Jermaine Thomas will serve as judge for Harris County’s newly created fifth civil court at law starting in December after Harris County commissioners unanimously appointed Thomas at the Nov. 13 court meeting.
“This appointment is not just a personal milestone,” Thomas said. “It represents an opportunity to expand access to justice and strengthen the foundation of fairness that Harris County courts are built upon.”
Judges within Harris County civil courthouses see cases regarding civil matters such as eviction appeals, property disputes, personal injury suits, contract cases and small business claims, according to the court’s website.
Put in perspective
In March, Harris County commissioners requested that Texas lawmakers create five additional civil district courts by 2027 to address the county's longstanding court backlog, joining Brazoria and Fort Bend counties in similar requests as continued population and business growth occurred in the region.
The provisional two-year plan commissioners approved in early 2025 was to add three civil courts in 2026. Leading up to the creation of a new civil court, Harris County had a total of four civil courts. The last time a civil district court was created in Harris County was in the early '80s, said Lauren Reeder, Harris County District Court judge for the 234th civil court.
After House Bill 16 was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on Sept. 17 following a second special session of the 89th Texas Legislature, a list of Texas counties, including Harris County, received additional district courts.
The cost
Expenses associated with the additional courts are estimated to cost the county at least $2.5 million-$3.5 million for each court, Engineering Department Executive Director Milton Rahman said.
Quote of note
Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said in a Nov. 13 statement that expanding the civil court’s capacity leads to faster resolutions and stronger public confidence in the judicial system.
“Judge Thomas embodies the American Dream,” Briones said. “From being raised by a single mother and growing up in public housing to later representing that community as their attorney, he brings an invaluable perspective with more than two decades of legal experience and a deep commitment to community service to this new bench.”
