Before the 2016 Presidential Election in Harris County, Texas, it was nearly unheard of to have an African American judge presiding over a courtroom in Harris County, Texas. If we fast forward to 2024, in just four pivotal election cycles, African Americans have gone from holding no judicial benches to claiming (41) forty-one of a potential (81) eighty-one local benches in Harris County, Texas. How was this done, in such a short timeframe? After all, African Americans only make up about 18.5% of the total population in Harris County, Texas according to the most recent census data!!! Did you even know that "AFRICAN AMERICAN JUDGES" control over 50% of the local judicial benches? You can "CLICK HERE" to see the "CONTESTED RACES" for Tuesday, March 5, 2024, for the Harris County Democratic Party and the Harris County Republican Party.
Judge Mike Engelhart (not pictured), the presiding judge for the 151st Civil District Court could be facing an uncertain future when he faces off against Judge Erica Hughes on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in the Democratic Party Primary for Harris County, Texas.
"These Twelve Democratic Incumbent Judges lost their benches to their fellow Democratic challengers back during the 2022 Democratic Party Primary."
Back during the 2022 Democratic Party Primary, (12) twelve sitting Democratic Judges (mostly white) lost their benches to their Democratic challengers. Judge Jason Luong, Judge Scot "dolli" Dollinger, Judge Abigail Anastasio, Judge Amy Martin, Judge Barbara "Babs" Stalder, Judge Tristan Harris Longino, Judge Chuck Silverman, Judge Clinton "Chip" Wells, Judge David L. Singer, Judge Franklin Bynum, Judge Greg Glass, and Judge Michael Newman all "LOST THEIR BENCHES TO FELLOW DEMOCRATS" during the 2022 Midterm Primary season. That being said, Judge Mike Engelhart appears to be very afraid to face off against Judge Erica Hughes in the upcoming 2024 Democratic Party Primary race for the 151st Civil District Court, in Harris County, Texas.
For some strange reason, Judge Mike Engelhart filed a "Notice of Nonsuit Without Prejudice" on the same day (Wednesday, January 3, 2024) that an investigative report was published by "AUBREY R. TAYLOR REPORTS©" detailing claims by Judge Erica Hughes that Judge Mike Engelhart and the Harris County Democratic Party Primary Chairman (Mike Doyle) are conspiring together to keep her off off the ballot. You can "CLICK HERE" to read the "NONSUIT" that was filed by Judge Engelhart's attorney.
Judge Erica Hughes issued this statement: “The fact that Mr. Doyle’s lawyers were complicit in this and also never responded to my emails and never advised me of the hearing is conclusive proof of the collusion and that this is nothing but a “friendly” lawsuit where both Judge Engelhart and Mr. Doyle are on the same side.”
Black Judges Currently hold Over 50% of the 81 Local Judicial Benches in Harris County, Texas; Judge Hughes is Concerned
AUBREY R. TAYLOR REPORTS©
AUBREY R. TAYLOR REPORTS©
It's a little too early to tell, but it certainly is beginning to look like there's a covert operation in play behind the scenes in Harris County, Texas. Why did Judge Mike Engelhart file a non-suit after it was revealed that he and his lawyers were playing fast and loose on "New Year's Day" when the Harris County Courthouse was technically closed? What's really going on in Harris County, Texas these days?
Now you have Judge Erica Hughes going public with claims that the Harris County Democratic Party Chairman, Mike Doyle, and the presiding judge for the 151st Civil District Court may be conspiring together to keep her off the upcoming Tuesday, March 5, 2024, Democratic Party ballot in the race for the 151st Civil District Court.
"They've sealed the record," proclaimed Judge Hughes, referring to the shenanigans that happened in the 133rd Civil District Court, where Judge Jaclanel Mcfarland was serving as the ancillary judge on "New Year's Day" when Hughes and her lawyer (Lloyd Kelley), were allegedly not given a chance to participate in the proceedings.
"FINAL THOUGHTS."
