BY MELISSA ENAJE & KEVIN VU
Harris County seeks 5 additional district courts Harris County commissioners will move forward with a request to Texas lawmakers for the creation of five additional civil district courts by 2027 to address the county’s longstanding court backlog. The move comes after commissioners voted 3-1 in favor of the resolution during a Feb. 27 Commis- sioners Court meeting. Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis dissented while Judge Lina Hidalgo abstained from the vote. How it works Should the additional courts receive legislative approval, county officials said they would plan to keep the courts located in the judicial complex in Downtown Houston. The provisional plan commissioners approved would be a two-year process, including:
$100M earmarked for at-risk programs At least $100 million in previously budgeted Harris County funds are being redirected toward certain grant-funded programs that could be impacted by federal funding freezes. Harris County commission- ers passed the motion unanimously during a Feb. 27 meeting. The plan The funding plan includes creating a strategic planning committee that will streamline a process for recommending at-risk federally funded programs. Should there be federal funding freezes, county commissioners also approved by a 3-1 vote a process in place to guide depart- ments to avoid layoffs of grant-funded employees unless approved by the Office of County Administration.
“We can’t continue to advertise that Harris County is an economic beacon without investing in a robust justice system where disputes are resolved timely and thoughtfully.” LAUREN REEDER, HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, 234TH CIVIL COURT
The cost 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. Looking back Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said county officials worked with state legislators in 2023 to secure six additional criminal district courts and a probate court to address the court backlog. While the 2025 motion called for nine additional courts, only five were approved.
• Adding three civil district courts in 2026 • Adding two civil district courts in 2027
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BELLAIRE - MEYERLAND - WEST UNIVERSITY EDITION
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