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.
Teresa Waldrop
Presently serving as judge of this court. In my three years on the bench, I reduced a nearly 3,000-case docket in August 2023 to 1,568 cases in November 2025, reflecting both efficiency and thoughtful case management. Highest family law division case clearance rate in 2024. I was in private practice 31 yrs before elected to this bench. I have been board certified in family law by Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2009. In private practice I handled all phases of litigation from intake to trial, both jury and non-jury trials, and post-trial matters. I am a Past President of Houston Assoc of Women Attorneys, and a Federation of Houston Professional Women Woman of Excellence honoree. I am a graduate of Leadership Houston (Class XXII ).
1) Erosion of trust in public institutions. As a judge, I can help address this issue by ensuring every litigant is treated with dignity and fairness, enforcing consistent standards, and making court processes more accessible and understandable so families feel heard, respected, and confident in the justice system. I run a transparent court with livestreamed proceedings. 2) Access to justice - I implemented a hybrid docket to allow virtual court appearances for certain proceedings. This reduces time away from work or family for litigants. It also alleviates the need to drive downtown and pay for parking or transportation. When courts function smoothly, it reduces stress, lowers costs, and helps everyone focus on what matters.