If the Harris County Democratic Party isn't careful, they're going to implode before they ever even get a chance to face off against their "REPUBLICAN RIVALS" on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, in the Presidential Election. As it stands right now, the "DEMOCRAT INFIGHTING" is a lot worse than the "REPUBLICAN INFIGHTING" if you ask me. How can I say this? Well, the numbers don't lie.
As it stands right now, there are only (20) twenty key contested primary races on the "2024 REPUBLICAN PARTY PRIMARY BALLOT" for Harris County, Texas. However, on the "2024 DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRIMARY BALLOT" there are an astonishing (48) forty-eight key contested primary races that must be decided.
All of that being said, the optics aren't looking good for the Harris County Democratic Party right now. Why not? Well, for decades, African American women have been the lifeblood of the Democratic Party on the local and national stage. Therefore, you can't have an African-American female running around alleging that her local party chairman (Mike Doyle), is conspiring with her (white male) judicial opponent against her.
AUBREY R. TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONSEMAIL: aubreyrtaylor@gmail.com957 NASA PARKWAY #251
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77058-3039
(281)788-3033
DIRECT CONTACT:
Mike Doyle, the new Harris County Democratic Party chairman took over a Democratic Party that had been run into the ground by his predecessor, Odus Evbagharu, in less than a year. Now, Doyle is left with a slate of incumbent judges who don't have very much money in their campaign coffers.
“VERY BAD OPTICS.”
If you take a moment to look at things from a branding perspective, no matter what happens with former President Donald Trump’s legal woes, the optics couldn’t be worse for Black judges sitting on benches in Harris County, Texas heading into the 2024 Presidential Election cycle.
There are currently (81) eighty-one coveted potential judicial benches available in Harris County, Texas. And of the 81 judicial benches, an astonishing 41 of them are occupied by African-American (Democrat) judges right now. How did this remarkable coupe of local judicial benches happen in a span of only four “MAJOR ELECTION” cycles, when African Americans only make up 18.5% of the population in Harris County, Texas?
According to the most recent census data, the White (Non-Hispanic) population in Harris County sits at (29%), the White (Hispanic) population sits at (28%), the Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) population sits at (18.5%), the Other (Hispanic) population sits at (8.86%), and the Asian (Non-Hispanic) population sits at (6.99%), right now.
No matter how you flip the coin, Hispanics are grossly underrepresented, and African Americans are grossly overrepresented based on the percent of population measurables. That being said, something must be given, as Hispanics have become the largest racial/ethnic group in Harris County, Texas.
"NUMBERS DON'T LIE."
When you get right down to it, Hispanics are the largest racial/ethnic group in Harris County, Texas, and make up about (43.6%) of the overall population. Whites make up about (28.3%) of the overall population, and Blacks only make up about (18.5%) of the population, according to figures that I’ve been studying.
If the Harris County Democratic Party doesn’t make some serious adjustments in the upcoming Tuesday, March 5, 2024, Democratic Party Primary, they’re going to face some serious challenges next November. Why? Well, the honest to God’s truth, is there are too many (Democrat) African American judges on the Democrat side, which means that over the next two political seasons, a shift is about to occur in Harris County, Texas.
How do I know, that a shift is about to occur? Well, if you look at the voting patterns from the recent Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Midterm Election, the fact that the only Democrat judicial candidates lost is proof positive that a shift is on the way.
Democrats are going to face serious challenges if the Harris County Republican Party (HCRP), wakes up to diversify their “2024 FIELD OF JUDICIAL NOMINEES” with a few more African Americans, and a solid group of duly-qualified Latino judicial candidates to go along with the “HIGHLY-QUALIFIED” group of candidates they’ve fielded in past elections.
“CIVIL BENCHES.”
There are 24 Civil District Court benches in Harris County, Texas, and (Democrat) African American judges currently occupy 10 of the Civil District Court benches right now – which means, nearly half of the available Civil District Court benches available, are currently being occupied by African American judges.
“CRIMINAL BENCHES.”
There are 23 Criminal District Court benches in Harris County, Texas, and (Democrat) African American judges currently occupy 11 of the Criminal District Court benches right now – which means, nearly half of the available Criminal District Court benches available, are currently being occupied by African American judges.
