Criminal District Court Judge, District 183
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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Lance Long
(Rep)
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Julia Maldonado
(Dem)
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 am doing it now. My docket has dropped from over 900 cases when I took the bench in January 2025 to approximately 525 cases today. I have one of the lowest dockets in the courthouse. The average age of a case in the 183rd District Court is below the median. I also have one of the lowest trial dockets among the criminal district courts.
State law mandates the factors that are to be considered in setting bail. I make sure I have information on all of the available factors before setting bail. In cases where the State files a motion to hold the defendant without bail under Texas law, I set the case for a prompt hearing within days. I treat allegations of cases of violence different than youthful offenders charged with a non-violent offenses. There is no one size fits all. I also use other tools such as GPS monitors with exclusion zones in child abuse and domestic violence cases.
I would promote the just and prompt resolution of cases through active docket management, consistent procedures, and respect for due process. I would regularly review the court’s docket, prioritizing older cases and cases involving individuals in custody. Unnecessary resets should be minimized while ensuring that attorneys have adequate time to prepare. I would also use available technology and efficient scheduling to reduce delays and unnecessary costs. When defendants are housed outside Harris County, I would remain mindful of the challenges this may create for access to counsel and timely proceedings. My goal is a fair, organized, and efficient courtroom where justice is never rushed or unnecessarily delayed.
In setting bail amounts, I would apply the Texas Constitution and all applicable laws to make an individualized decision in each case. I would consider all legally required factors, including the nature and circumstances of the alleged offense, the defendant’s criminal history, community ties, flight risk, financial ability to make bail, and any appropriate release conditions. A person’s prior record or lack of prior record I would be considered only as allowed by law and in the context of all relevant facts. I would not prejudge any defendant or impose a predetermined outcome. In every bail decision, my duty is to protect constitutional rights, follow the law, and consider community safety
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