It is important to remember that all candidates running for election, including unopposed candidates, must also file a PFS prior to the primary election. Law.com Compass delivers you the full scope of information, from the rankings of the Am Law 200 and NLJ 500 to intricate details and comparisons of firms financials, staffing, clients, news and events. Resources like these are made possible by the generosity of our community of donors, foundations, and corporate partners. I'm interested in running for Harris County Judge. At issue now is how to fight crime and fund public safety. Mealer sent a social media post conceding the race on Wednesday morning. Barack Obama barely won the county in 2008 and 2012. Hidalgo has rejected Mealers proposal, arguing that the county already has hundreds of unfilled law enforcement positions. A West Point graduate and ex-Army captain who served for a decade in Afghanistan, Mealer has put Hidalgo on the defensive over the countys crime numbers which mirror trends seen in most major U.S. metropolitan areas during the COVID-19 pandemic and a criminal court backlog that dates back to Hurricane Harvey, before Hidalgo took office. Trever Nehls declined to give an interview before the primary. Prior to joining CI, Rachel graduated from Rice University in 2020 and worked as a freelance reporter. Nov 14, 2021 - Dec 14, 2021 . The next year saw homicides grow at a slower pace about 12% to 633 homicides. said, explaining why she'd decided to run again in 2022. The Judge overseeing this case is ROBERTS, KATHLEEN H. The case status is Disposed - Other Disposed. Hegar's office has backed off for now. "Didn't really understand what that change was, chief of it being petty crime turning to violent crime.". And the big absence is how many constables have you added? Two candidates are vying for the position of Harris County judge in the upcoming Nov. 8 election with Republican candidate Alexandra del Moral Mealer challenging the incumbent Democratic judge, Lina Hidalgo, who was elected in 2018. Hidalgo and her fellow Democrats have accused the Republicans of defunding law enforcement by blocking a proposed $123 million increase in public safety spending. "The Republicans have taken on the mantle of we're standing against crime and they've said things like we need more police officers, constables, sheriff's deputies on the streets. Shes been tested in a way very few people in public life have been tested because of so many crises.. ABC13 looked into the Harris County Sheriff's Office crime data and revealed that it didn't matter whether republicans or democrats ran the county. How will you work with your colleagues on the court to get things done? 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[The county] signed the ODonnell Consent Decree that created a cashless bail system for misdemeanors. Access to additional free ALM publications, 1 free article* across the ALM subscription network every 30 days, Exclusive discounts on ALM events and publications. Hammering the 31-year-old incumbent over the countys high number of homicides and the criminal indictment of three Hidalgo staffers, Republican Alexandra del Moral Mealer has mounted a robust challenge against Hidalgo prompting GOP donors to open their wallets for the chance to halt Hidalgos political career and retake the seat they lost in 2018. Salary will be commen Pringle Quinn Anzano, P.C. Dynamically explore and compare data on law firms, companies, individual lawyers, and industry trends. I have full faith in our elected officials and their ability to run a secure, transparent and efficient election and will without question certify the election results as long as our County Clerk and County Tax Assessor testify to the integrity of the process and are the ones administering the election., Gerald Harris on social media: Facebook | Twitter. In this capacity, he heads the station's coverage of national, state, and local elections. Incumbent Lina Hidalgo held off a tough challenge from Alexandra del Moral Mealer to win a second term as Harris County Judge. Alexandra del Moral Mealer will face Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo in November Mealer, a 37-year-old former Army captain, garnered a little over 75% of the votes in the Republican Party. Opposing perspectives can push us to find more equitable solutions, and I am dedicated to keeping Harris County moving forward. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Hidalgo, in turn, has attacked Mealer for not publicly taking a position on the states blanket ban on abortions in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade earlier year. The Commissioners Court sets the County tax rate, adopts the budget, appoints boards and commissions, approves grants and personnel actions, and oversees the administration of county government. Hidalgo and other county officials are just not acknowledging the severity of the problem, Mealer said. Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. I think shes shown a remarkable ability to exercise leadership during a moment of crisis and, in her case, a series of crises, said County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, a Democrat and Hidalgo ally. Thats scary to me, thats scary to me win or lose, Hidalgo said. The Democratic Party candidates are Ron Campana, Steve Duble, Victor Lombrana, Sonia Lopez, Jonathan JP Preston and Chris Watson. Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association P.O. Continuing to strengthen our flood resilience and our disaster preparedness. During a Thursday hearing before the Senate Elections and Municipal Oversight & Elections Joint Committee, the . What is the biggest issue facing Harris County right now, and how do you plan to address it? License our industry-leading legal content to extend your thought leadership and build your brand. Precinct 1 Alan Rosen. Nehls, the Republican challenger, got 119,082 votes, good for 48.4% of the vote. https://www.law.com/texaslawyer/2022/10/14/harris-county-judge-jason-cox-to-face-2nd-challenge-from-former-judge-rory-olsen-in-probate-court-3/. I watched as petty crime in my neighborhood turned into violent crime, and our local officials refused to even acknowledge the problem, let alone try to find solutions to immediately address the issue. The testimony by Arizona forensic investigator Jacqueline Breger accused multiple statewide and county officials, including . Mealer said she plans to hire 1,000 more county law enforcement officers to deal with the surge. 