VOTE411 Voter Guide

I was elected to serve two terms as Justice of the Peace in Precinct 5 at the Place 1 court on Chimney Rock Road. I am the only candidate in the race with judicial experience. At Chimney Rock, I reduced a massive 70,000 case backlog during my first five years. On small claims cases, my appeals rate was less than 1/2 of one percent, which means only one in 200 small clams litigants felt the need to appeal my ruling. I ran a fair and efficient Court, all cases were handled in a timely fashion, and all members of our diverse community felt welcomed and fairly treated.

On small claims cases, I will institute the same regimen and approach that yielded such a low appeals rate, as mentioned above. Hearing cases well, taking time to explain the applicable law, using my seasoned experience to develop the case well.. But the significant advantage I have over my opponent is that I am fully bilingual. Nearly always, when a tenant does not have a good command of English, the property manager is fluent in Spanish. My ability to conduct eviction trials in the Spanish language is a tremendous asset to tenants and landlords, so each party can understand what is being said by the other side, can understand what the judge is saying as he/she explains the law and how it applies to the facts in their case.

I am the most qualified candidate for this position through a combination of current experience, character grounded in service, fairness, integrity & accountability. With more than 15yrs of experience in Human Resources, 13yrs working in Harris County Justice of the Peace courts, serving alongside 9 Judges across 5 JP Courts, I bring with me my proven record to reduce case backlog in three JP courts & my expertise in moving cases expeditiously to avoid a delay in Justice for litigants. My extensive work experience with prosecutors, defense attorneys, & my hands on leadership within the courts, has equipped me to make fair, informed, & ethical decisions. The JP court is not about the Judge & his wants; it is about the residents & their needs

While reducing a backlog of cases is great, it can’t be our main goal. The constituents are who we serve & our priority. Mediators will be available the day of court to help resolve small claims disputes before trial. If no agreement is reached, the case proceeds to trial the same day to ensure litigants can exercise their right to a speedy trial. Eff. 1/1/2026, both parties must agree to mediation for evictions. I will ensure eviction resources are available to both parties prior to the court date, certified translators available for every trial, & legal aid will be present day of court. It is critical that the Judge is current with all legislative updates to adhere to the law. Justice should be rooted in humanity & law. Dignity Matters!