Primary Department: District Courts
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Richard Woods
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Policy
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable):
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): Choose an item.
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request for discussion and approval of a resolution supporting an effort to create nine (9) additional state district courts in Harris County, Texas by the 89th session of the Texas legislature.
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Background and Discussion:
Harris County District Courts are charged with the timely, fair and unbiased administration of justice. Delayed justice costs Harris County citizens financially, personally and emotionally. Ensuring that an adequate level of funding is provided to the Judiciary is essential in affording Texas citizens access to justice and protection from abuse of individual rights.
In 2007, the National Center for State Courts conducted a statewide, 18-month weighted caseload study titled "Measuring Current Judicial Workload in Texas," to in part, assess the need for additional judicial support. In the final report released in June 2008, the NCSC concluded that in order to "provide for the equitable handling of cases," Harris County needed a total of 110 Judicial Officers, which represents a shortage of 27, full-time (FTE) Judicial Officers.
In February 2025, the Office of Court Administration for the State of Texas applied the case weights employed in the 2008 NCSC study to the Harris County District Courts filings between January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 and determined a shortage of 28.8 Criminal ...
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