for District Judge, 269th Judicial District. Judge Antu has also represented defendants in drug court. After years of working in property management, Judge Korduba then started her law practice and grew it to an industry-leading statewide firm. 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. He has been co-parenting 3 children for over 30 years. After that, Nathan stayed in Austin and attended the University of Texas School of Law, receiving his JD. 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. 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. 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. I enjoy fishing, Houstons original restaurants, and professional sports, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Duke and attending my granddaughters soccer games. 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. 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. Bob has worked on all types of Civil Cases, Foreclosures, Evictions, Family Law, Immigration cases, and Criminal Cases, including Traffic Ticket Defense. These included everyone from professional athletes and millionaires to pilots and firemen, and mothers and fathers working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Candidates - Harris Votes Judge Laryssa Korduba is the first female Justice of the Peace in Precinct 4, serving as Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 2. She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska but grew up in Harris County, Texas. 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. He is a father of three young children and desires to serve Harris County residents to help restore justice and order. Filing in the Democratic or Republican 2020 Primary Harris County, Texas contains 60 judicial districts, four probate courts and one county court. for District Judge, 184th Judicial District. Photo by Van Williams. for District Judge, 269th Judicial District, for District Judge, 270th Judicial District, for District Judge, 281st Judicial District. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. He has been co-parenting 3 children for over 30 years. He is a former board member of Star of Hope and Main Street Ministries and an Elder at First Presbyterian Church of Houston. Six other incumbent Democrat judges will not return to the bench in 2023. She briefly left Houston to attend the University of Texas, where she got her undergraduate degree and a law degree. 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. She started her career as a prosecutor in the Harris County DA's office and currently runs her own private criminal law practice. To learn more about judicial selection in Texas, click here. for Family District Judge, 257th Judicial District. In short, Malcolm is ready to serve as a district court judge. Sartaj has been a successful attorney practicing in a variety of different settings at the trial and appellate level for more than 12 years. [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. 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. More than 120 candidates have filed for Harris County positions ahead of the March 2022 primaries, as of the candidate filing deadline Dec. 13, according to the Texas Secretary of State. She resolved thousands of cases from DWI to aggravated robbery, child abuse, and capital murder. 2022 Democratic Primary - Harris County Democrats She has worked as a litigator, mediator, and amicus attorney during her legal career. Election 2022 - Off the Kuff state. Lance has dedicated his entire career to serving the public. View all News, or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. When not practicing law, Fred enjoys traveling with his family and playing golf. 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. 2022 CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS (SCROLL DOWN), 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. Geric is a combat veteran having served 11 years in the U.S. Army with a combat tour during Desert Storm. 1. Kevin Fulton has dedicated his life to serving others. ", for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. He has also served as appellate counsel in numerous trials across the Jason Luong, who currently serves as judge in the 185th district court, will face current Harris County prosecutor Andrea Beall in a run off. Only a handful of Democratic candidates ran that year. We strongly urge you to consider those candidates when casting your vote. Harris to promote broadband in South Carolina as 2024 looms ", for District Judge, 232nd Judicial District, for District Judge, 234th Judicial District, for District Judge, 248th Judicial District, for District Judge, 262nd Judicial District. Sophia is a member of the Rotary Club of Houston International and the Middle Eastern Heritage Club of Houston. County Commissioner Court. 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. Her legal career has spanned over three decades and delved into many levels of litigation, probate, transactional, and real estate/property matters. for District Judge, 263rd Judicial District. 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. Harris County leaders face a slew of challengers this election season She previously served as a partner at Yetter Coleman, LLP and as an assistant Texas Solicitor General. Chris Carmona received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston and has been successfully practicing multiple areas of law for 12 years. To that end, we endorse the best candidates regardless of political affiliation. 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. He has been recognized in Strathmores Whos Who of Professionals, HTown Magazine, and Houstonia Magazine. The application must be . He is a proud husband and father of one with two cats and three grandchildren. Judge Maritza Antu was appointed by Governor Gregg Abbott to be the first Judge of the 482nd Criminal District Court. The bench does not belong to the DA's Office. 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. Justice Kevin Jewell was elected to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals on November 8, 2016. 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. 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. 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. Remember, early voting runs from Oct. 24 - Nov. 4, and election day will be on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Before that, he practiced as a Certified Public Accountant. Anderson Cancer Hospital, Sheltering Arms, Houston Independent School District, Young Leaders in Medicine, and the Junior League of Houston. 