“FAMILY BENCHES.”
There are 11 Family District Court benches in Harris County, Texas, and (Democrat) African American judges currently occupy 6 of the Family District Court benches – which means, that over half of the available Family District Court benches available, are currently being occupied by African American judges.
“JUVENILE BENCHES.”
There are only 3 Juvenile District Court benches in Harris County, Texas, and Judge Michelle Moore, a (Democrat) African American judge currently occupies one of the benches. The other two benches are occupied by Judge Natalia Cokinos Oakes and Judge Leah Shapiro, who are both Democrats.
“CIVIL AT LAW.”
There are only 4 County Civil Court at Law benches in Harris County, Texas, and (Democrat) African American judges currently occupy two of the benches right now – which means, half of the available County Civil Court at Law benches, are currently being occupied by African American judges.
“CRIMINAL AT LAW.”
There are only 16 County Criminal Courts at Law benches in Harris County, Texas, and (Democrat) African American judges currently occupy 7 of the County Criminal Court at Law benches – which means, nearly half of the available County Criminal Court at Law benches, are currently being occupied by African American judges.
“COUNTY PROBATE.”
There are only 4 Probate Courts in Harris County, Texas. As it stands right now, African-American judges are not occupying any of the probate benches. Judge Jerry Simoneaux, Judge Pamela Medina, Judge Jason Cox, and Judge James Horwitz, all Democrats, are currently occupying the probate court benches.
“JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.”
There are only 16 Justice of the Peace Courts in Harris County, Texas, and (Democrat) African American JP’s currently occupy 4 of the Justice of the Peace benches right now – which means, a fourth of the available Justice of the Peace benches, are currently being occupied by African American judges.
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
Judge Linda Marie Dunson is the presiding judge for the 309th Family District Court in Harris County, Texas. Judge Linda Marie Dunson will be up for reelection in the 2026 Midterm Election, she was just duly elected in the Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Midterm Election, for Harris County, Texas.
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
Judge Joe Stephens is the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3, Place 1, in Harris County, Texas. Judge Joe Stephens will be up for reelection in the 2024 Presidential Election but will have to earn the nomination to serve as the Democratic nominee, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in the Democratic Party Primary, for Harris County, Texas.
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
Judge Audrie Lawton Evans is the presiding judge for the County Civil Court at Law No. 1 in Harris County, Texas. Judge Audrie Lawton Evans will be up for reelection in the 2026 Midterm Election, she was just duly reelected in the Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Midterm Election, for Harris County, Texas.
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
Judge LaShawn A. Williams is the presiding judge for the County Civil Court at Law No. 3 in Harris County, Texas. Judge LaShawn A. Williams will be up for reelection in the 2026 Midterm Election, she was just duly reelected in the Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Midterm Election, for Harris County, Texas.
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
Judge Wanda Adams is the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 7, Place 1, in Harris County, Texas. Judge Wanda Adams will be up for reelection in the 2024 Presidential Election but will have to earn the nomination to serve as the Democratic nominee, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in the Democratic Party Primary, for Harris County, Texas.
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
Judge Lucia Bates is the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 3, Place 2, in Harris County, Texas. Judge Lucia Bates will be up for reelection in the 2026 Midterm Election, she was just duly elected in the Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Midterm Election, for Harris County, Texas.
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
Judge Te'iva Bell is the presiding judge for the 339th Criminal District Court in Harris County, Texas. Judge Te'iva Bell will be up for reelection in the 2024 Presidential Election but will have to earn the nomination to serve as the Democratic nominee, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in the Democratic Party Primary, for Harris County, Texas.
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
- 2026 MIDTERM CYCLE -
Judge Sharon Burney is the Justice of the Peace for Precinct 7, Place 2, in Harris County, Texas. Judge Sharon Burney will be up for reelection in the 2026 Midterm Election, she was just duly elected in the Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Midterm Election, for Harris County, Texas.
- 2024 PRESIDENTIAL CYCLE -