Chapter Four
Judges
A slew of judicial races are on the ballot this November. The winners will spend the next four or six years ruling on everything from criminal violations to speeding tickets to landlord-tenant disputes to probate cases involving guardianships or contested wills.
Presented by
Regional
Court of Appeals, First District
The First District Court of Appeals is one of the oldest intermediate appellate courts in Texas.
Justices oversee appellate cases in Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Waller and Washington counties. The court is composed of a chief justice and eight associate justices.`
Appeals
- The First District Court of Appeals has intermediate appellate jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases from district and county courts in the 10 counties it serves.
- Post-conviction writs of habeas corpus and cases in which the death penalty is imposed go to the state’s Court of Criminal Appeals.
Extraordinary relief
- The First District Court of Appeals also has original jurisdiction over proceedings seeking “extraordinary relief,” a legal solution only used in rare situations where a standard remedy, such as monetary damages or an injunction, cannot adequately address the problem.
- These types of relief can include writs of:
- mandamus (commanding a lower court to perform its job correctly)
- prohibition (to forbid or stop)
- injunction (ordering defendant to do, or not do something)
- And quo warranto (preventing someone from taking a public office they are not entitled to)
Regional
Court of Appeals, 1st District
There are five First District Court of Appeals justices up for re-election this year. Candidates must be at least 35, licensed to practice law in Texas, and have practiced law here for at least 10 years. Each justice is elected to a six-year term.
Contested
Position 2
Contested
Position 6
Contested
Position 7
Contested
Position 8
Contested
Position 9
Regional
Court of Appeals, 14th District
The 14th District Court of Appeals was created by the state legislature in 1967. Like the First District Court of Appeals, the 14th is composed of a chief justice and eight associate justices.
Justices oversee appellate cases in Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Waller and Washington counties.
Appeals
- The First and 14th Courts share the same duties. They both hear appellate proceedings from lower courts and original proceedings involving extraordinary relief.
- Examples of the types of cases the 14th District Court of Appeals could hear include:
- civil and criminal cases from district and county courts in the 10 counties that it serves;
- civil cases in which judgments exceed $250;
- other civil proceedings as provided by law;
- certain criminal cases.
- Post-conviction writs of habeas corpus and cases in which the death penalty is imposed go to the state’s Court of Criminal Appeals.
Extraordinary relief
- The 14th District Court of Appeals also has original jurisdiction over proceedings seeking “extraordinary relief,” a legal solution used in rare situations where a standard remedy, such as monetary damages or an injunction, cannot adequately address the problem.
- These types of relief can include writs of:
- mandamus (commanding a lower court to perform its job correctly);
- prohibition (to forbid or stop);
- injunction (ordering defendant to do, or not do something);
- and quo warranto (preventing someone from taking a public office they are not entitled to)
Regional
Court of Appeals, 14th District
There are five 14th District Court of Appeals justice benches up for grabs this election cycle. Candidates must be at least 35, licensed to practice law in Texas, and have practiced law here for at least 10 years. Each justice is elected to a six-year term.
Contested
Position 3
Contested
Position 4
Contested
Position 5
Contested
Position 6
Contested
Position 8
Harris County
District Court Judges
There are 64 state district courts in Harris County, including 24 civil, 26 criminal, 11 family and three juvenile courts. Of these 64 benches 27 are on the ballot this November.
Civil District Courts
Civil district courts hear civil matters involving $200 or more, including:
- divorce cases
- property disputes
- election contest cases
- contract disputes
- personal injury matters
- wrongful death cases
- medical malpractice
- tax appraisal appeals
Harris County
Civil District Courts
Civil district court judges must be at least 25, licensed to practice law in Texas for at least four years, and Harris County residents for at least two years. Judicial vacancies in district courts are filled by appointment of the governor.
Contested
11th Judicial District
Contested
61st Judicial District
Contested
80th Judicial District
Uncontested
125th Judicial District
Uncontested
127th Judicial District
Contested
129th Judicial District
Contested
133rd Judicial District
Uncontested
151st Judicial District
Uncontested
152nd Judicial District
Contested
164th Judicial District
Contested
165th Judicial District
Contested
215th Judicial District
Contested
333rd Judicial District
Uncontested
334th Judicial District
Criminal District Courts
Criminal district courts in Harris County have original jurisdiction in felony criminal cases.