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. This new political blog websiteofficially launched in late2020and is focused on issues important to Harris County residents. Let's turn Texas blue y'all! Her campaign slogan is Mama Mia Vote for Sophia, in honor of her mom. Ramirez is a native Texan and a product of the University of Texas School of Law. 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. 3. 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. He has since been practicing family law as an attorney since 2005 and has owned his own Family law firm since 2006. Texas Court of Appeals for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. 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. 4. As a whole, Harris County criminal court judges came under fire for issues relating to releasing violent offenders on low bonds. With more than 32 years prosecuting criminal cases and 150+ felony jury trials under his belt, Julian Ramirez is well-qualified to bring needed change to the 248th Criminal District Court. He became Board Certified in Family Law in 2007 and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. First name Last name Email Address She is a member of the Houston Bar Association and a Fellow of the Houston Bar Foundation. 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. 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 Family District Judge, 314th Judicial District. Harris County crime rates have skyrocketed under the Democrats leadership. 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. 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. 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. She has worked as a litigator, mediator, and amicus attorney during her legal career. The experience I garnered served me well during my eight years on the bench. In 2012 he served as a State Delegate at the Convention in Fort Worth and was a Member of the Rules Committee. for Family District Judge, 308th Judicial District, for Family District Judge, 309th Judicial District. Xavier began his career with the Harris County District Attorneys Office where he served as a Chief Prosecutor is two of the County Courts at Law. for District Judge, 183rd Judicial District, for District Judge, 184th Judicial Distric. United States Representative - U.S. House District 2 Robin Fulford. He was twice selected as Trial Judge of the Year by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists. Bob is uniquely qualified to serve as Justice of the Peace. Partisan primaries are held if even one candidate has filed for a position. 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 Womens Club (2015). Prior to this next run, I will have served another 3 plus years as a practicing probate and estate planning attorney for the Law Firm of Campbell & Riggs, P.C. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. 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. Rory practiced law for over twenty years in Houston. Then came the 2002 gubernatorial election year. Will Archer has 25 years of experience as a practicing Attorney. In the primary election, four incumbent criminal Democratic district court judges were beat by their opponents. for District Judge, 248th Judicial District. They are members of Holy Rosary Catholic Church where they enjoy attending Mass each week. Tami C. Pierce has over 30 years experience in the Criminal Justice system. 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. Resolutions passed by Executive Committee. Texas District Courts 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. Chambers USA named Wilson as one of the leading commercial litigators in America. She received her law degree from South Texas College of Law and has been practicing criminal law in Harris County for 16 years. Joshua Normand received a BA in Mathematics and a law degree from the University of Texas. He also spent 7 years as a That said, a candidate must earn our vote. A. in Business Administration with a major in accounting. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} 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. Her legal career has spanned over three decades and delved into many levels of litigation, probate, transactional, and real estate/property matters. Dan Simons is a former Air Force Veteran and graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law and the University of Houston Law School. Having lived in Houston his entire adult life, this is especially true for Harris County. Bob has worked on all types of Civil Cases, Foreclosures, Evictions, Family Law, Immigration cases, and Criminal Cases, including Traffic Ticket Defense. Since 2019, Paula has worked at the law firm of Shellist, Peebles, McAlister. Stephen, a proud Texas Aggie and graduate of Strake Jesuit Preparatory, runs a family-owned business his father Lupe Fraga founded in 1962, a legacy of hard work and enduring faith that reflects their past and inspires their future. Ramirez pledges to improve the effectiveness of the 248th Judicial District by reducing the huge case backlog, trying more cases, and bringing justice to all parties more swiftly. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. Quyen graduated from Thurgood Marshall School of Law and has been practicing family law for over 15 years. 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. 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. 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. She was born and raised in Houston and has lived in Harris County for 27 years. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. for District Judge, 209th Judicial District. Visit the Action Center for all the ways to get involved. Sophia is a member of the Rotary Club of Houston International and the Middle Eastern Heritage Club of Houston. Judge Michael Landrum served Harris County as a district court judge for six years but was swept out of office in the 2018 election. He has been licensed and practiced civil litigation in the Harris County Courts for 30-years. for Family District Judge, 313th Judicial District. 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. Jesus Guillen is married and has 2 children. If our Democratic candidates can dominate the urban areas, win in the suburbs, andat least be competitivein the rural areas, we CAN winstatewide elections. When they get to a race and they don't know anything about the candidates, they tend to vote based off gender," Jones said. for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 8, Place 2. 