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.
As judge of the 497th District Court, I work to resolve cases justly, promptly, and affordably while protecting constitutional rights and public safety. I apply the law fairly, base rulings on the evidence, and consider each case individually. I reward genuine reform when appropriate and impose harsher punishment on repeat offenders. I actively manage my docket, require progress from the parties, resolve disputes, and set cases for trial without unnecessary delay; I have conducted more jury trials than nearly every other felony district judge since I began serving. I also protect taxpayer funds by requiring those who can afford counsel to pay while providing court-appointed counsel and necessary resources to those who cannot.
I have extensive bail experience, including firsthand observation of the O'Donnell litigation. Texas law requires judges to protect constitutional rights while safeguarding victims and the public. Bail decisions must reflect each defendant's circumstances, the evidence, criminal history, compliance with court orders, community ties, flight risk, and danger to others. I support reasonable bail and conditions for lower-risk defendants, but I impose higher bail, stricter conditions, or deny bail outright when Texas law authorizes it for dangerous or repeat offenders. I faithfully apply the Texas Constitution and Texas law to protect public safety, preserve constitutional rights, and maintain confidence in our justice system.
I will take an active role in case management in the court with schedules, clear court expectations, communicating with involved parties about delays, and setting efficient trial schedules. I intend to hold trials regularly to promote timely resolution of cases and reduce pre-trial detention concerns for the community and defendants.
Trials can be a time and monetary burden for jurors and witnesses; I will conduct jury selections at the end of the week, so all parties know which case will be in trial and can prepare accordingly.
Regarding defendants, when appropriate, I will allow for appearance waivers in early case stages while evidence collection is ongoing, to ensure people do not have to needlessly take time off work.
I will evaluate everything on a case-by-case basis and follow the law as required by the U.S. and Texas constitutions and statutes. I will consider all evidence presented to make an informed decision on what bail amounts and conditions are necessary to ensure public safety.
Whether or not a person is a first-time or repeat offender is part of the evidence in setting bail amounts and conditions, and factors surrounding that information may impact what the best course of action is for appropriate bail along with other factors such as the type of crime alleged.
One of the strongest mitigants available for pre-trial detention issues is for judges to ensure the prompt resolution of cases, reducing the impact of these difficult decisions.
