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.
While it is more important to resolve criminal cases correctly than it is to resolve them quickly, since 2019 I have done both. However, I will never sacrifice justice for the sake of expediency. Docket management in the 232nd District Court has improved drastically through scheduling practices and by making myself available after hours, by cell phone, or by video conferencing, which has resulted in among the highest clearance rate of all felony courts for the last 2 years. As the only candidate in this race board certified in either Criminal Law or Judicial Administration, I have also maintained the highest standards in understanding and applying the law to ensure that a just result occurs in every unique matter before the court.
Bail amounts are used to insure a both defendant’s appearance in court and their compliance with conditions placed on their release. Community safety occurs through assessing conditions of release, such as GPS monitoring, drug testing, and no-contact orders, and most importantly, by holding defendants without bail when the State proves that conditions have been violated. Bail amounts set so high as to effectively serve as no bail have been held unconstitutional by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, so higher bail amounts are usually set based primarily on flight risk or the danger posed to the community. Non-violent first offenders tend to pose less risks than repeat or violent offenders, and bail amounts generally reflect this reality.
I will use active, disciplined docket management to move cases promptly without sacrificing fairness. Early in each case, I will identify its needs, enter firm but realistic discovery and scheduling orders, and hold both sides accountable. I will review the jail docket, oldest cases, unresolved motions, continuances, and trial readiness on a recurring schedule so no case is overlooked. Clear procedures, timely rulings, firm trial dates, and appropriate remote proceedings can reduce delay, travel, and expense. Statistics should identify bottlenecks, not dictate outcomes; I will never pressure a plea or dismissal merely to improve numbers. Every person will be treated with dignity and given a meaningful opportunity to be heard.
I will honor Texas’s constitutional bail requirements through prompt, individualized, evidence-based hearings. I will consider the charge, ability to make bail, risk of nonappearance, criminal history, court-order compliance, and safety of the alleged victim, law enforcement, and community. For first-time defendants, the absence of convictions or release violations is relevant. For repeat defendants, convictions, failures to appear, and release violations may support stricter conditions when evidence warrants. I will explain rulings on the record, impose lawful and enforceable conditions addressing risks, and respond promptly to alleged violations. This protects public safety while respecting due process and the presumption of innocence.
