Early Voting for the 2026 General Election starts tomorrow (Monday, October 19th), and continues through October 30th, with Election Day on November 3rd. With the hotly contested Senate Race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico, I think everyone expects a very large turnout in Harris County and Texas, in general. Although straight-ticket voting hasn't been a thing for quite a while now, I anticipate that a majority of the voters will vote for only members of their party, which is always a shame.
My amateur prediction is that the large turnout, coupled with Ken Paxton's nasty reputation, will mean good things for the Democrats in Harris County. Generally, that makes me happy, because there are a lot of excellent Democratic Judges on the Bench or running as candidates. There are also some absolute disasters. The same applies for the Republicans, who hold a significant number of Benches through appointments by the governor. Most of them are doing fantastic jobs, regardless of your political perspectives. Many of the Republican candidates are good ones, as well.
I know that there are people on both sides of the political aisle who have vowed never to vote for the other side. I strongly urge you to get over that line of thinking.
Having two qualified candidates running for the same Bench is a gift to the general public, but it gives me ulcers. Many races have two people I consider friends running against each other. So, in those instances, I'm going to tell you what I think about both candidates but I'm probably not going to tell you who I'm voting for unless one candidate is actually a bad one.
So, with that, let's jump in.
180th District Court -- Incumbent Judge Tami Pierce (R) vs. Stephanie Morales (D) - Judge Tami Pierce was appointed to the 180th District Court after Judge Desean Jones stepped down to enter private practice. Prior to Judge Jones' resignation, she was embroiled in a lawsuit contesting the earlier election against him. I wasn't a fan of that lawsuit because I think it set a bad precedent, and it still leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I don't have any personal experience in front of Judge Pierce, but I have heard things that concern me. Defense attorneys have told me that Judge Pierce seems to have difficulty in hiding her preference for the prosecution and even made a sua sponte objection to a defense attorney's voir dire questions. That's extremely concerning.
Judge Pierce's opponent is Stephanie Morales, who I am friends with, although I don't know her very well. The main criticism against her is that she lacks felony experience. That does not overly concern me because she has experience as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney who has done work in misdemeanor court, where the law and the rules of criminal procedure are the same as they are in felony court for all intents and purposes. I would rather have a Judge who needs to build on her experience than one who is exhibiting a preference for the prosecution in front of the jury.
182nd District Court -- Incumbent Judge Danny Lacayo (D) vs. Brent Haynes (R)-so, this isn't even a real contest. Judge Danny Lacayo is a favorite at the CJC for both prosecutors and defense attorneys. He runs a great court, staffed with great people (even with a lovably surly court coordinator). Judge Lacayo focuses his rulings on doing what is just, and he does an excellent job of it. He is no pushover, either. He has no reservations about dressing down a dangerous defendant with no regard for the law or public safety, and sentencing him to significant pen time. But he also strives to reach young people who still have a chance of turning their lives around and give them opportunities to redeem themselves that not all Judges would. In all instances, he will hear every bit of evidence that both parties want to put forward before making his decision. He is a Judge who will make tough calls without being afraid of the political fallout. We need more Judges like him.
Brent Haynes is someone that I am completely unfamiliar with. He is a prosecutor in Galveston County, and I only practice there on occasion. He did not meet with the Houston Chronicle's editorial board when they were doing their endorsements, which indicates to me that he either 1) isn't taking his run for Judge very seriously, or 2) doesn't want to go on the record with his judicial agenda. Whatever his reasoning may be, the choice is clear in this particular race. Judge Lacayo should keep on making a difference in the 182nd District Court.
183rd District Court -- Incumbent Judge Lance Long (R) vs. Julia Maldonado (D)-for over twenty years, I've considered Judge Lance Long to be one of the smartest, if not the smartest guy I know. We worked together at the District Attorney's Office, and I sat second chair with him on the one and only death penalty case I ever prosecuted. He knows the law and he has extremely high standards for those who appear before him. He is a career prosecutor who has never been on the defense side of things, but he follows the law without an agenda. He will call balls and strikes without bias and he expects the prosecution to live up to its duty to prove every case beyond a reasonable doubt. He is highly respected by both sides of the Bar, and he is compassionate on cases and defendants that deserve it. He deserves to continue on.
Julia Maldonado is a former Family Court Judge who lost her Bench a few years back. She used to practice criminal law before going to Family Court, and I remember dealing with her when I was a younger prosecutor. I never had any issues with her back in those days, and I haven't seen her since then. However, her reputation is not a good one. Every attorney that I know who practices Family Law has nothing kind to say about her time on the Bench, with specific criticisms toward her judicial temperament. I am not a fan of candidates for criminal Benches who don't devote their career or practice to criminal law, and Maldonado doesn't have the track record to be a District Court Judge on a criminal Bench.
