Where I Stand
The 253rd District Court handles felony criminal cases, family matters, and civil disputes that affect real people in Chambers and Liberty Counties every single day. Who sits on that bench matters.
Here's what I'm focused on:
The Problem: Cases in our district court are taking far too long to resolve. The average felony case takes nearly two years to reach disposition. Case clearance rates are below state averages—and declining. This isn't just an inconvenience. It's a failure.
Issue 1: Judicial Efficiency
Why It Matters: Justice delayed is justice denied. Victims wait years for closure. Defendants wait years for their day in court. Witnesses forget. Evidence grows stale. And the entire system loses credibility.
My Plan:
Conduct a comprehensive docket review within my first 90 days
Implement proactive case management with firm deadlines
Limit unnecessary continuances
Hold regular status conferences to keep cases moving
Track metrics and hold the court accountable for results
The Problem: Eighty-eight percent of the Chambers County jail population are pretrial inmates—people sitting in jail waiting for their cases to be resolved. This is costing taxpayers up to $1.7 million dollars a year in avoidable housing costs.
Issue 2: Taxpayer Accountability
My Plan:
Prioritize efficiency to reduce unnecessary pretrial detention
Move cases through the system in a timely manner
Ensure bond decisions are made thoughtfully to protect public safety while avoiding wasteful detention of low-risk individuals
Treat every dollar spent as a dollar that belongs to you
Why It Matters: That's your money. And it's being wasted because cases aren't moving through the system efficiently. Every day a defendant sits in jail awaiting trial costs taxpayers $63.57. Multiply that by hundreds of inmates and years of delays, and the cost is staggering.
Issue 3: Equal Justice & Impartiality
The Problem: Every person who enters a courtroom deserves to know they'll be treated fairly—regardless of who they are, who they know, or who's representing them.
Why It Matters: Public trust in the justice system depends on impartiality. When people believe the system is rigged or that some people get better treatment than others, the rule of law breaks down.
My Commitment:
Apply the law equally and consistently to every case
Treat every person in my courtroom with dignity and respect
Set aside personal opinions and focus on the law and the facts
Run a courtroom where the only thing that matters is the merits of the case
The Problem: After 35 years of the same leadership, our courts are not where they should be. Case resolution rates are declining. We're falling behind peer counties. The trends are moving in the wrong direction.
Issue 4: Fresh Leadership
Why It Matters: Public trust in the justice system depends on impartiality. When people believe the system is rigged or that some people get better treatment than others, the rule of law breaks down.
My Commitment:
Bring nearly 20 years of experience from courts across Texas
Approach the role with fresh eyes and new energy
Listen to prosecutors, defense attorneys, court staff, and the community
Focus on results, not politics