African-American women are running for judicial positions in Harris County, Texas. They met for their first time on January 18 at a Democratic Party get together. They decided to run if given the chance. Their candidacies may surprise you, but they are all capable of doing the job. The following article will explain why they are the best candidates to fill the judicial vacancies in Harris County. But first, you need to understand who these women are.
Women judges
Harris County voters elected 19 African-American women as judges in 2018. Many of these new judges met each other for the first time at a Democratic Party get-together. They hope that their presence in courtrooms will help to reduce racial disparities. Women judges have a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people of color. They are the ones who set the tone for the courtroom and make hearings fair.
In spite of all the bad news, Connecticut Trans-Advocacy Coalition was happy to support the election of 19 African-American women to Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 12. These women were part the "Black Girl Magic” campaign. All the women featured in the ad campaign were Harris County judges. Two of them lost their bids for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. While both women were able to retain their jobs as judges, they also made sure that their campaigns included the voices of their peers.
Pandemic-induced frustrations
Harris County's inmates are long and many of them face violent charges. In some cases, the county has placed a hold on the inmates' cases. The state and county elected officials considered releasing inmates to stop the spread of the pandemic virus. Virtual court hearings revealed that only seven out of 60 inmates were released.
The recent pandemic and COVID era policies have also led to an increase in criminal case backlogs. County courts were forced to figure out safe ways to conduct trials, and many criminal cases were halted for months during the pandemic. The number of COVID cases in Harris County rose by 35% during the pandemic. This led to more delays.
Backlog of felonies that are still being processed
According to Harris County's District Attorney's Office of Harris County a backlog of felonies has built up in Harris County. The backlog is almost five-years long and now includes 135,000 cases. This figure is higher than many would expect, especially when you consider the impact of Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic. The backlog will decrease in the future, but The Forward Times will continue to examine how law enforcement agencies cooperate with the courts and what resources are being used to close the gap.
Harris County leaders passed a resolution calling for the Texas Legislature's creation of another district criminal courts to reduce the backlog. Local prosecutors have been stretched by the backlog. Kim Ogg, the District Attorney of Kim Ogg stated that her office is prioritizing cases involving violent criminals. District Attorney Jose Hidalgo called the backlog "an emergency situation."
Education of judges
Despite the recent increase in the number of homicides, the area has yet to see any major changes in its criminal justice system. Nevertheless, judges in Harris County have been working to make it better for the residents of the county. Judge Holly Williamson, the new Justice of Peace for Harris County, was sworn into office in January. She was previously a lawyer in JP and state courts, as well as federal district and state court. With a budget exceeding 1.3 million dollars she manages over 22,000 cases per year. This includes civil and criminal trials, bench and jury trials, hot check, probable cause hearings, and the truancy courts.
Judge Jackson has served as a mentor to at risk youths and is actively involved in many community service organizations. She has been a Houston Chapter of Links, Inc. member for many years, where she chaired the Services to Youth program. She is also a member Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Lakewood Church.
FAQ
What's the difference between a personal injury lawyer versus a civil rights attorney?
Personal injury lawyers represent people who have been hurt without fault. These injuries include dog bites and slip-and falls, car accidents, and other types of injury.
The civil rights lawyers represent people whose constitutional rights were violated. Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, disability, or any other factor is an example.
What is the difference between paralegals and legal assistants?
Paralegals have specific skills such as research, filing and typing. Paralegals can assist attorneys with research, writing motions, and preparation of pleadings. Both types help attorneys to complete their work.
Are lawyers more financially successful than other professions or are they less?
No. No. Lawyers are typically paid less than dentists, engineers and architects, doctors, teachers, nurses and accountants, as well as pharmacists, pharmacists and veterinarians. Lawyers are paid an average of $55,000 each year.
How do you get into law school
Law schools take applications all year. Many students prefer to apply early, rather than waiting until the last minute when there are so many applications. If you're interested in applying to law school, contact the admissions offices.
What are the required years to become a Lawyer?
The answer is not always as simple as it seems. After high school, you will need to work hard for at minimum four years. But there are other factors.
Also, you must pass exams and score well enough to be accepted into law school. After graduation, you will continue your studies in law for another two years.
After all that, you will be able to graduate from law school. You can then return to college for one more year to prepare for the bar exam. You will now be a licensed attorney after passing the exam.
Statistics
- Just 59.2 percent of 2015 law school grads held full-time, long-term jobs as lawyers 10 months after graduation, according to data from the American Bar Association (ABA). (rasmussen.edu)
- The states that saw the biggest increase in average salary over the last 5 years are Rhode Island (+26.6%), Wisconsin (+24.1), Massachusetts (23.2%), Wyoming (18.3%), and North Dakota (18.1%). (legal.io)
- The nationwide number of first-year students enrolling last fall increased by almost 12%, according to recent data by the American Bar Association. (stfrancislaw.com)
- According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average annual wage of a lawyer is $144,230. (legal.io)
- A Johns Hopkins study of more than 100 professions found lawyers the most likely to have severe depression—four times more likely than the average person. (rasmussen.edu)
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How To
How to be a lawyer
How to become lawyer? It is essential that you decide what type law you want to practice before you consider becoming a legal professional. There are many types, including criminal, family, real estate, corporate and other forms of law. You must specialize in a particular type of law to be able to practice it. For example, if you want to specialize in family law, you must go through courses on Family law at your university, take exams, and pass them. This field will teach you how cases are handled. These tests will allow you to apply for admission into a school that offers training in this field. This is a long process so ensure you have a clear goal to become a lawyer.
Another option is to major in law while at college. In this instance, you will earn a bachelor’s degree in legal studies. This will allow you to become a paralegal or legal assistant. Paralegals assist lawyers in preparing documents and files. He/she collects client data, prepares contracts, drafts court papers, and makes copies. An administrative task performed by a legal assistant is filing paperwork and answering phones. Because it is extremely rewarding, many college graduates choose to become lawyers. There are many other routes to becoming a lawyer, besides attending college. Many people choose to become lawyers without any formal education. They simply read about the law and try and figure out how to become one. It is not easy for someone to become lawyer without attending college. Most states require applicants to hold a law license. Many judges prefer candidates who have completed law school.
If you don't know which kind of law you want, then you should think about your interests. Do you enjoy helping others? Are you interested in politics? Or perhaps you prefer to help people rather than debate them. Whatever your interest is, you can use it to become a lawyer.
A law firm is another way to become a lawyer. A law firm is a place where lawyers feel passionate about their work. Lawyers love helping people and arguing cases. But, if you don't want to spend your life doing something you hate, you should consider another option. You could start your own business instead of joining a legal firm. You might even hire someone else to help you. However, you'll still be capable of helping people.
You don't need to graduate from college to become a legal professional. You can choose to enroll in an online legal school or pursue an associate's program in law. Both options will provide enough knowledge for you to become a legal professional. Online law schools offer flexible schedules and classes that fit your busy schedule. An associate's degree gives you more practical experience and hands-on learning.
The bottom line is that you need to be prepared to work hard if you plan to become an attorney. You will need to study every day, pass exams, and complete internships. Although you might not like studying, you will soon see the benefits of becoming a lawyer.