Family District Judge, 311th Judicial District
Germaine Ja’net Tanner
Democrat
Accountability
What will you do to promote the just, prompt, and affordable resolution of cases that come before your court?
Currently, the 311th Family District Court has the lowest total number of pending cases since 2010. We have eliminated the traditional docket call in favor of a more personalized check-in with our coordinator. This has proven to be more efficient and allows us to use our daily court time to actually hear cases. We also offer preferential settings, so that attorneys and litigants have the opportunity to adequately present their case on a calendared date that is chosen by them. This sets the expectation that the parties are prepared to present their case on this chosen date and eliminates the need for unnecessary continuances.
Issues
What do you consider the most pressing issues facing family court today, and what is your role as a family court judge in addressing them?
A pressing family court issue is ensuring that access to justice is adequate for those persons who do not speak English. Harris County is incredibly diverse. Not only do we have a high Spanish-speaking population, but we also have people who come before the court who speak several other languages. If needed, the 311th assists with providing translators who speak a variety of languages; however, Harris County still needs more translators who are available. People are already in a vulnerable position when they walk into court seeking a resolution on their family matter. Not being able to understand the proceedings because of a language barrier should not be added to their vulnerability.