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. Political Advertising paid for by the Harris County Democratic Party, Odus Evbagharu,Chair. Join our Team HCDP as a Precinct Chair, volunteer to call voters, knock doors, become a fellow, or join our leadership academy. Michael grew up in Pasadena where he and his wife of 36 years, Laura, raised their 3 children. 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. Filing Period 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. She started her career as a prosecutor in the Harris County DAs office and currently runs her own private criminal law practice. Xavier has spent nearly She is the former award-winning judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law #1 were she served for more than 8 years. Harris County crime rates have skyrocketed under the Democrats' leadership. After graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in Chemical Engineering, Sartaj worked as a Process Engineer prior to attending South Texas College of Law. 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. Amber Cox is a seasoned attorney with 18 years of civil and criminal court experience. Attorneys Office where he served as a Chief Prosecutor is two of the County Courts at Law. for District Judge, 228th Judicial District. Fred has been a Super Lawyer in Insurance Coverage since 2007. 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. Sophia is a native Houstonian with her own solo law practice. for Family District Judge, 308th 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. He served 10 years as the Precinct Chairman of Precinct 216 Senate District 13 (2007 2016). If a candidate was unopposed in the general election, their name will still appear on the general election ballot.[1][3]. He also spent 7 years as a seasoned criminal defense attorney. Geric is a former teacher who taught 9th grade math. Michael West received his law degree from South Texas College of Law-Houston, in 1992. He was born in Houston Texas and has been living in Harris County his whole life. MY 2022 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY JUDICIAL ENDORSEMENTS - Robert J. Fickman 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. Xavier is currently a Deputy Division Chief at the Fort Bend County District Attorneys Office 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. He was born in Houston Texas and has been living in Harris County his whole life. I am also a member of the Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association and Attorneys in Tax and Probate. Bob is a native Houstonian, where he was born, raised, and attended public schools. Texas County Courts at Law Lori holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Baylor Law School. 1971 Press Photo Bill Williams, Harris County Democratic Chairman Nile Copeland has been helping in the community for many years through work as well as through various groups and organizations. for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2. 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. Ballotpedia features 395,557 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. A. in Business Administration with a major in accounting. Tuesday's. 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. Bail Reform, Rising Crime Shine Spotlight on Harris County Judicial 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. With her heart for public service and her strong commitment to our community, Michelle Fraga stands ready to step into the arena. 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. Brian and his wife Carol have been married 32 years and have three children. After graduating cum laude from Georgetown University, he then attended The University of Texas School of Law and graduated with honors. 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. 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. The Harris County Democratic Party is dedicated to the ideal that everyone deserves an equal shot at life, . Sophia is a native Houstonian with her own solo law practice. Justice Jewell is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Houston Bar Association, and a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. Michael graduated from Baylor University with a BBA, majoring in Finance and Economics. I enjoy fishing, Houstons original restaurants, and professional sports, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Duke and attending my granddaughters soccer games. 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. 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 Justice Jewell is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Houston Bar Association, and a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. As an assistant district attorney, Lori worked her way up through the ranks of the district attorneys office. Geric Tipsword has been a Houston resident since 2004, coming to Houston to attend law school he remained to begin his law practice. He is also a small business owner. Judge Laryssa Korduba is the first female Justice of the Peace in Precinct 4, serving as Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Place 2. Over the years, I was also appointed by the probate judges to handle both contested and uncontested estate and guardianship matters. And, instead of giving low bond to everybody, giving low bond to non-violent offenders but rationing up bonds for the violent offenders.". . It belongs to the people. 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. 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. RT @TheDemocrats: Our first lady. Houston police officers shot: 1 officer killed, 1 injured while executing warrant in NE Harris Co. 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. 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. He was elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates. Judge Laryssa received her law degree from the University of Houston in 2003 as a Mixon Scholarship Recipient. Her campaign slogan is Mama Mia Vote for Sophia, in honor of her mom. He was born in Houston and has lived in Harris County all his life. In TV spots, the . He is a Credentialed Mediator and an Arbitrator. I believe in justice and fair treatment for all parties. 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. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The primary election proved to be a shake up for judges in Harris County.