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. For years Fraga has been bringing leadership, fresh ideas, and high energy to good causes in our community. Originally from Natchez, Mississippi, he has lived in Harris County for 29 years. Both positions are volunteer positions without pay. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. The experience I garnered served me well during my eight years on the bench. 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. sign up for updates. Jesus Guillen is married and has 2 children. Mike Monks is a native Houstonian, fourth-generation Texan, and lifelong Republican. 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. 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. Please SCROLL DOWN (14 pages)to view our candidate endorsements. for Justice, 1st Court of Appeals, Place 4, for Justice, 14th Court of Appeals, Place 2. For years Fraga has been bringing leadership, fresh ideas, and high energy to good causes in our community. That said, a candidate must earn our vote. for Family District Judge, 245th Judicial District. The ballot contained more Independents than Democrats in the judicial races. Outside the practice of law, Sartaj has had the privilege to serve as an adjunct professor. Andrea Beall ( Democratic Party) is a judge of the Texas 185th District Court. Thats why 68 Republican judicial candidates have stepped up to run for office this November. Before his appointment, Justice Wilson was a partner at Susman Godfrey, one of Americas most prominent litigation firms. Sophia is honored to be on the November ballot as the Republican nominee for Judge of Harris County Probate Court #2! Texas District Courts Amber Cox is a seasoned attorney with 18 years of civil and criminal court experience. Appeals from the Southern District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit . Our phones are staffed Monday through Friday from 10 AM until 4 PM at (713) 802-0085 , or email us at: harrisdemocrats@harrisdemocrats.com. He lives in Houston with his wife, Caroline Dozier, their teenage son, and their two rescue dogs. 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. Register to vote. He has served as an Associate Judge in the Houston Municipal Courts and is currently the Chief Investigator for the Harris County District Attorneys Office. 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. 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. She briefly left Houston to attend the University of Texas, where she got her undergraduate degree and a law degree. They included visitation and geographical restriction issues, as well as complex property divisions. They are also blessed with 2 beautiful granddaughters. Texas County Courts at Law [1], The winning candidates from each major party's primary, as well as any additional minor party candidates, compete in a general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. for District Judge, 281st Judicial District. Geric Tipsword has been a Houston resident since 2004, coming to Houston to attend law school he remained to begin his law practice. She started out as a police officer, was promoted to investigator then Sergeant. for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 8, Place 2. 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. Michelle and her husband Stephen Fraga know firsthand the rewards of building strong families and strong communities. Harris County, Texas contains 60 judicial districts, four probate courts and one county court. Fraga credits the support of her large extended family for making it possible for this working mom to serve in these ways. 1. 100% remote. 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. 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. 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 is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Houston Bar Association, and a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. Bob has worked on all types of Civil Cases, Foreclosures, Evictions, Family Law, Immigration cases, and Criminal Cases, including Traffic Ticket Defense. Bob is married to Mei Wolfe and their daughter attends public school. As an election integrity expert, she supports entities across the nation to have strong election security. [1] The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas has jurisdiction in Harris County. Stay Informed. For over ten years, he was recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine. I enjoy fishing, Houstons original restaurants, and professional sports, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Duke and attending my granddaughters soccer games. for Family District Judge, 312th Judicial District. "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 owns his firm with his wife, Karleana, who he is raising two children with. 2022 General Election Democratic Candidates. 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. That's why 68 Republican judicial candidates have stepped up to run for office this November. 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. She sits on the boards of the TEACH, Harriet and Joe Foster YMCA and Catholic Charities. Register Today Lend a hand Jason Luong, who currently serves as judge in the 185th district court, will face current Harris County prosecutor Andrea Beall in a run off. 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. 1. He was elected the Presiding Judge of the 246th District Court in 2014. 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. Judge Genesis Draper, a Democrat who is running for re-election to Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. Judge Prine left the bench in 2019. Jessica and her husband, Michael, have been married for 20 years, have two children, and one spoiled pug. In the five months has served, Judge Antu has reduced the criminal backlog by 900 cases and has presided over 6 jury trials. for Family District Judge, 247th Judicial District. 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. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. Our office is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 AM - 4 PM. Mark Goldberg received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston and has been practicing law for over 25 years. Brian and his wife Carol have been married 32 years and have three children. