Republican
Occupation: Justice of the Peace
Relevant experience: presiding judge of the Justice Court, bachelor's in criminal justice administration; certified public manager for the state of Texas, certified medicolegal death investigator, 10-plus years of law enforcement experience; employed with Montgomery County since 2004; resident of the area since 1996
Contact: 281-364-4284
Why are you running for the position of Justice of the Peace?
I am seeking re-election so I can continue to serve as your Justice of the Peace. The mission statement of the court is to serve the people of Montgomery County with professional and efficient administration of justice with integrity, fairness and respect. The court provides civil and criminal dockets at night for better access and convenience to the public, and a teen court to help our youth learn more about our criminal justice system.
What experience do you feel makes you the best candidate for this position?
I am currently the presiding judge and only candidate with actual experience on the bench. I have presided over 3,000 bench trials and over 30 jury trials, conducted 1,700 death inquests, and the court has collected and deposited over $12 million in fines and court costs kept by the county or remitted to the state of Texas since starting in 2019. I believe this experience and my education make me the most qualified.
How will you improve operations in the court and keep up with the caseload?
The court currently has a 117% clearance rate (January 2019–July 2022) so the court operates very efficiently. I am working with county leadership to have an additional courtroom built in the current building so the court can hold multiple dockets simultaneously. Implementing new court technology and docket management software will continue to improve your courts productivity.
What do you expect to be the greatest challenges of this position?
I believe keeping up with the county’s growth will be the greatest challenge for the court. The increase in cases filed due to the increased population may call for the current JP lines to be redrawn or the creation of another Justice of the Peace court.
April Prim
Democrat
Occupation: attorney
Relevant experience: I have many years of experience as a practicing attorney; training in mediation and dispute resolution strategy; a strong work ethic; business management knowledge; and a history of community involvement.
Campaign website: www.primformontgomerycounty.com
Why are you running for the position of Justice of the Peace?
This election is a job interview for me. After years of education and training to become a lawyer and mediator, I built a law practice and helped real people navigate their problems. Now, I am asking to be the judge that decides the cases. I also relate to people who need resolutions quickly and affordably, and realize that someone with my knowledge, skills and passion can positively impact our community.
What experience do you feel makes you the best candidate for this position?
[I have] professional experience and the understanding I have gained from the practice of law and from helping people involved in conflicts. [I have] business ownership experience and the knowledge that a court operates due to the hard work of many people. [I have] volunteer experience and my willingness to engage with the community.
How will you improve operations in the court and keep up with the caseload?
We have a great opportunity right now to embrace technology to improve the operations of our justice courts. The use of technology can improve both access to the courts and court efficiency. I also believe that mediation is a great asset that can be used to ease the trial docket.
What do you expect to be the greatest challenges of this position?
Balancing the many responsibilities of the Justice of the Peace while upholding my commitment to community involvement [will be challenging]. The position of Justice of the Peace is like many different jobs under a single title, and it will take a lot of time and effort to ensure each responsibility is met, but it is very important to me to go beyond even that and engage with the public.
