harris county democratic party judicial candidates
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. for Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 9. Find your Election Day polling location here . 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. (Section 172.022, Texas Election Code). Since leaving the district attorneys office, Lori has spent the last three years representing indigent defendants in Harris County. for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 2. Fraga credits the support of her large extended family for making it possible for this working mom to serve in these ways. Lance was born in Harris County and has lived here for over 45 years. 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. [1][2], Though Texas officially has closed primaries (requiring that voters declare party affiliation in advance in order to participate), the state's primaries are functionally open: any registered voter may vote in any single party's primary if they have not voted in the primary of another party. Every action you take makes a big difference. 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. As an election integrity expert, she supports entities across the nation to have strong election security. Tami C. Pierce has over 30 years experience in the Criminal Justice system. sign up for updates. Judge Antu is a 17-year veteran criminal lawyer. Judge Genesis Draper, a Democrat who is running for re-election to Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. His strong sense of service and community started when he joined the US Army and served with distinction as reconnaissance in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Provide Comfort, protecting Kurdish refugees. After receiving his honorary discharge from the military, Kevin returned to the community. Geric has been practicing family law since 2007. Denise Graves received her bachelors of science in criminal justice from Sam Houston State University before earning her J.D. for Family District Judge, 308th Judicial District, for Family District Judge, 309th Judicial District. Leslie has practiced a mix of civil and criminal law and, from 1997 until 2000, worked in the Harris County Attorney's Office representing public officials, deputies, and correctional officers in civil litigation. Geric was raised by a single Mexican mother with 2 siblings. They are also blessed with 2 beautiful granddaughters. Judge Laryssa Korduba is the first female Justice of the Peace in Precinct 4, serving as Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 2. If our Democratic candidates can dominate the urban areas, win in the suburbs, andat least be competitivein the rural areas, we CAN winstatewide elections. Jesus Guillen is married and has 2 children. Todd is married to Sarah Frankfort and is the proud father of two daughters, Lucy and Claire. Jessica has continued to serve the community in indigent defense and works in the countys drug courts helping clients overcome drug addiction. Sophia is a member of the Rotary Club of Houston International and the Middle Eastern Heritage Club of Houston. 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. 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 Family District Judge, 257th Judicial District. 1960 Pressefoto Jack Matthews des demokratischen Exekutivkomitees The Harris County Democratic Party is dedicated to the ideal that everyone deserves an equal shot at life, . where he supervises 12 prosecutors in 6 County Courts at Law. For the 2022 election cycle, this website researched each political candidate that will appear on the Harris County November ballot and then endorsed thosecandidates (see below) that we believe will best serve the interests of allHarris County residents. 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. Mark has practiced criminal and family law for over 24 years. Leslie and her husband, Houston attorney Dane Johnson, reside in Houston and have two children. Three Democratic candidates and five Republican candidates are running for the Harris County Precinct 2 commissioner position in the upcoming March primaries. During that time, Judge Hart became known for low dockets, fair trials and justice delivered. She has worked as a litigator, mediator, and amicus attorney during her legal career. Sophia is a native Houstonian with her own solo law practice. 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. 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. She was elected to this position in November 2014. United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, Harris County Criminal Court at Law, Texas, Texas local trial court judicial elections, 2023, Texas local trial court judicial elections, 2022, Texas local trial court judicial elections, 2021, Texas local trial court judicial elections, 2020, Texas local trial court judicial elections, 2019, Texas local trial court judicial elections, 2018, Texas local trial court judicial elections, 2017, Texas local trial court judicial elections, 2016, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Harris_County,_Texas_(Judicial)&oldid=8583314, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. 189th Judicial District 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. Bob is uniquely qualified to serve as Justice of the Peace. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 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. Lori spent most of her adult life as an assistant district attorney in the Harris County District Attorneys Office. 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. Donate today Support the work $5 $20.21 $50 $100 $225 Other Are you ready? 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. 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. I also had a career with the Houston Police Department, retiring as a Lieutenant. Archer has also assisted many Attorneys with cases pending in these courts. 