This is a race where Democratic-leaning voters should cross party lines and vote for the far better candidate: Judge Lance Long.
184th District Court -- Incumbent Judge Katherine Thomas (D) vs. Heather Hudson (R)-as I posted when Judge Thomas first ran for Judge, I was a huge fan of her work as a prosecutor. Four years ago, I pointed out that I thought she was a fair and intelligent prosecutor who would make a great Judge. I'm happy to report that I was correct in that assessment. Over the past four years, I've appeared in front of Judge Thomas on many occasions and she has been fair and thoughtful on all matters before her. She runs a high trial court, which means she is working hard to get cases tried that need to be tried. She also is extremely well-versed in the law and handles tricky legal issues with ease. She is doing a great job and should keep on doing so.
I don't know Heather Hudson personally. She is an appellate prosecutor for the Harris County District Attorney's Office and is doubtlessly qualified to be a Judge. I have nothing negative to say about her. In a different contest, I would consider voting for her. But in this race, Judge Thomas has had an excellent first term and deserves to have many more.
185th District Court -- Incumbent Judge Andrea Beall (D) vs. Mark Goldberg (R) -- this one is easy. Judge Andy Beall has done a tremendous job during her first term on the Bench. She has garnered the highest approval rating of all the Judges, and managed an efficient and fair court. She is no-nonsense on the Bench, and is considered to be extremely fair. She has demonstrated a neutral and fair demeanor throughout, even when called upon to preside over the case of Attorney General Ken Paxton. That's not always easy for long-term Judges, let alone those in their first term, but she has demonstrated that she is an outstanding Judge with great integrity in difficult situations.
Her opponent is the polar opposite. Mark Goldberg is a former Kim Ogg loyalist whose reputation within the District Attorney's Office is largely comical. He was a political hire by his old friend, Kimbra, and his career thus far has been notable for his ability to tell lies on her behalf. Several years ago, I tried a case against Mark and he struck an African-American potential juror from jury service without reason. When I called him out with a Batson challenge, he lied to the Judge misrepresented what the juror had said while on the record. You can read more about that here. It was disgraceful and unnecessary. He also didn't understand the law and the evidence on the case long before we got to that point. Mark Goldberg should never be a Judge. Vote for Andy Beall.
208th District Court -- Incumbent Judge Beverly Armstrong (D) vs. Stephen Driver (R) --I did not know Judge Beverly Armstrong prior to her taking the Bench almost four years ago, but I've had several cases in front of her since then. All of my interactions have been extremely positive. I have found her to be friendly and professional, and she pays very close attention to the matters before her. Although she is a former career prosecutor, I have found her to be very fair on all matters and she is not afraid to find No Probable Cause if the State doesn't have the evidence. Her court is a very pleasant environment to work in, as well.
I don't have anything negative to say about Stephen Driver, who I have known since he was a Baby Prosecutor. I like Stephen and I think he is a smart and qualified candidate. I will say that I consider him to be a little inflexible on some of the cases I've handled with him, and that concerns me somewhat.
209th District Court -- Incumbent Judge Brian Warren (D) vs. Tony Coveny (R) -- From the files of "Wait. What?", I have to say that having a self-proclaimed "food poisoning lawyer" running for a Felony District Court Bench is one of the stranger candidacies that I've ever seen. It's almost as if the Harris County Republican Party decided that the only thing their candidate needed was a pulse and a law degree for this matchup. The jokes about Tony Coveny's misguided run tend to write themselves, especially in light of the fact that he's running against one of the most highly regarded Judges in the courthouse.
While Coveny might have experience going after a dangerous sandwich, Judge Brian Warren has spent his years on the Bench presiding over Capital Murders and other serious crimes. He has a background as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney that has served him well as a fair and neutral Judge who fully appreciates and respects the fact that his actions affect human lives. He is respectful to all parties involved and he expects those who appear before him to perform to the best of their ability. He knows the law and he applies it without favor toward either side. He's done a great job on the Bench and should continue.
228th District Court -- Incumbent Judge Caroline Dozier (R) vs. Alyson Almaguer (D) -- this one is a tough one for me, because I think highly of both candidates running for the 228th. Judge Caroline Dozier was my chief in the 228th when I was a prosecutor and Judge Ted Poe was on the Bench. I truly enjoyed working with her and consider her to be a friend. Although she's only been on the Bench for a relatively short amount of time, I have already had two trials in front of her and enjoyed the experiences.
