Posts tagged Houston Chronicle
Emmett ousted as Democrats rout GOP in Harris County races

“The judicial races likewise were a Democratic rout. The party won each of 23 seats on the district judge bench, all 13 on the family court, all four for county civil judge, all 15 county misdemeanor judges and all four county probate judges. The sweep of the misdemeanor bench, which was dominated by Republicans, could have huge ramifications for the future of the federal lawsuit, brought by poor defendants, challenging Harris County’s cash bail system. Each of the 16 jurists are defendants, including some who have pushed the county to continue fighting the case, though it already has cost taxpayers more than $6 million.“

Houston Chronicle

November 7, 2018

Read More
JudgesPhillip ReevesHouston Chronicle, Houston, Texas, Harris CountyComment
2 Harris County judges responsible for 1 in 5 children sent to state juvenile prisons

“Both the 313th and 314th Juvenile District Courts — overseen by Devlin and Phillips, respectively — sent at least two times as many kids to TJJD last year as they did in 2014, while Scheider’s 315th District Court sent 1.4 times as many as before. Phillips, who had the highest incarceration numbers of the three, sent 88 kids to juvenile prison last year while Schneider, on the low end, sent 36.“

Houston Chronicle

October 20, 2018

Read More
SentencingPhillip ReevesHouston Chronicle, Harris County, Houston, TexasComment
Why we're calling for a judicial sweep in the misdemeanor courts

“We do not make this recommendation lightly. There will be unfortunate consequences that weaken our misdemeanor courts in the short term. Harris County will lose experienced judges. Diversion courts will need new leadership if they are to continue. It’s possible that over the next four years we’ll face different sorts of challenges and scandals in pursuit of a new kind of judiciary. Our star ratings may seem off as we endorse challengers against incumbents with higher scores. But this is about something bigger than individual judges. This is about a criminal justice system in dire need of reform.“

Houston Chronicle

October 16, 2018

Read More
JudgesPhillip ReevesHouston ChronicleComment