Qualifications: What training, experience and characteristics qualify you for this position?
ISSUES: What are the two (2) most pressing issues that you will face in the office that you seek? Describe your specific plans/ideas for addressing these issues.
Christine Weems
I have held this office for the last seven (7) years. I routinely receive favorable marks in the Houston Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Poll. Before taking the bench, I was a trial lawyer and because of my trial experience as a practicing lawyer, I became a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates - an honorary organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the Constitutional right to a jury trial in civil cases. I am also board certified in personal injury trial law and civil trial law. I'm an adjunct professor and the Director of Mock Trial at the University of Houston Law Center. I am not only licensed in Texas, but also in California and before the United States Supreme Court.
1) Dealing with court's backlog. We recently kept 10 cases on standby every two week trial setting in order to give lawyers adequate notice that they could be called to trial while still ensuring that the Court continues to move cases even if some of the cases settle the day before. We have recently upped the number to 15 in order to have more cases ready each setting.
2) Hearing availability. I am one of the few civil courts in Harris County that has multiple trial settings a week. I have an oral hearing docket Tuesday through Friday. This allows parties more flexibility to get a hearing before me as well as allows me to try cases five days a week. We have recently increased the number of cases heard each day to get more cases in.
2) Hearing availability. I am one of the few civil courts in Harris County that has multiple trial settings a week. I have an oral hearing docket Tuesday through Friday. This allows parties more flexibility to get a hearing before me as well as allows me to try cases five days a week. We have recently increased the number of cases heard each day to get more cases in.
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