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Summary
The “Democratic Judges Town Hall” organized by the Humble Area Democrats and Indivisible Kingwood revealed how Harris County’s Democratic judges are fighting back against right-wing attacks on their integrity and competence. The event, moderated by Egberto Willies, underscored that these judges—many of whom are women and people of color—are committed to fairness, rehabilitation, and truth in a system that has long been manipulated by fear-mongering conservatives and corporate power. John Cotter, the president of the Humble Area Democrats, opened the meeting by introducing Cindi Hendrickson, co-leader of Indivisible Kingwood, and Logan & Isabela, president and vice president, respectively, of the LSC-Kingwood Democratic Club.
* Democratic judges in Harris County face political attacks rooted in misinformation about bail reform and crime rates.
* These judges advocate being “smart on crime,” emphasizing fairness, rehabilitation, and public safety over mass incarceration.
* They stress that ethical rules prevent them from defending themselves publicly, placing the burden on citizens and activists to amplify the truth.
* The event exposed how corporate and Republican interests use crime panic as a cover to reassert control over the judiciary.
* The moderator urged voters to reject Proposition 12, warning it would give Governor Abbott more power to control judicial oversight through partisan appointments.
Progressive Follow-Up (Short Paragraph):Progressives at the town hall called out the false narrative of “soft-on-crime Democrats” and reminded voters that justice means equity, not cruelty. They demonstrated that Democratic judges are the only ones focused on solving the root causes of crime—poverty, addiction, and inequality—while Republicans exploit fear to undermine democracy and corporate accountability.
Premium Content (Complimentary)
The Democratic Judges Town Hall in Humble, Texas, reflected the intersection of democracy, truth, and courage. Moderated by progressive radio host Egberto Willies, the event illuminated how Harris County’s Democratic judiciary continues to serve with integrity despite relentless political assaults from Governor Greg Abbott and conservative PACs seeking to retake the courts. The gathering included several sitting judges—Raul Rodriguez, Ashley Guice, Manpreet Monica Singh, Jermaine Thomas, and Andrie Lawton-Evans—who articulated a unified vision of justice rooted in fairness and rehabilitation rather than punitive cruelty.
The judges dismantled the “soft on crime” trope head-on. Judge Ashley Guice asserted that Democratic jurists are “smart on crime,” not lenient. They distinguish between those who pose danger to the community and those who simply made mistakes, like first-time DUI offenders or people driven to minor offenses by poverty. Instead of reflexive incarceration, they promote programs such as rehabilitation, record sealing, and debt education to address the roots of criminal behavior. This approach represents a fundamental shift from decades of Republican “tough on crime” policies that filled jails but did not create safer communities.
Judge Rodríguez traced the history of Harris County’s judicial transformation. For over two decades, the bench was dominated by Republicans who enforced rigid bail schedules that kept poor people behind bars for minor offenses while wealthier defendants bought their freedom. Democratic judges sued the county and won, establishing bail reforms that restored fundamental fairness to the system. The data speaks volumes: under Republican leadership, more than 60 percent of misdemeanor defendants received jail time; under Democratic judges, that number dropped to 25 percent. This is not leniency—it is justice grounded in constitutional equality.
The discussion also spotlighted the ethical constraints placed on judges. As Judge Evans explained, Texas judicial canons prohibit judges from commenting publicly on pending cases or political attacks, even when those attacks distort facts. That silence creates a vacuum filled by right-wing media, which weaponizes isolated incidents to smear the bench. The judges urged progressives to become their “mouthpiece”—to speak out, inform communities, and counter the misinformation machine funded by corporate interests and GOP donors.
Judge Guice raised alarms about Proposition 12, a seemingly innocuous constitutional amendment that would allow non-lawyers appointed by the governor to sit on judicial oversight commissions. Singh and Rodriguez echoed similar sentiments. Such a change would expand partisan control over the judiciary, undermining judicial independence and exposing judges to retaliation for politically inconvenient rulings. As she warned, this reform would erode the wall between law and politics—a dangerous step toward authoritarian governance.
Throughout the evening, the theme was clear: justice is inextricably linked to democracy. When the poor are jailed for lack of cash bail, when misinformation fuels fear, and when governors seek control of courts, democracy itself stands trial. The judges’ experiences underscored that the fight for judicial fairness is part of the broader struggle for a just America—one that values people over profits and communities over corporations.
Egberto Willies closed the discussion by reminding the audience that political involvement must be “a requirement for citizenship.” The judiciary’s integrity depends on an informed electorate that resists manipulation. These judges’ courage—standing tall in a storm of attacks—embodies the progressive belief that justice should heal rather than harm. Their message resonated beyond the courtroom: democracy survives only when ordinary citizens defend truth and stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves.
To hear more, visit egberto.substack.com