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. Jesus Guillen received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in 2014 and has been practicing family law for 7 years. Robert H. Jackson is a decorated Police Officer and a U.S. Army Veteran. Sophia is a past member of Patrons for Bellaire Parks and the Houston Realty Business Coalition. Geric is a combat veteran having served 11 years in the U.S. Army with a combat tour during Desert Storm. for District Judge, 208th Judicial District. 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. Andrea Beall - Ballotpedia Bob is married to Mei Wolfe and their daughter attends public school. Anderson Cancer Hospital, Sheltering Arms, Houston Independent School District, Young Leaders in Medicine, and the Junior League of Houston. Male judicial candidates had a tough election night in Harris County The elections are closed, however, in that voters may not participate in the proceedings (a runoff primary or a convention) of another party thereafter. When not working tirelessly for his clients, Chris loves traveling with his growing family. 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. 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. Since leaving the district attorneys office, Lori has spent the last three years representing indigent defendants in Harris County. Harris County, Texas contains 60 judicial districts, four probate courts and one county court. Rose Cardenas is a lifelong Houstonian. for Family District Judge, 310th Judicial District. Please SCROLL DOWN (14 pages)to view our candidate endorsements. Harris County GOP focuses on bail, crime to break winless streak Bob is a native Houstonian, where he was born, raised, and attended public schools. He has been co-parenting 3 children for over 30 years. As a fifth-generation Latino Texan, Leo Farias understands the state's culture, needs, and struggles. Over 87% of cases appealed from her rulings were AFFIRMED by the Courts of Appeals. for Family District Judge, 308th Judicial District. If we failed to endorse aDemocrat, we either identified troublesome issues (e.g. Tristan Longino and Barbara Stalder, who serve in family court, and civil district court judges Scot Dollinger, Franklin Bynum, and David Singer, who serve in misdemeanor criminal court, were all unseated. This new political blog websiteofficially launched in late2020and is focused on issues important to Harris County residents. She has volunteered at M.D. To that end, we endorse the best candidates regardless of political affiliation. 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. from the South Texas School of Law and clerked for various family law firms during his time as a student. First name Last name Email Address 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. She has worked hard to see that justice is done and will be fair but firm and uphold the rule of law. After that, Nathan stayed in Austin and attended the University of Texas School of Law, receiving his JD. Join our Team HCDP as a Precinct Chair, volunteer to call voters, knock doors, become a fellow, or join our leadership academy. from the South Texas School of Law and clerked for various family law firms during his time as a student. 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. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Jesus Guillen is married and has 2 children. for Family District Judge, 309th Judicial District. 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. He has been licensed and practiced civil litigation in the Harris County Courts for 30-years. He is currently married and enjoys his 3 grandchildren. Lori spent most of her adult life as an assistant district attorney in the Harris County District Attorneys Office. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison Wisconsin. With more than 4.5 million residents, Harris County, Texas, is the third most populous county in the U.S. Houston, is the fourth largest and most diverse city in the nation. The advertisements rolled out with weeks to go until the November election. She is a member of the Houston Bar Association and a Fellow of the Houston Bar Foundation. And, instead of giving low bond to everybody, giving low bond to non-violent offenders but rationing up bonds for the violent offenders.". Justice Adams is recognized by Texas Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America as being one of the top appellate lawyers in Texas. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. 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. Being moderate Democrats, we are naturally inclinedto endorse Democratic candidates. 1. They are members of Holy Rosary Catholic Church where they enjoy attending Mass each week. In 1983, Bob began his legal career by establishing his legal practice. We are an international hub for trade, industry, innovation and the arts, and although we may live in a red state (for now), Harris County is decidedly blue. Bobs oldest son, Mike Wolfe has served as a Board Member of the Harris County Department of Education and is currently a candidate for the Texas State Board of Education, District 6. Man, woman shot in grocery store parking lot in SE Houston, police say, Armed carjacking suspect leads police on dangerous chase, Do not to buy Raspberry Rally cookies from eBay, Girl Scouts say. When not practicing law, Fred enjoys traveling with his family and playing golf. 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. Kevin Fulton has dedicated his life to serving others. "They aren't going to check the name.". Aaron G. Adams is a practicing Attorney of 17 years, Sports Agent, Author, and Real Estate Investor. Protasiewicz says she will recuse from cases involving the state The Harris County Democratic Party is NOT doing anything to assist the 22 electeds. During his service, Judge Landrum has been highly rated by members of the Houston Bar, and he looks forward to serving you again. She graduated from the University of Saint Thomas with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business Administration and South Texas College of Law with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1997. Andrea Beall ( Democratic Party) is a judge of the Texas 185th District Court. Chambers USA named Wilson as one of the leading commercial litigators in America. 