Civil and Family District Courts in Harris County (2011) |
FAMILY DISTRICT COURTS 245th: Judge Roy L. Moore Formerly: Judge Annette Kuntz (Galik) 246th: Judge Jim York 247th Judge Bonnie Crane Hellums Formerly: Judge Judy Warne 280th Judge Lynn Bradshaw-Hull 308th Judge James Lombardino Formerly: Judge Georgia Dempster (deceased) 309th Judge Sheri Y. Dean Formerly: Judge Frank Rynd (former) 310th Judge Lisa Millard 311th Judge Denise Pratt Formerly Judge Doug Warne (former) 312th Judge David Farr (elected 2010) 312th Judge Robert Hinojosa (2009) 312th Judge David D. Farr (former)(2008) 312th Judge James Squier (former) LAST UPDATED: 9/29/11 JUVENILE DISTRICT COURTS 313 Judge Glenn Devlin Formerly: Patrick Scott Shelton (Pat) 314 Judge John Franklin Philip 315 Judge Michael Schneider See: Juvenile Court Cases (Appeals) LAST UPDATED: 9/29/11 |
News Items |
Dec. 21, 2007 - Patricia Kerrigan appointed to take Judge Jennifer Elrod's bench in the 190th District Court. Oct. 4, 2007 U.S. Senate confirms Houston trial court judge Jennifer Elrod for a seat on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Texas Native Nominated for Fifth Circuit Leslie H. Southwick, a Texas lawyer who put down roots in Mississippi, has been nominated to fill a vacancy on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. See Leslie H. Southwick's Texas Bar Profile Southwick's Mississippi Appeals Court Bio Elrod Nominated for Higher Bench Texas State District Court Judge Jennifer W. Elrod has been nominated by President Bush to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. If confirmed by the Senate, the Hon. Jennifer Walker Elrod will succeed the Hon. Patrick E. Higginbotham. The nomination was sent to the Senate Wednesday, March 28, 2007. Ms. Elrod currently serves as presiding judge of the 190th District Court in Houston, Texas. See Photo of Hon. Jennifer Walker Elrod, Judge State Bar Attorney Profile for Jennifer Elrod An investiture ceremony for Jacqueline Lucci Smith, new judge of the County Civil Court of Law No. 2, and successor to Judge Michael Block, was held in the Ceremonial Courtroom in the new Harris County Civil Courthouse on April 5, 2007 at 2 P.M.. More news-worthy, on account of numbers and for other reasons, was the investiture of Dallas County Democratic lawyers who replaced Republican incumbents in January 2007, according to a front-page story in the April 2, edition of the Texas Lawyer. 42 Democrats swept into office as a result of a major turnaround in the partisan tides in Dallas in the November 2006 elections. Newly elected judges had reservations about being sworn in en masse. Their investiture was also overshadowed by the rancor lingering on from a campaign season marked by attack ads against the Democratic challengers that nevertheless proved ineffective (or perhaps even counter-productive, in light of the election results). Some candidates were attacked for representing criminal defendants and brand marked as guilty by association. The Local Bar was criticized for its allegedly partisan role in judicial election politics, including its sponsorship of judicial preference and popularity polls. According to the Texas Lawyer, some of the newly elected judges want the Dallas Bar Association (DBA) to denounce the election campaign attack ads. |
2008 Harris County Judicial Election Results (Civil Benches) |
Aug. 20, 2009. The recent announcement by Justice Harriet O'Neill that she will not seek re-election to her seat on the Texas Supreme Court, and the resignation of Justice Scott A. Brister, are creating two opportunities for advancement to a higher level in the multi-tiered judicial system. Both are Republicans, as are all of their peers. O'Neill's successor will be chosen in an open-seat race, whereas Brister's replacement will be chosen by gubernatorial appointment, followed by a partisan contest between the appointee and his Democratic opponent, whoever that may be. Several trial and appellate judges around the state have already jumped into the fray, or a expected to do so soon. Texas Lawyer reports that District Judge Tracy Christopher is applying for appointment by the Governor to replace Justice Brister. Justice Eva Guzman, currently an associate justice on the 14th Court of Appeals, may also be eying a higher calling. She is up for re-election this year. Justice Jeff Brown is reported to be seeking both appointment and election. July 20, 2009. Federal District Court Judge orders Harris County District Clerk Loren Jackson to grant news service same-day access to newly-filed lawsuit petitions in federal action brought by Courthouse News Service vs. Loren Jackson et al; Civil Action No. H-09-1844 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas - Houston Division. Jackson responds to preliminary injunction by making "unverified" petitions available to everyone on-line. Check out today's filings. May 2009. 1st Court of Appeals Justice Tim Taft retires, but continues to sit in some cases. His appointed successor is Michael Massengale. Jan 1, 2009. Newly Elected Harris County District Judges Take Office Nov. 7. 