Criminal District Court Judge, District 180
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.
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Stephanie Morales
(Dem)
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Tami Pierce
(Rep)
What will you do to promote the just, prompt, and affordable resolution of cases that come before your court?
In setting bail amounts, how will you balance Texas's constitutionally mandated bail requirements with other conditions of release including minimizing any public safety threat the defendant may present to the community? Please discuss both first time and repeat offenders.
I will have clear expectations of timelines so both prosecutors and defense attorneys know what is expected of them in terms of time to gather and review evidence and being prepared for trial. One of the things that would increase efficiency is to not require defendants at every court setting. Defense attorneys can take their time working on
cases each day without having to rush court to court so their clients can leave the courthouse and go back to work. Prosecutors can gather the evidence they need for their cases without feeling rushed by defense attorneys. I will also ensure that cases go to trial without delay.
For both first time and repeat offenders I will follow Texas’s constitutionally mandated bail requirements. For offenders who may be a public safety risk, there are ways to minimize this risk such as using Guardian Interlock machines on DWIs, ankle monitors to impose curfews or exclusion zones as well as other bond conditions such as drug and alcohol testing. I will also follow the law, and will hold hearings in accordance with what the parties file regarding bail.
I will promote just and affordable resolutions by ensuring felony cases move efficiently and are resolved without unnecessary delay, while also protecting the rights of the accused and the interest of the victims and community. Every person who comes before my court deserves a fair, timely resolution.
In setting bail, I will follow the Texas Constitution and applicable law while making an individualized assessment of each defendant and each case.
For a first-time offender, I will consider the nature of the circumstances of the alleged offense, ties to the community, likelihood of appearing in court and specific safety concerns before determining conditions of release.
For repeat offenders, I will additionally consider the defendant's criminal history, prior compliance with conditions of release, prior failures to appear and history demonstrating a continuing threat to a victim or the community.
Bail should always serve to recognize the constitutional rights of the accused and the legitimate need for public safety.
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