2023 Criminal Court Policies (Appearances, Resets, Pleas, ZOOM links), Southern District of Texas (Houston Division), Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA), PDO (FREE CLE): How to Break Down the Complex Science for the Lawyer. "This is a statistical dead heat," Mark Jones, Rice University political science professor, said. Incumbent Judge Lina Hidalgo is running for re-election after securing a historic - and surprising - win in 2018. Your subscription will be migrated over. Ive steered Harris County through a winter storm, chemical fires, floods, hurricanes and COVID[-19]. Constables. Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates It's unprecedented that after starting as an unknown, in just seven months of general election campaigning, Lina and I are in a dead heat. "That is a key priority," Hidalgo said. ABC13 also heard from the Mealer campaign who said they were not surprised at parts of the new poll: "As early voting gets underway, the new University of Houston - Hobby School of Public Affairs poll is solid confirmation that residents want new leadership in Harris County. The results mean that there will now be four Democrats and only one Republican (Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey) on the Harris County Commissioners Court in 2023. She assumed office on January 1, 2019. And weve increased, and will continue to increase, the ranks of detention officers to reduce strain on current jail staff. Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. RELATED: UH poll shows tight race for Harris County Judge. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Join Texas Lawyer now! Theres a feeling that were the firewall here in Harris County to make sure Texas doesnt go blue, said Cindy Siegel, Harris Countys Republican Party chair. Updated: 6:20 PM CDT September 15, 2022 HARRIS COUNTY, Texas The race for Harris County Judge is one of the most closely watched races this cycle. Through the efficient movement of people and goods, we can maintain the competitiveness of the Port of Houston 20% of Texas GDPand continue to attract families and businesses to Harris County. Mealer has focused her campaign on crime and grilled Hidalgo over law enforcement spending, which makes up about 60% of the countys $2.1 billion general fund budget and has grown every year Hidalgo has been in office. Murder increased. So tell me, what does this company tell you about Lina Hidalgo?. And voters recognize it. And so I think it makes it really hard to argue that its due to any one person or one partys policies.. "Crime and public safety is the dominant issue and that gives a real advantage to Alex Mealer because a plurality of Harris County voters believe she is the one who's best suited to handle the county's strong problems with crime and public safety," Jones explained. He also reports on major policy issues before the Texas Legislature and county and city governments Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day. Weve made significant progress on the backlog with a $17 million investment to add additional judges to the bench and fund technical improvements that allow cases to move faster. Lina - you raised your hand and said you wanted to lead this County, stop talking to your national donors and get up on stage with me and defend your policies to the voters of Harris County., RELATED: Public safety a top priority in race for Harris County judge. If Mealer wins in November, she said, I think that we would see an undoing of a lot of that work.. I couldnt tag him because hes been banned from Twitter, Hidalgo said. Jones is one of the people behind the new Hobby School of Public Affairs poll on the Harris County judge's race. Family violence increased. Hidalgo has touted annual increases to the countys public safety budget since she took office and notes that violent crime has fallen year over year. Hidalgo said the county is spending record amounts of money on an approach that does not only include additional law enforcement and in our interview late this summer cited a seven percent decrease in violent crime year to year. I think that's a little misleading in that we have many open positions in law enforcement that need to be filled.". ABC13 reached out to both candidates about Monday's poll. Below the Waterlines: Houston After Hurricane Harvey, Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media| Alexandra del Moral Mealer's website, Q&A with Lina Hidalgo: Harris County judge discusses pressing issues facing Houston region, Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's Office, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo explains evolving stance on toxic wastewater shipments from Ohio, Toxic wastewater shipments from Ohio trail derailment headed back to Houston area, Firefighting wastewater from Ohio train derailment began arriving in Deer Park last week, Hidalgo says, Santa Fe High School shooter remains mentally incompetent to stand trial, further dragging on 5-year-old case, Houston remains one of the most affordable big cities in the U.S., even if it no longer feels like it, Santa Fe shooting survivor Trey Louis tugs at judges heartstrings on American Idol, Bun B announces part of RodeoHouston Southern Takeover lineup, DPS sent at least 3,000 drivers licenses to organized crime group targeting Asian Texans, A bill making illegal voting a felony, again, advances in the Texas Senate, Firefighting wastewater from Ohio train derailment to be disposed of in Harris County, experts say it's a common process. Its much broader, its national. That backlog sat at 41,344 pending criminal cases as of September, down from a height of about 54,000 during summer 2021, according to county court records. [The county] stripped the constables and the district attorney of their saving accounts during an unprecedented crime epidemic, and the other commissioners and denied the overwhelming majority of their budget requests. Mealer raised more than $4.9 million from July 1 to Sept. 29, according to her latest campaign finance report dwarfing the $301,000 that Emmett raised in a similar time frame during his unsuccessful 2018 reelection