For more on this story, follow Mycah Hatfield on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. He has been part of Harris County for over 5 decades, working tirelessly to make it a better, safer place for everyone. Lori and Bill live in Spring with their Italian Greyhound, Lucia. Harris County GOP focuses on bail, crime to break winless streak 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. Immediately after, Nathan moved to Houston, where he began practicing civil law for a brief time before joining the Harris County District Attorneys Office in 2007, where he is still employed. 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. HCDLA - Harris Country Democratic Lawyers Association 1976 Press Photo Bob Sobeo, candidate for Harris County Chairman, Texas As a family they enjoy game nights, traveling, and fostering dogs for a local rescue. Political Advertising paid for by the Harris County Democratic Party, Odus Evbagharu,Chair. 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. Sartaj has been a successful attorney practicing in a variety of different settings at the trial and appellate level for more than 12 years. She was born in Lincoln, Nebraska but grew up in Harris County, Texas. Texas County Courts Elizabeth and her husband, Bryan, live in Houston with their rescue dog, Hans. Harris County crime rates have skyrocketed under the Democrats leadership. 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. She was born in Viet Nam but has lived in Harris County for 18 years. Lance has since worked for the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office, the Harris County Office of Court Management, and as special prosecutor for Smith County, Wharton County and the 112th District Attorney. 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. 12, said it is "disingenuous to suggest that because we let people out of jail on a. 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. 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. Sophia is a native Houstonian with her own solo law practice. Todd is married to Sarah Frankfort and is the proud father of two daughters, Lucy and Claire. 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. Sophia is honored to be on the November ballot as the Republican nominee for Judge of Harris County Probate Court #2! 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. 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. He remained there for over 25 years and rose to the level of Division Chief. 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. Geric Tipsword has been a Houston resident since 2004, coming to Houston to attend law school he remained to begin his law practice. Follow the link below for more information about running and details regarding the March 19 CEC meeting. He has been co-parenting 3 children for over 30 years. In 2012 he served as a State Delegate at the Convention in Fort Worth and was a Member of the Rules Committee. Jessica has continued to serve the community in indigent defense and works in the countys drug courts helping clients overcome drug addiction. Michael grew up in Pasadena where he and his wife of 36 years, Laura, raised their 3 children. for Family District Judge, 246th Judicial District. Attorneys Office where he served as a Chief Prosecutor is two of the County Courts at Law. Before that, he practiced as a Certified Public Accountant. We strongly urge you to consider those candidates when casting your vote. He has been licensed and practiced civil litigation in the Harris County Courts for 30-years. for District Judge, 190th 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. Geric Tipsword has been a Houston resident since 2004, coming to Houston to attend law school he remained to begin his law practice. Family District Judge, 280th Judicial District. Judge Maritza Antu was appointed by Governor Gregg Abbott to be the first Judge of the 482nd Criminal District Court. 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 won in the general election on November 8, 2022. for Family District Judge, 315th Judicial District. A. in Business Administration with a major in accounting. Judge Wilson received a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Arlington and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston Law School. 2022 Candidates - Harris County Republican Party Sophia is a member of the Rotary Club of Houston International and the Middle Eastern Heritage Club of Houston. She was instrumental in developing the young offender S.O.B.E.R. Fred has tried cases throughout the State of Texas and argued before both State and Federal Courts of Appeal. 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. Lancaster County judge plans to run in GOP primary after losing Lance has since worked for the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office, the Harris County Office of Court Management, and as special prosecutor for Smith County, Wharton County and the 112th District 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. 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. Texas is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. . And, instead of giving low bond to everybody, giving low bond to non-violent offenders but rationing up bonds for the violent offenders.". 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. Harris County leaders face a slew of challengers this election season Parties seek answers after Harris County fumbles election vote count for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Geric is a combat veteran having served 11 years in the U.S. Army with a combat tour during Desert Storm. Tonya McLaughlin is a native Texan. She was born in Argentina, and emigrated to the United States with her family as a young child. for District Judge, 228th Judicial District. In 2003, Judge Wilson was appointed Judge of the 157th Judicial District Court in Harris County, where he served for over 15 years. Donate today Support the work $5 $20.21 $50 $100 $225 Other Are you ready? 8 years of his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney. Find your Election Day polling location here . As judge of Harris Countys 308th Family District Court, I resolved over 400 cases per month across the full spectrum of family law matters. 2, "Judge Clyde graduated in Top 5% of South Texas College of Law Houston and is an experienced litigation attorney -- licensed since 1990. A career public servant and lifelong Republican, Elizabeth Buss attended Thurgood Marshall School of Law before joining the Harris County District Attorneys Office where she has worked for nearly ten years. 