(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates.)
Harold Landreneau
1. Who are you and what are you running for?
My name is Harold Landreneau and I am a Democratic Defense Attorney running for Harris County Criminal Court At Law #2.
2. What kind of cases does this court hear?
This Court deals with Class A & B Misdemeanors: misdemeanor drug possession, assault, prostitution, driving while intoxicated cases and Appeals of Class C cases from Municipal and Justice Court.
3. Why are you running for this particular bench?
The current incumbent judge is known for siding with the prosecution and having a backlog in court, but most importantly he is known for not being fair and impartial. I will be fair and impartial because I believe that justice matters for all. I will take the bench on time, follow the law, treat people with dignity and respect, and not act as another Prosecutor on the bench.
4. What are your qualifications for this job?
Justice matters and experience counts, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Houston and my law degree from South Texas College of Law. I have been a lawyer for 9 years and I regularly practice in the Harris County Criminal Courts. I have tried more than 350 criminal jury trials and have been elected twice by the attorneys of Harris County to the Harris County Bail Bond Board to represent their bonding interests. I have also served as a Harris County JP Clerk for over 14 years. For 8 of those years I served as the Chief Clerk of one of the largest JP Courts in the State of Texas, supervising 26 Clerks, submitting and maintaining an annual budget of $1.5 million, and supervising the collection of $3.4 million in County funds annually, in a Court with 60k+ case filings a year. I am experienced in the Courtroom.
5. Why is this race important?
If your child or loved one is found in possession of a small amount of marijuana or driving under the influence, you want a judge who will follow the law, be fair and just. A Judge can have the single greatest impact upon an accused person’s future. Judges have a lot of power and responsibility concerning these cases and their decisions can affect a person?s ability to keep their job and provide for their family or if they might be labeled a criminal for the rest of their life. You want a judge who will make a fair and impartial decision based on the facts every time and not just because they’ve done it the same way as the prosecution asked in other cases 1,000 times before. I will be fair and impartial because Justice Matters.
6. Why should people vote for you in November?
Harris County should vote for me to bring back a strong work ethic, Justice and fairness to the Criminal Courts. I will follow the law, I will start Court two hours earlier each day than my opponent does and I will push to eliminate the backlog in this Court. I will preside over more trials, get the docket moving again and work with everyone to make that happen. County Criminal Court resources and docket time are scarce; I need your vote and your help so we can start using these resources properly as the Judges should.