Rudy Responds -- Campaign FAQs
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1) What is a County Court at Law?
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1) A county court at law is a court with jurisdiction
over misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases involving less than
$10,000, juvenile, and probate matters. |
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2) What is the significance of the #1 in County
Court at Law?
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2) There are currently four County Courts at Law in
Fort Bend
County. The # 1 signifies that this
was the first court at law in the county. County Court at Law #
1 is the oldest of the county courts. |
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3) What types of cases are handled in a County
Court at Law? |
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3) Misdemeanor criminal cases, such as, individuals
charged with driving while intoxicated and assaults. Civil
cases involving monetary amounts of less than $10,000. A wide
array of juvenile cases ranging from runaway, truancy, criminal
mischief, theft, burglary, drugs, robbery, sexual assault and
murder. Probate matters in which a deceased may or may not have
a will. |
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4) Why are you running for the position of Judge
of County Court at Law #1? |
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4) I believe it is time for a change. The judiciary in
Fort Bend
County has been dominated by one
political party and one ethnicity that does not reflect the
diversity of this county’s population. According to the 2000
US Census, over 53% of Fort
Bend County’s
population is composed of persons of Hispanic or Latino origin,
Black or African Americans, Asians, and persons reporting with
more than one race. |
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5) Who is your opponent in this race? |
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5) The previous judge of County Court at Law #1, the
Honorable Larry Wagenbach, retired.
Fort Bend
County Commissioners appointed an
interim judge to fill the vacancy until the election in
November. My Republican opponent is the former Fort Bend County
Attorney Bud Childers. |
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6) What are your qualifications |
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6) I have been licensed to practice law for 22 years and
handled cases in Federal, State District, County Courts at Law
and Justice of the Peace Courts. I started out as a solo
practitioner in Fort
Bend County
for six years. During that time I handled criminal, civil,
juvenile, family and probate matters. I regularly appeared in
the County Courts at Law and District Courts. I litigated and
tried numerous cases before judges and juries. My experience
also includes a four-year tenure as a prosecutor in the Fort
Bend County District Attorney’s Office. I am currently employed
at the City of Houston Legal
Department where I handle complex litigation in the Federal
Courts and Harris County Judicial System. I am grateful and
proud of the wide range of legal experiences obtained during my
career and will use it as a foundation when elected to serve as
judge of County Court at Law # 1. |
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7) Is the Judge of County Court at Law #1 elected
from a district or is it countywide? |
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7) This is a countywide position, all registered voters
in Fort
Bend County
may vote for Judge of County Court at Law # 1 in the November
election. |
