District courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction of Texas. They have original jurisdiction in felony criminal cases, divorce cases, cases involving title to land, election contest cases, civil matters in which the amount of money or damages involved is $200 or more, and any matters in which jurisdiction is not placed in another trial court. The courts may specialize in civil, criminal, juvenile, or family law matters. Four-year term.
district
Harris County (232)
Education
JD, University of Houston Law Center; BA, University of Texas at Austin; HS Diploma, St. John's School, Houston, TX
Occupation
Judge, 232nd District Court (Felony Criminal)
My legal career of 20+ years has been dedicated exclusively to criminal law, mostly in Harris County. I interned and later served as an Assistant District Attorney for Harris County for almost a decade before becoming a criminal defense lawyer. I have been Judge of the 232nd Criminal District Court since 2019, and I have been board certified in criminal law for 11 years. As both a prosecutor and defense lawyer, I tried 50+ criminal cases to a jury, from misdemeanors to capital murder. I have also handled post-conviction, actual innocence, and appellate matters successfully both for the State and defense. As judge, I have presided over dozens of felony trials, including capital murder. I have meaningful criminal law experience on all sides.
If re-elected, I must continue reducing the backlog without creating undue pressure that can sacrifice a just result. This year, I changed the court’s scheduling process to resolve cases quicker, and I became more directly involved in discovery matters and other causes of delay. These changes reduced the docket by almost 1000 cases. As the backlog shrinks, I will be even more aggressive with the scheduling timeframes and court involvement to eliminate the backlog within a year.
The other issue is loss of faith in the judicial system due to misinformation and politicization. I will participate in speaking engagements and media appearances to explain the independent and neutral nature of the judiciary and to correct the inaccurate narratives.
district
Fort Bend County
Education
Juris Doctorate TMSL
Occupation
Attorney
I bring extensive courtroom experience as a veteran prosecutor handling serious criminal matters, victim advocacy, and contested hearings. As a licensed peace officer, I have a practical understanding of law enforcement operations, the responsible use of discretion, and constitutional policing. I am also an Army veteran, and that service instilled in me a lifelong commitment to discipline, integrity, and service before self. I view public service as a responsibility to the community, not a position of power. I am trained in criminal procedure, evidence, trial advocacy, and ethical decision-making, with years of experience applying the law in high-stakes situations that directly impact families, victims, and community trust.
This court has faced significant scrutiny over bond decisions that have placed the public at risk. I will implement a bail checklist that balances due process with public safety by considering the nature of the offense, prior supervision status, victim safety, and statutory limits on personal recognizance (PR) bonds.
The second issue is case backlog. This court has managed one of the highest caseloads for eight consecutive years. Effective docket management begins with a comprehensive case audit to identify older cases. Prioritizing aging cases reduces the risk of dismissals and prevents pressure to resolve matters for improper reasons.