But I am also a big fan of Alyson Almaguer, who is a Chief Prosecutor in the 182nd that I work with frequently. Alyson is a fantastic chief. She has a great sense of humor and she is extremely reasonable to work with. She will listen and consider everything that a defense attorney will bring her and will work diligently to make sure she is doing the right thing. I think she would make a great Judge.
230th District Court -- Incumbent Judge Chris Morton (D) vs. Megan Long (R) -- this is a strange election because I had gotten so used to Judge Morton running against now-Court of Appeals Justice Brad Hart. It is weird to see someone else running for the 230th.
I have to admit that I have some bias in this one, because Judge Morton is a family friend who I have known since he was a prosecutor. Given his age, he is like an uncle to me. Ever since I have known Judge Morton, he has been very passionate about the Criminal Justice System and diligent about making sure that it is a fair and balanced system. He is extremely smart and is well-versed in case law and procedure. He listens intently to all arguments made to him and he makes his rulings without any personal biases. I was surprised to read that he has announced that this will be the last time he runs, because I didn't know he was that close to the mandatory retirement age for Judges.
Megan Long is a chief prosecutor in the Homicide Division. I've known her for several years but I don't know her very well. I currently have a Capital Murder case pending where she is the prosecutor, and she is great to work with. She is certainly a qualified candidate, but I take issue with her criticizing Judge Morton for not setting bonds as high as the prosecution has requested. The job of the Judge is not to be an arm of the prosecution. I can also say that I've had Judge Morton set a bond at over $1 million on one of my cases in the past.
232nd District Court -- Incumbent Judge Josh Hill (D) vs. Chuck Silverman (R) -- this one is a no-brainer.
Judge Josh Hill is easily one of the most popular and well-liked Judges in the CJC. He is a wickedly smart Judge who is a self-described "nerd" when it comes to doing his own legal research, and I recently had the opportunity to try a murder case in front of him. The experience was great. He let us try our cases, and only interceded when we had legal issues that needed to be decided. When those moments arose, he did an extremely thorough job of listening to our arguments and then doing his work to arrive at his rulings. His daily docket is a relaxed atmosphere where he treats all those who come before him with compassion and respect.
I would cast my vote for Judge Hill regardless of who was running against him, because I believe him to be an excellent Judge. However, his opponent in this race is Chuck Silverman, who is a particularly weak candidate that can't really decide what he stands for. He just really, really wants to be Judge of something. As I noted in this post a while back, Silverman was a civil attorney who couldn't win a civil Bench. He ran as a Democrat in 2018 for the 183rd District Court and won, only to lose in his own primary in 2022. He was extremely bitter about that, and decided to switch parties to run again this year. He's expressed a desire to stop spending money on indigent defense and spend it on victims. Not exactly sure that's a good position for a Judge who is supposed to give those accused the presumption of innocence. He shouldn't be considered a serious candidate.
248th District Court -- Incumbent Judge Hilary Unger (D) vs. David Overhuls (R) -- this one is a tough one for me because I like both candidates very much.
I didn't know Judge Unger very well before she took the Bench, but I have had the opportunity to work with her on some projects during my time as President of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers' Association, and I also had the opportunity to try a murder case in front of her earlier this year. Before that, I tried a court trial to her on an Injury to a Child case. I think that she is an outstanding Judge. She cares very deeply about the Criminal Justice System and devotes a tremendous amount of time to working on policies and procedures to ensure fairness. She has intense focus on every matter that comes before her, whether it's a bond condition or a decision on guilt/innocence. She is sometimes criticized for taking too long on these matters, but I actually appreciate the attention to detail she provides. I have the utmost respect for the job she has done on the Bench.
David Overhuls is a personal friend of mine who I have known since his time as a prosecutor. I think David is a great guy and would make a great Judge. He has experience as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney and I think that he would have the right perspective for being a fair Judge. He was a good prosecutor and he is currently an excellent defense attorney. I can fully understand why the Chronicle gave David their endorsement, although I have to say that I thought some of their criticisms of Judge Unger were unfair.
As I noted above, having two good candidates in a race is a win for the voters, but it makes writing these recommendations tough for me.
262nd District Court -- Incumbent Judge Lori Chambers Gray (D) vs. Nathan Moss (R) -- I have not had much experience with Judge Gray during her time on the Bench. She seems like a very nice lady, but I really don't know that much about her as far as being in trial or making routine appearances in her court. I don't have anything negative to say about her, but I don't know enough about her to say anything particularly positive about her either. She's just kind of there.