2008. Kent Sullivan returns to Houston and judicial office as a Justice on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals, per gubernatorial appointment. Nov. 5, 2008 - Governor fills vacancies: Sylvia Matthews appointed to the 281st district court bench (replacing David Bernal); Dan Hinde appointed to 269th District Court (succeeding John Wooldridge) Nov. 4, 2008 - Democrats win most judicial races in Harris County district court contest; a few Republicans hold on with razor-thin vote margins. Houston courts also get new District Clerk: Loren Jackson, Harris County District Clerk Dec. 21, 2007 - Gov's Christmas Presents Rick Perry promotes Judge Jeff Brown to seat on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals vacated by Justice Harvey Hudson; appoints William Boyce to replace Richard Edelman. 190th District Court also gets a new judge: Trial lawyer Patricia Kerrigan. Jeff Shadwick takes Brown's bench in the 55th District Court. Nov. 28, 2007 - David Farr appointed to replace Jim Squier in the 312th Family District Court U.S. Supreme Court denies cert in Harris County Bible Monument Case - County stuck with large legal bill. Long-time Associate Judge Michael Hay retired from this duties in the 309th Family District court at the end of August. Hon. Meca Walker has taken his place. Controversy-prone divorce court judge Annette Galik marries boyfriend Hal G. Kuntz and becomes Hon. Annette Kuntz Family Court Judge James D. Squier has announced he will be running for Congress and has resigned as a full-time judge.The Hon. Carolyn Johnson had been handling the court's business as an assigned judge. Harris County has a new district clerk: Theresa W Chang takes office Sep. 11, 2007 Change previously worked for the Harris County Attorney's Office. Courthouse Bible's Future Uncertain Fifth Circuit Declares Appeal in Harris County Bible Monument Case Moot Staley v. Harris County (5th Cir.)(en banc) (April 24, 2007) See SDTX page for DC orders in this case Power Lunch or Just Brownbag Lunch Cum Prayer - Judge's Courthouse Bible Study Club Raises Eyebrows Apr. 22, 2007 - Family Court Judge James D. Squier's lunchtime bible study sessions in the Harris County Family Law Center have attracted the attention, and criticism, of freshman Houston Chronicle Columnist Lisa Gray. According to experts quoted in her Sunday column, the practice, which has been going on for years, is not illegal under the separation of church and state doctrine. According to Gray, however, what is legal is not necessarily good. The Tuesday bible study meetings, held in an associate judge's chambers, raise the question whether lawyers may use the occasion to curry favor with the judge. At the minimum, suggests the column, it affords some attorneys practicing in the family courts an opportunity to schmooze with a judge before whom they have cases, an opportunity not equally available to colleagues of different religious persuasions. Lisa Gray assumed responsibility of shining light on the conduct and misconduct of local politicos, public officials, and other matters meritorious of media exposure, after long-time Houston Chronicle columnist Rick Casey was sent on sabbatical. It is not the first time the mixture of religion and public business in Harris County courts have raised eyebrows. The display of religious symbols in the courtroom and of a bible in front of the old civil county courthouse (now gone at least temporarily during renovation) have both led to first amendment litigation in federal court. The case challenging the Ten Commandments in the courtroom of a civil court judge was dismissed on standing grounds, but the bible monument case remains pending on appeal in the Fifth Circuit after that Court granted en banc review of a federal district court order banning the bible, which had been affirmed in a panel opinion. Harris County v. Staley. Apr. 10, 2007 - According to an obituary published in the HOUSTON CHRONICLE former Family District Judge Allen J. Daggett has died. He was the presiding judge of the 310th District until his retirement in 1994. His bench in the Harris County Family Law Center is now held by the Hon. Lisa Millard. Daggett was a family court judge for about two decades. Allen Daggett was a graduate from UT and a Democrat. He was 80 at the time of his death. |
The new Harris County Civil Courthouse <----------------- |
News Items |
2008 ELECTION OUTCOME: See all Harris County Election Results (updated figures) REP Mark Davidson 537,626 Votes: 48.81% v. DEM Mike Miller 563,884 Votes: 51.19% REP Jeff Shadwick 542,787 Votes: 49.28% vs. DEM Dion Ramos 558,548 Votes: 50.72% REP John Donovan 537,650 Votes: 48.77% v. DEM Alfred "Al" Bennett 564,767 Votes: 51.23% REP Lynn M. Bradshaw-Hull 545,950 Votes: 49.54% DEM Larry Weiman 556,119 Votes: 50.46% REP John Coselli 531,586 48.31% vs. DEM Kyle Carter 568,845 51.69% REP Sharolyn Wood 543,959 Votes: 49.50% v. DEM R. K. Sandill 554,882 Votes: 50.50% REP Grant Dorfman 530,479 Votes: 48.22% vs. DEM Michael Gomez 569,687 Votes: 51.78% REP Lamar McCorkle 535,710 Votes: 48.80% v. DEM Jaclanel McFarland 561,954 Votes: 51.20% REP Caroline E. Baker 542,352 Votes 49.28% vs. DEM Mike Engelhart 558,168 Votes: 50.72% REP Ken Wise 537,730 Votes: 48.90% v. DEM Robert Schaffer 561,864 Votes: 51.10% REP Martha Hill Jamison 3547,785 Votes: 49.84% vs. DEM Alexandra Smoots-Hogan 551,249 Votes: 50.16% REP Elizabeth Ray 549,921 Votes: 49.98% v. DEM Josefina Muniz Rendon 550,296 Votes: 50.02% REP Patricia J. Kerrigan 549,631 Votes: 50.12% vs. DEM Andres Pereira 547,078 Votes: 49.88% REP Levi J. Benton 533,568 Votes: 48.70% v. DEM Steven E. Kirkland 62,135 Votes: 51.30% REP Joseph "Tad" Halbach 547,442 Votes: 50.02% vs. DEM Goodwille Pierre 547,091 Votes: 49.98% REP Sharon McCally 563,517 Votes: 51.43% v. DEM Ashish Mahendru 532,135 Votes: 48.57% |