates in public meetings/events, etc. Heathers legal career was inspired by her father, who also served as a prosecutor in Harris County for many years before he was elected to the 14th Court of Appeals. His first wife passed away and they had 2 sons who also attended school in Houston. 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. He has since been practicing family law as an attorney since 2005 and has owned his own Family law firm since 2006. He was born in Houston Texas and has been living in Harris County his whole life. Cindy Hide received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center and has been licensed to practice law since 1984. Over 87% of cases appealed from her rulings were AFFIRMED by the Courts of Appeals. In the primary election, four incumbent criminal Democratic district court judges were beat by their opponents. Judge Laryssa Korduba is the first female Justice of the Peace in Precinct 4, serving as Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 2. Todd is married to Sarah Frankfort and is the proud father of two daughters, Lucy and Claire. Bruce Bain is an accomplished trial attorney with 35 years of civil trial experience. 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. As a whole, Harris County criminal court judges came under fire for issues relating to releasing violent offenders on low bonds. To that end, we endorse the. Harris County, Texas contains 60 judicial districts, four probate courts and one county court. Texas County Courts 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. Justice Jewell has been Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1998. Zachary Gibson is currently a prosecutor for Harris County where he has served his community for the past 6 years. In addition, Malcolm served on the Board of Directors of a Privately Held Corporation with more than 30 million dollars in annual sales.