Harris County
Criminal District Courts
Criminal district court judges must be at least 25, licensed to practice law in Texas for at least four years, and Harris County residents for at least two years. Judicial vacancies in district courts are filled by appointment of the governor.
Uncontested
174th Judicial District
Uncontested
176th Judicial District
Contested
177th Judicial District
Uncontested
178th Judicial District
Uncontested
179th Judicial District
Uncontested
337th Judicial District
Contested
338th Judicial District
Uncontested
339th Judicial District
Uncontested
351st Judicial District
Contested
486th Judicial District
Contested
487th Judicial District
Contested
488th Judicial District
Family District Courts
Family district court judges hear cases involving:
- divorce
- child custody
- child support
- visitation rights
- protective orders
- the emancipation of minors
Harris County
Family District Courts
Family district court judges must be at least 25, licensed to practice law in Texas for at least four years, and Harris County residents for at least two years. Judicial vacancies in district courts are filled by appointment of the governor.
Contested
507th Judicial District
Harris County
Courts at Law
There are 20 county courts at law in Harris County – 16 criminal and four civil. They typically handle mid-level cases that do not rise to district court jurisdiction.
Your Criminal Courts
Harris County criminal courts at law typically oversee:
- misdemeanors in which the fine allowed exceeds $500
- misdemeanors in which confinement in the county jail does not exceed one year
- appeals on decisions from municipal and justice of the peace courts
Your Civil Courts
Harris County civil courts at law typically oversee:
- matters involving up to $250,000
- eminent domain proceedings and other disputes over real or personal property
- damages for slander or defamation of character
- forfeiture of a corporate charter
- appeals on decisions from municipal and justice of the peace courts
Harris County civil courts at law do not have jurisdiction over probate matters.
On the ballot
Criminal Court 16
Judges in Harris County courts at law must be at least 25, licensed to practice law in Texas for at least four years, and Harris County residents for at least two years. There is only one county court at law bench up for election this year.
Democrat
Ashley Mayes Guice
Republican
Linda Garcia
Regional
Probate Judges
Probate courts oversee the distribution of estates, establish guardianships, decide questions involving trusts, and supervise court-ordered mental health commitments. The state of Texas has 24 probate courts in 12 of its largest counties, with five located in Harris County.
Estate issues
- probate of wills
- determination of heirship
- appointment of executors and administrators
- lawsuits by or against executors or administrators
- these cases share jurisdiction with district courts
Guardianships
- determination of individual capacity to manage personal and financial affairs
- appointments of guardians
- lawsuits by or against guardians
- these cases share jurisdiction with district courts
Trusts
- determinations regarding construction and modification of trusts
- lawsuits by or against trustees
- these cases share jurisdiction with district courts
Mental health
Probate Courts 3 and 4 Only
- involuntary commitments to mental health institutions
- forced medication
On the ballot
Probate Court No. 5
Judges in Harris County probate courts must be at least 25, licensed to practice law in Texas for at least five years, and Harris County residents for at least two years. There is only one probate bench up for election this year.
Democrat
Fransheneka “Fran” Watson
Republican
Ray Black Jr.
Harris County
Justice of the Peace Courts
Harris County has eight justice of the peace court precincts, and each precinct has two justice of the peace courts. Justices of the peace are tasked with adjudicating small claims civil matters and low-level misdemeanors.
Low-level misdemeanors
- Justices of the peace hear criminal cases that are punishable by fine only, or punishable by a fine and a sanction that does not include imprisonment.
- Justices also may issue search warrants.
Small claims
Justices of the peace handle minor civil and small claims matters, including:
- traffic cases
- bad check cases
- eviction cases
- Justices also can perform weddings
Harris County
Justice of the Peace Courts
Justices of the Peace must be at least 18, Texas residents for at least 12 months, and Harris County residents for at least six months. They are not required to hold law degrees.
Enter your Harris County address to learn what precinct you live in
Uncontested
Precinct 1, Position 1
Uncontested
Precinct 2, Position 1
Uncontested
Precinct 3, Position 1
Uncontested
Precinct 4, Position 1
Contested
Precinct 5, Position 1
Uncontested
Precinct 6, Position 1
Uncontested
Precinct 7, Position 1