Criminal District Judge, 180th Judicial District
Tami C. Pierce
Republican
Accountability
What will you do to promote the just, prompt, and affordable resolution of cases that come before your court?
I will promote just and affordable resolutions by ensuring felony cases move efficiently and are resolved without unnecessary delay, while also protecting the rights of the accused and the interest of the victims and community. Every person who comes before my court deserves a fair, timely resolution.
Bail
In setting bail amounts, how will you balance Texas’s constitutionally mandated bail requirements with other conditions of release including minimizing any public safety threat the defendant may present to the community? Please discuss both first time and repeat offenders.
In setting bail, I will follow the Texas Constitution and applicable law while making an individualized assessment of each defendant and each case. For a first-time offender, I will consider the nature of the circumstances of the alleged offense, ties to the community, likelihood of appearing in court and specific safety concerns before determining conditions of release. For repeat offenders, I will additionally consider the defendant’s criminal history, prior compliance with conditions of release, prior failures to appear and history demonstrating a continuing threat to a victim or the community. Bail should always serve to recognize the constitutional rights of the accused and the legitimate need for public safety.