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. With her heart for public service and her strong commitment to our community, Michelle Fraga stands ready to step into the arena. County Commissioner Court. In the primary election, four incumbent criminal Democratic district court judges were beat by their opponents. After years of working in property management, Judge Korduba then started her law practice and grew it to an industry-leading statewide firm. For years Fraga has been bringing leadership, fresh ideas, and high energy to good causes in our community. Leslie and her husband, Houston attorney Dane Johnson, reside in Houston and have two children. 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. Bob has worked on all types of Civil Cases, Foreclosures, Evictions, Family Law, Immigration cases, and Criminal Cases, including Traffic Ticket Defense. Geric is a combat veteran having served 11 years in the U.S. Army with a combat tour during Desert Storm. Since leaving the district attorneys office, Lori has spent the last three years representing indigent defendants in Harris County. 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. 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. 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. Aplicacin para Cita de Presidente de Recinto, View the 2022 Harris County General Election Results. for District Judge, 180th Judicial District. seasoned criminal defense attorney. Then, after more than 20 years, Lori left the office as the chief prosecutor for the 208th District Court. During his service, Judge Landrum has been highly rated by members of the Houston Bar, and he looks forward to serving you again. 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. She is a past member of HCRPs Military Partnership Committee. A lifelong Conservative, she believes it is an exciting time to be a Republican in Harris County. She was born in Argentina, and emigrated to the United States with her family as a young child. 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. In order to become the Republican or Democratic Party nominee for a particular office, you must file an application (PDF) for a place on the ballot with the county or state party chair, as appropriate (see chart). Three Democratic candidates and five Republican candidates are running for the Harris County Precinct 2 commissioner position in the upcoming March primaries. 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. When not practicing law, Fred enjoys traveling with his family and playing golf. for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Place 2, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Place 2. Chambers USA named Wilson as one of the leading commercial litigators in America. for Family District Judge, 245th Judicial District. 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. To learn more about judicial selection in Texas, click here. Erin and her husband have 2 beautiful children, 2 grandchildren and 4 crazy doggies. The experience I garnered served me well during my eight years on the bench. Sophia is honored to be on the November ballot as the Republican nominee for Judge of Harris County Probate Court #2! As an (almost) lifelong resident of Harris County, she can't imagine a better place to live with her two dogs, Penny and Roch. She has worked as a litigator, mediator, and amicus attorney during her legal career. for Family District Judge, 257th Judicial District. He owns his firm with his wife, Karleana, who he is raising two children with. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. Being moderate Democrats, we are naturally inclined to endorse Democratic candidates. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. for District Judge, 263rd Judicial District. Mark Montgomery attended the South Texas College of Law school while working as a Houston Police Officer. Aaron G. Adams is a practicing Attorney of 17 years, Sports Agent, Author, and Real Estate Investor. Until every county-wide Republican up for election in November 2016 was swept out of office, Judge Clyde had earned a reputation for FAIRNESS and for treating all people with RESPECT and courtesy, while faithfully following the law. Zachary is a graduate of Baylor University and St. Marys University School of Law. He served again when Governor Abbott appointed him to fill a vacancy in 2020. His first wife passed away and they had 2 sons who also attended school in Houston. A voting surge cleared the Harris County courtrooms of all elected Republican judges, leaving only Democrats on the bench in civil, criminal, family, juvenile and probate courts. 4. While the administrator isa moderate Democrat, this blog is independently operated andnot affiliated with any political party or political action committee (PAC). 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. To advance to the general election, a candidate must win a majority (over 50 percent) of the vote. 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. Anderson Cancer Hospital, Sheltering Arms, Houston Independent School District, Young Leaders in Medicine, and the Junior League of Houston. Mark honorably retired as a Houston Police Lieutenant after 25 years of service. My experiences have taught me that fair, efficient, and objective dispute resolution saves time and legal costs. He is a former board member of Star of Hope and Main Street Ministries and an Elder at First Presbyterian Church of Houston. Family District Judge, 280th Judicial District. 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. Whether it be through the Houston Police Department, The District Attorney's Office, or through his work representing indigent adults and children, there is still more to be done to ensure our community's faith is restored in the courthouse. Justice Terry Adams was appointed to the First Court of Appeals by Governor Abbott in 2020. for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 8, Place 2. Having lived in Houston his entire adult life, this is especially true for Harris County. Only a handful of Democratic candidates ran that year. Photo by Van Williams. 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. 2022 General Election Democratic Candidates - Harris County Democrats Geric has been practicing family law since 2007. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison Wisconsin. Male judicial candidates had a tough election night in Harris County 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. 