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. Her campaign slogan is Mama Mia Vote for Sophia, in honor of her mom. He owns his firm with his wife, Karleana, who he is raising two children with. April Farris was appointed to the First Court of Appeals by Governor Abbott in 2021. In short, Malcolm is ready to serve as a district court judge. 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. A lifelong Conservative, she believes it is an exciting time to be a Republican in Harris County. 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. He was born in Houston and has lived in Harris County all his life. Justice Kevin Jewell was elected to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals on November 8, 2016. 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. for District Judge, 209th Judicial District. 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. 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. Bob is uniquely qualified to serve as Justice of the Peace. 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. Down-ballot races are not typically a hot election topic, but public concerns over rising crime have pushed Harris County's 68 judicial races to the forefront this cycle. Houston police officers shot: 1 officer killed, 1 injured while executing warrant in NE Harris Co. 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. Filing in the Democratic or Republican 2020 Primary Dan Simons is a former Air Force Veteran and graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law and the University of Houston Law School. 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. Family District Judge, 280th Judicial District. She is married to her best friend of 14 years, Matt, and they have four beautiful children together. Texas Justice of the Peace Courts, Courts in Texas Texas judicial elections Judicial selection in Texas. Her work in the private sector since the early 2000s includes extensive experience in our County Criminal Courts. 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. 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. Joshua has lived in Harris County more than three decades and grew up in Jersey Village. Texas County Courts She is a past member of HCRPs Military Partnership Committee. She was born in Argentina, and emigrated to the United States with her family as a young child. 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. She briefly left Houston to attend the University of Texas, where she got her undergraduate degree and a law degree. As a whole, Harris County criminal court judges came under fire for issues relating to releasing violent offenders on low bonds. 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. She has volunteered at M.D. Sophia is the immediate past president of the Greater Houston Council of Federated Republican Women (2020-2021) and a past President of Magic Circle Republican Women's Club (2015). 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. 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. She is a member of the Houston Bar Association and a Fellow of the Houston Bar Foundation. 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. I also belong to the Houston Business and Estate Planning Council and the Houston Estate and Financial Forum. Judge Laryssa received her law degree from the University of Houston in 2003 as a Mixon Scholarship Recipient. Elizabeth and her husband, Bryan, live in Houston with their rescue dog, Hans. The experience I garnered served me well during my eight years on the bench. 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. For years Fraga has been bringing leadership, fresh ideas, and high energy to good causes in our community. He has also served as appellate counsel in numerous trials across thestate. Both positions are volunteer positions without pay. The people of Harris County deserve a judge who will follow the law, treat everyone fairly, and give public safety the importance it deserves. 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. To learn more about judicial selection in Texas, click here. Appeals from the Southern District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit . He has since been practicing family law as an attorney since 2005 and has owned his own Family law firm since 2006. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 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. 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. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 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. 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. She started out as a police officer, was promoted to investigator then Sergeant. To advance to the general election, a candidate must win a majority (over 50 percent) of the vote. Resolutions passed by Executive Committee. For Justice, 14th Court of Appeals, Place 2. In 2003, Judge Wilson was appointed Judge of the 157th Judicial District Court in Harris County, where he served for over 15 years. Farias got his J.D. Our Mission Our mission is to promote and recruit qualified local Democrats in seeking positions of public office, to educate the Democratic Bar in ways in which it can promote Democratic ideas and candidates, and to assist the Harris County Democratic Party in all ways consistent with Democratic values. 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. for Family District Judge, 247th Judicial District. 4. 2022 Candidates - Harris County Republican Party 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.