Harris County appoints new justice of the peace Lincoln Goodwin was sworn into office Dec. 16 by Commissioner Jack Cagle.[/caption]

Harris County Commissioners Court voted Dec. 16 to appoint attorney Lincoln Goodwin to Position 1 on the Precinct 4 justice of the peace court. Goodwin was sworn in during the ceremony by Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle.

Goodwin replaces the late J. Kent Adams, who served in the position for 13 years until his death in October.

"These last four months have not been easy for us because we have lost a beloved member of our community," Cagle said.

The appointment of Goodwin comes after weeks of research and interviews with interested candidates and a recommendation by Cagle.

"One of the beautiful things [about] Judge Adams is his legacy is not one that ended the day he waved goodbye to us and took his next reward, but that his legacy is one that he built that could be continued," Cagle said.

David Riddle, chairman of Harris County Senate District 7, praised the court's appointment of Goodwin.

"It's such a legacy that our community has set," Riddle said. "Right here is just a little slice of heaven. In order to perpetuate that slice of heaven, we have to have good elected officials placed in office. Fortunately today [Goodwin was] a phenomenal appointment."

Following the swearing-in ceremony and the donning of his robe, Goodwin thanked the court's staff for their hard work as well as Pauline Adams, the wife of the late judge, for her friendship. Cagle said Pauline Adams will serve as Goodwin's political treasurer.

"Somebody asked me on more than a few occasions, 'Why do you want to be a justice of the peace?'" Goodwin said. "The simple answer really is I love our county and our community."

Goodwin has practiced as a civil attorney with the Lanier Law Firm since 2007 and worked for five years in the felony division of the Harris County District Attorney's Office, where he managed dockets for more than 200 cases.

"I promise to you that I will do everything I can to honor the court, to honor Judge Adams and to continue the things that he has done," he said. "I have a passion like Judge Adams for helping young children who are on the razor's edge of life. I want to continue Judge Adams' efforts to do that."