By contrast, I've known Nathan Moss since he was a Baby Prosecutor during my last year or so with the D.A.'s Office. He's a Division Chief now, and an extremely experienced prosecutor. We are family friends and were even on the same trivia team there for a while. I don't always agree with Nathan, but I do like him and he is extremely smart. I am not surprised that he received the Chronicle's endorsement, but I have some concerns about his ability to be a neutral jurist. The last time he ran for Judge, his slogan was "Less Bail, More Jail" or something to that effect, and that is worrisome to those of us on the defense side of things. I have no doubt that he has a plan for making the 262nd more efficient and would do a good job of implementing it if elected.
263rd District Court -- Incumbent Judge Melissa Morris (D) vs. Jason Campo (R) -- when Judge Morris first ran for the 263rd four years ago, I made the comment on the blog that I only knew her in passing. Once she was elected, she jokingly told me she was going to correct that situation now that she was on the Bench, and I'm happy to say that she has honored that promise. I have had the opportunity to work with Judge Morris on several projects during my time as President of HCCLA, and I've also tried a very serious case in front of her. I can honestly say I've become a huge fan of hers.
Since taking the Bench, Judge Morris has demonstrated that she has high expectations for all of those who appear in front of her. She was greatly dismayed by appointed attorneys that she felt were overbilling the system while taking on too many clients and not being effective advocates. She has worked tirelessly to modify the appointment system in a way that ensured quality representation for those who take appointments, while also being very realistic about what would work and what would not. She truly cares about the System as a whole and is doing everything in her power to make it reputable and fair. When I was President of HCCLA, it was not unusual at all for me to receive calls from her after hours and on weekends, seeking input on what could be done to improve things, and I cannot express how much that was appreciated.
My experience in trying a case in front of her was also a positive one, despite the fact that the trial did not turn out as I would have hoped. Judge Morris was thoughtful and considerate on all rulings. Some went my way, but plenty of others did not. She decided punishment on the case and her sentence was definitely higher than what I had asked/hoped for, but I cannot dispute that it was one based on her full evaluation of the facts before her. In short, Judge Morris is a damn good Judge.
Her opponent, Jason Campo, is a felony District Court chief who I have gotten to know over the past year. I think he's a great guy and an extremely reasonable prosecutor. I have worked with him on several Capital Murder cases and am currently working with him on a very serious Aggravated Robbery. He is ethical, diligent and knowledgeable on his cases. I would gladly vote for him in any other race.
482nd District Court -- Incumbent Judge Veronica Nelson (D) vs. Bryan Honeycutt (R) - anyone who knows me at all or has a passing knowledge of what is going on at the CJC knows that I am a super fan of Judge Veronica Nelson. We became friends when we tried an ultra exciting counterfeiting case against each other years ago, and I was very excited when she told me she was considering running for Judge four years ago. I was honored to speak at her Investiture and I remain honored to call her my friend. Last year, she presided over the Gerald Goines trial, which was the very definition of a media circus. She handled it like a pro who had been on the Bench for decades. This was not a surprise to any of us who know her.
Judge Nelson has distinguished herself as a great Judge on the Bench, while also having high standards for fairness in the System. She is an excellent Judge.
I have nothing negative to say about her opponent, Bryan Honeycutt. He and I recently resolved a murder case together, and I give him high marks for being fair and compassionate on a complicated case. We collaborated for many hours on it, and I sincerely appreciated the way he treated my client and the wishes of the victim's family. He is a very smart guy and a good lawyer, but my vote will always go to Judge Nelson, regardless of who is running against her.
486th District Court -- Incumbent Judge Vanessa Velasquez (R) vs. Katie Wilson (D) -- Judge Vanessa Velasquez is one of my favorite people on Earth. I have been friends with her since we were both prosecutors twenty-five years ago, and she is someone I will always have the utmost respect and admiration for as a Judge. She was a fantastic Judge in the 183rd District Court for many years before losing the Bench in a Democratic sweep. She was a tough but fair prosecutor with an excellent reputation that continued on during her time as a Judge. When she was appointed to fill the 486th Bench earlier this year, prosecutors and defense attorneys were both very excited to have her back. She is an excellent Judge who does not play favorites. She's also one of the most impressive people I have ever met in my life.
I have nothing negative at all to say about Katie Wilson, but I don't know her very well. I voted for her in the Democratic primary for the 183rd over Julia Maldonado, and I was glad to see her get the Democratic nomination for the 486th. I think she has an impressive resume as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney and I like the platform she expressed on the campaign trail. If she were running for a different Bench, I would gladly vote for her.