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Justice Adams has been married for thirty-eight years and has three children. Having lived in Houston his entire adult life, this is especially true for Harris County. Learn all about the 2022 Democratic Candidates: >> Harris County Democratic Party Voter Guide (PDF) >> League of Women Voters Houston Voter Guide >> Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus Endorsements Election Day November 8, 2022 -- 7AM - 7PM Election Day is November 8. I am also a member of the Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association and Attorneys in Tax and Probate. Website Facebook . After graduating cum laude from Georgetown University, he then attended The University of Texas School of Law and graduated with honors. Judge Antu is a 17-year veteran criminal lawyer. To learn more about judicial selection in Texas, click here. for District Judge, 209th Judicial District. He is currently married and enjoys his 3 grandchildren. from the South Texas School of Law and clerked for various family law firms during his time as a student. Lance was born in Harris County and has lived here for over 45 years. During that time, Judge Hart became known for low dockets, fair trials and justice delivered. 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. 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 was born and raised in Houston and has lived in Harris County for 27 years. for District Judge, 183rd Judicial District. Robert H. Jackson is a decorated Police Officer and a U.S. Army Veteran. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Elizabeth and her husband, Bryan, live in Houston with their rescue dog, Hans. She has tried more than 100 jury trials as an attorney and as a judge presided over more than 200 jury trials. I also served two terms as a member of the District 4A grievance committee (which disciplines attorneys) and served as Chair in 1994. for District Judge, 248th Judicial District. Bob is uniquely qualified to serve as Justice of the Peace. 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. Sartaj grew up in Spring, Texas and attended Klein High School. 12, said it is "disingenuous to suggest that because we let people out of jail on a. Three Democratic candidates and five Republican candidates are running for the Harris County Precinct 2 commissioner position in the upcoming March primaries. President's Message: Then, after more than 20 years, Lori left the office as the chief prosecutor for the 208th District Court. Mark honorably retired as a Houston Police Lieutenant after 25 years of service. His first wife passed away and they had 2 sons who also attended school in Houston. Lori spent most of her adult life as an assistant district attorney in the Harris County District Attorneys Office. State Representatives. We are an independent political blog and simply offer candid, mainstream perspective to help the Democratic Party improve and be successful. April is an honors graduate of Harvard Law School and Abilene Christian University. As a fifth-generation Latino Texan, Leo Farias understands the state's culture, needs, and struggles. Anderson Cancer Hospital, Sheltering Arms, Houston Independent School District, Young Leaders in Medicine, and the Junior League of Houston. April Farris was appointed to the First Court of Appeals by Governor Abbott in 2021. 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. Visit the Action Center for all the ways to get involved. In 2012 he served as a State Delegate at the Convention in Fort Worth and was a Member of the Rules Committee. Rose Cardenas is a lifelong Houstonian. 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. for District Judge, 269th Judicial District, for District Judge, 270th Judicial District, for District Judge, 281st Judicial District. 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. Dan Simons is a former Air Force Veteran and graduate of Thurgood Marshall School of Law and the University of Houston Law School. Mark Montgomery attended the South Texas College of Law school while working as a Houston Police Officer. Attorneys Office where he served as a Chief Prosecutor is two of the County Courts at Law. 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. Im a long-time attorney, arbitrator, and former Harris county criminal court judge in Houston, Texas. 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. He is currently married and enjoys his 3 grandchildren. Her legal career has focused on family law, successfully representing litigants in all aspects of marriage and divorce. Instead, Glass lowered it. She was born in Argentina, and emigrated to the United States with her family as a young child. For over ten years, he was recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine. for Family District Judge, 257th Judicial District. 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. 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. 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. Geric was raised by a single Mexican mother with 2 siblings. Her work in the private sector since the early 2000s includes extensive experience in our County Criminal Courts. Dan would like to continue his passion by earning your vote to serve our justice system as a judge. 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 Sophia has volunteered for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by serving on the Houston Gala committee from 2006 to 2021. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- The primary election proved to be a shake up for judges in Harris County. Let's turn Texas blue y'all! He was born in Houston and has lived in Harris County all his life. 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. Lance was born in Harris County and has lived here for over 45 years. She is married to her husband, Matthew Peneguy and they have two young children. Kristin has been married to her husband Ed for 19 years and they have two daughters. https://t.co/iLQ2QESqPx, RT @Jon_RosenthalTX: Thanks to @axios for bringing attention to this issue. She assumed office on January 1, 2023. 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. Zachary is a graduate of Baylor University and St. Marys University School of Law. Nile Copeland has been helping in the community for many years through work as well as through various groups and organizations. Gala, and Cardinals Christmas. After years of working in property management, Judge Korduba then started her law practice and grew it to an industry-leading statewide firm. Since 2019, Paula has worked at the law firm of Shellist, Peebles, McAlister. Xavier will be the kind of judge who always puts our community and the Constitution first. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison Wisconsin. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Voted Qualified/Well Qualified by 83% of respondents in the 2016 HBA Judicial Qualification Bar Poll. Gardner Eastland received his law degree from SMU in Dallas and has been practicing family law for 18 years.