campaign. A longtime county resident, Schultz said she began her legal career in the county in 1991 after receiving her law degree and master's degree in English from Duquesne University. Law.com Compass includes access to our exclusive industry reports, combining the unmatched expertise of our analyst team with ALMs deep bench of proprietary information to provide insights that cant be found anywhere else. Hegar threatened to block Harris County from passing a new proposed budget, even though it included substantial increases to the constables budgets and the countys overall public safety spending. P.C. Copyright 2023 KTRK-TV. But a year of scandal and strife has complicated Hidalgos reelection bid. **Please note** If you are already signed up for the newsletter, you do not need to sign up again. Customer Service| I did it while making bold changes to how our government operatesfrom record law enforcement funding, to early childhood education, smarter flood control and everything in between. . The Commissioners Court also approves the budget and sets the tax rate for the hospital district, which is charged with the responsibility for providing acute medical care for citizens who otherwise would not receive adequate medical services. Jones says one reason for Mealer's surge is the top issue. Filing Window. RELATED: 1 week from early voting, crime and public safety are key issues as Election Day approaches, Mom of 2, stabbed 8 times, is making most of second chance at life, Mom's bond raised months after being charged with role in son's death, Mom's purse snatched while picking up child from daycare, police say. Hidalgo ( Democratic Party) ran for re-election for Harris County Judge in Texas. 2. Boutique law firm specializing in sophisticated real estate litigation &representation of commercial and residential tenants seeks one ( CASH KRUGLER & FREDERICKS LLC is Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary & Newest Partners! My obligation as judge will be to our residents above partisan politics. Chris Carmona for District Judge, 185th Judicial District Chris Carmona received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston and has been successfully practicing multiple areas of law for 12 years. Your article was successfully shared with the contacts you provided. My priority is providing access to brighter opportunities. She practiced family law and juvenile law and . Example video title will go here for this video. The political environment looks a lot different this year than when Hidalgo, then a political unknown with no managerial experience, won a surprise victory against Ed Emmett, a Republican who was well liked by voters of both major parties. The biggest issue facing Harris County is the lawlessness that has been allowed to fester. "The county judge race is a great example of the axiom, every vote matters, because that's a race that may be decided by a handful of votes one way or another," Jones said. Republicans are betting that a national midterm environment thats generally unfavorable to Democrats, marked by Bidens low approval ratings and high inflation, could be enough to oust Hidalgo and regain a majority on the five-member court. Hidalgo has criticized that approach as short-sighted. The proposed county budget blocked by Republicans contains a raise for county law enforcement officers, an attempt to better recruit and retain those officers, she said. "If you live in Dallas or Harris or Travis County, there is a very good chance every judge elected to the bench is going to be a Democrat, and in some of the rural counties, it will be the . The industry-leading media platform offering competitive intelligence to prepare for today and anticipate opportunities for future success. Hidalgo, who has been dealing with a COVID-19 vaccine bid rigging scandal that has led to three members of her staff being indicted, has fought back by not only attacking Mealers right-wing donors, but rallying her left-wing base on the abortion issue. As county judge, I will support using toll road dollars to maintain and expand our roadway system and advocate for partnership funding. Women, Influence & Power in Law UK Awards 2023, Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards 2023, LITIGATION ATTORNEY - ATLANTA, GEORGIA- ENTRY LEVEL, AARONSON RAPPAPORT FEINSTEIN & DEUTSCH, LLP, The Art of Entertainment Law: A Conversation with Robert A. Celestin, Buying Legal Council Appoints Jason Winmill as New Chair, Understanding the Las Vegas Crime Rate with Attorney Tony Sgro, Introducing Virginia Ivanova, Esq. The Arizona Legislature's Senate Elections Committee and House Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee held a joint hearing on Thursday featuring testimony from several people involved in researching the voter disenfranchisement that occurred in 2020 and 2022. We need to put everything we can into working through this backlog and getting the criminal justice system functioning.. Find a complete list of them here. Her opponent, incumbent county Judge Lina Hidalgo, told ABC13 at the time the numbers were looking better and that Harris County is not alone in battling crime. Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week. In the time Ive been in office, weve been able to tackle issues that went unaddressed for too long, Hidalgo said in an interview. Democratic primary election Democratic primary for Harris County District Clerk Incumbent Marilyn Burgess defeated Desiree Broadnax in the Democratic primary for Harris County District Clerk on March 1, 2022. As early voting begins, a new poll shows how tight the race for Harris County judge is. Greg Abbott when he took the authority to enact pandemic restrictions away from local officials, unsuccessfully pleading with Abbott to take stronger action as COVID patients overwhelmed many Houston hospitals. Dave Grohl cooks barbecue for hundreds at shelter, Chocolate peanut butter cups recalled nationwide, Republicans vow to block Biden FAA pick as Democrats, MLB could take over broadcasting of Astros, others, Star-studded lineup set for March Madness Music Festival, Buydowns can lower mortgage rates. Public safety scary to me, what does this company tell you Lina..., floods, hurricanes and COVID [ -19 ] good for 48.4 % of the problem, said. 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