495th District Court -- Incumbent Judge Lori Deangelo (R) vs. Tiffany Hill (D) - Judge Lori Deangelo and I have been friends since we worked together at the District Attorney's Office many moons ago. I believe that she is a good Judge although I have had very limited interactions with her since she took the Bench. She has experience as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney and I believe she has received largely positive reviews during her time on the Bench.
I know Tiffany Hill but not very well. She was an associate Judge for a time before the position was scrapped, and I have never heard anything negative about her. I just don't have a tremendous amount of information about her to share, unfortunately.
496th District Court -- Incumbent Judge Dan Simons (R) vs. Ramona Franklin (D) - ever since I started this blog in 2008, I have made it a point to always own up to whatever I have written on the blog. I don't delete things I've written, even when my opinion later changes. I try to maintain some intellectual honesty in what I write here. So, if you had told me in 2024 that I would be writing a post this year in support of Dan Simons for Judge, I would probably not have believed you. Although I never had a personal problem with Judge Simons, I obviously was a big supporter of Sean Teare for District Attorney. I was vocal in my support of Teare and vocal in my criticisms of then-D.A. candidate Simons.
So, while acknowledging that I have previously written things that were negative, I have to say that Judge Dan Simons has been a very pleasant surprise as Judge of the 496th District Court. And I don't just say that because he is running against the absolute worst candidate running for a Bench in the CJC. Judge Simons has impressed both the prosecution and the defense bar in his management of the 496th. He is a hard-working Judge who goes to trial frequently. He treats everyone before him with kindness and respect (even mouthy bloggers who have previously written negative things about him). He is willing to think outside the box on managing tricky cases, and he has generally won rave reviews for the job he is doing as a Judge. Judge Simons has done such a good job on the Bench that there is a group calling itself "Democrats for Dan" supporting him. I'm proud to say that I'm one of them.
His opponent, Ramona Franklin, is, quite simply, terrible. She has been the subject of articles on this blog and in the Houston Chronicle for her absolutely bizarre behavior that was antithetical to everything a Judge should be. From barring defense attorneys from standing with their clients in court to prohibiting the media's attendance in court to excusing a lawyer's failure to file a promised appeal on a client to randomly raising bonds on and taking people into custody without rhyme or reason, she was a terrible Judge during her time in the 338th and will doubtlessly be terrible were she to return. For more information, please read this Houston Chronicle article by Nicole Hensley from earlier this year. That doesn't even address a bizarre whisper campaign that falsely claimed she was up for a Federal Bench.
Judge Dan Simons would deserve your vote for the good job he has done during his time on the Bench, but given who his opponent is, this race is an easy choice.
497th District Court -- Incumbent Judge Peyton Peebles (R) vs. Breeana Schwartz (D) - earlier this month, I had a PSI hearing scheduled in front of Judge Peyton Peebles on a very serious case. As I was headed out the door for court, my wife wished me good luck and said, "I hope the Judge does what you want." I replied to her, "I don't know if he'll do what I want, but I do know he will do the right thing."
I've known Judge Peyton Peebles for closing in on thirty years, and I don't think I can say enough good things about him. From our early years as prosecutors together, I always considered him the smartest guy in the room (with the possible exception of Judge Lance Long). Even though we are roughly the same age, he always seemed to carry a maturity and wisdom that exceeded the norm for young prosecutors. He was level-headed and smart. He was funny and he was kind. He worked largely in the Appellate Division during his time at the District Attorney's Office, and he was someone that would always help me with any question I ever had. When he left the District Attorney's Office for private practice, there was no doubt that he would be great on the defense side of things and, of course, he was. Judge Peebles is great at everything he does. He has the perfect demeanor for being a Judge and he will always do what is right.
I don't know much about his opponent, Breeana Schwartz, because I only know her in passing. I've heard very nice things about her and have no doubt that she is a qualified candidate. But Judge Peebles was born to be exactly where he is, and he will get my vote.
315th Juvenile District Court -- Incumbent Judge Leah Shapiro (D) vs. Maria Brock (R) -- although I don't work in juvenile court except on the rarest of occasions, I would be remiss if I did not give an enthusiastic recommendation for Judge Leah Shapiro. Judge Shapiro is one of my favorite people to sit back and discuss issues facing the Harris County Criminal Justice System for both adults and juveniles. I don't know her opponent, but I know that Judge Shapiro is a great Judge who deserves to be reelected.
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