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. Justice Kevin Jewell was elected to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals on November 8, 2016. Justice Jewell is a member of the State Bar of Texas and Houston Bar Association, and a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. offenders while ensuring public safety. Fred has been a Super Lawyer in Insurance Coverage since 2007. For over ten years, he was recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine. Geric holds an Associates Degree in Transportation, a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, is a certified teacher, has a Masters Degree in Education Intervention, and has his Juris Doctorate (Magna Cum Laude). Get to the polls prepared! B. 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. "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. Todd Frankfort, a lawyer with over 27 years experience, is a native Houstonian and 5th generation Texan. He is a father of three young children and desires to serve Harris County residents to help restore justice and order. From my father, I learned that every conversation starts with listening, and from my mother, the compassion to accept people as they are. | Harris County Democrats 2. Andrea Beall - Ballotpedia He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in Madison Wisconsin. The Harris County Democratic Party is dedicated to the ideal that everyone deserves an equal shot at life, . The family enjoys taking an active role in their church, schools, and neighborhood, bringing their spirit of teamwork to community causes, and sowing the seeds of patriotism. for District Judge, 184th Judicial District. Justice Adams is recognized by Texas Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America as being one of the top appellate lawyers in Texas. Please note, the application along with the filing fee or petition in lieu of filling fee must be filed at the same time with the proper filing authority. Andrea Beall ( Democratic Party) is a judge of the Texas 185th District Court. 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. 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. She is married to her best friend of 14 years, Matt, and they have four beautiful children together. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. for District Judge, 263rd Judicial District. In the primary election, four incumbent criminal Democratic district court judges. 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. In addition, Bob earned his Juris Doctorate from South Texas of Law in Houston, Texas. She is a member of the Houston Bar Association and a Fellow of the Houston Bar Foundation. https://t.co/iLQ2QESqPx, RT @Jon_RosenthalTX: Thanks to @axios for bringing attention to this issue. He was born in Houston Texas and has been living in Harris County his whole life. 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. He became Board Certified in Family Law in 2007 and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. 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. (Section 172.022, Texas Election Code). She received her law degree from South Texas College of Law and has been practicing criminal law in Harris County for 16 years. Governor Greg Abbott appointed Justice Randy Wilson to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in December 2020, effective January 2021. In 2012 he served as a State Delegate at the Convention in Fort Worth and was a Member of the Rules Committee. 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. Andrew has been Board Certified in Family Law since 2018. For over ten years, he was recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine. Frank Aguilar, Chris Morton and Hilary Unger beat their opponents. for District Judge, 269th Judicial District. Houston native and attorney Leslie Johnson is the Republican nominee for Judge of Harris County Criminal Court-at-Law No. As an election integrity expert, she supports entities across the nation to have strong election security. While with the Houston Police Department, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award and named Police Officer of the Year. 1. He expects a higher voter turnout in the fall but said they are typically less familiar with the candidates and stick to their party. Her legal career has spanned over three decades and delved into many levels of litigation, probate, transactional, and real estate/property matters. for Judge, County Civil Court at Law No. SEE RELATED STORY: Houston police officers shot: 1 officer killed, 1 injured while executing warrant in NE Harris Co. Court records showed Glass did not deny bond to the twice-convicted felon like prosecutors requested on a prior charge. Zachary Gibson is currently a prosecutor for Harris County where he has served his community for the past 6 years. 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. He has practiced in both state and federal courts. 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. Her work in the private sector since the early 2000s includes extensive experience in our County Criminal Courts. Our office is openMonday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 AM - 4 PM. If even one is bounced, Abbott could appoint a replacement for those in the criminal courts. As a prosecutor, Elizabeth has served as a Misdemeanor Chief and practiced in the Felony, Juvenile and Intake Divisions. Stay Informed. Jesus Guillen is married and has 2 children. 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. Rose Cardenas is a lifelong Houstonian. 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. Lance was born in Harris County and has lived here for over 45 years. To view our blog poston the 2022 election, please click on the link below: HarrisCountyDemocrats.com Comments on the 2022 General Election Results. Judge Laryssa received her law degree from the University of Houston in 2003 as a Mixon Scholarship Recipient. for District Judge, 281st Judicial District. As an (almost) lifelong resident of Harris County, she cant imagine a better place to live with her two dogs, Penny and Roch. As a family they enjoy game nights, traveling, and fostering dogs for a local rescue. Justice Adams is recognized by Texas Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America as being one of the top appellate lawyers in Texas. Jesus Guillen received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in 2014 and has been practicing family law for 7 years. He was born in the DFW metroplex and grew up in Burleson, Texas. She was born and raised in Houston and has lived in Harris County for 27 years. Register to vote. Bob is uniquely qualified to serve as Justice of the Peace. I also belong to the Houston Business and Estate Planning Council and the Houston Estate and Financial Forum. 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. Justice Jewell has been Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1998. He lives in Houston with his wife, Caroline Dozier, their teenage son, and their two rescue dogs.