We had 27 lawyers complete 14 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 9 Guilty Verdicts, 5 Not Guilty Verdicts and 1 Hung Jury.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 30 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
September 18, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Kate Welch for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client in Cause Number 1703610 out of the 232nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT with a Deadly Weapon
(Presiding judge – Josh Hill – jury trial)
September 19, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Kendra Newman for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 2528548 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 8 for the offense of
DWI 2nd – Sentence: 18 Months Probation
(Presiding judge – Erika Ramirez – jury trial)
September 17, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Neal Whetstone for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client in Cause Number 1878549 out of the 338th Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT with a Deadly Weapon
(Presiding judge – Michele Oncken – jury trial) co-counsels Jessica Anderson and Patrick Ngwolo
September 17, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Jessica Anderson for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client in Cause Number 1878549 out of the 338th Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT with a Deadly Weapon
(Presiding judge – Michele Oncken – jury trial) co-counsels Neal Whetstone and Patrick Ngwolo
September 17, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Patrick Ngwolo for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client in Cause Number 1878549 out of the 338th Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT with a Deadly Weapon
(Presiding judge – Michele Oncken – jury trial) co-counsels Jessica Anderson and Neal Whetstone
September 17, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Ellie Fossier for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1798030 out of the 482nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD – Sentence: 40 Years in Prison
(Presiding judge – Vanessa Velasquez – jury trial) co-counsel Lindsey Pearson
September 17, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Lindsey Pearson for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1798030 out of the 482nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD – Sentence: 40 Years in Prison
(Presiding judge – Vanessa Velasquez – jury trial) co-counsel Ellie Fossier
September 16, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Bryan Honeycutt for earning Guilty Verdicts for the State of Texas in Cause Numbers 1838192 – 1838193 out of the 497th Criminal District Court for the offenses of
MURDER and AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON – Sentence: 70 Years in Prison
(Presiding judge – Peyton Peebles – jury trial) co-counsel Radarius Morrow
September 16, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Radarius Morrow for earning Guilty Verdicts for the State of Texas in Cause Numbers 1838192 – 1838193 out of the 497th Criminal District Court for the offenses of
MURDER and AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON – Sentence: 70 Years in Prison
(Presiding judge – Peyton Peebles – jury trial) co-counsel Bryan Honeycutt
September 16, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Chris Condon for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1759176 out of the 482th Criminal District Court for the offense of
MURDER – Sentence: 40 Years in Prison
(Presiding judge – Jim Anderson – jury trial) co-counsels Hector Garza and George Lindsey
September 16, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor George Lindsey for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1759176 out of the 482th Criminal District Court for the offense of
MURDER – Sentence: 40 Years in Prison
(Presiding judge – Jim Anderson – jury trial) co-counsels Hector Garza and Chris Condon
September 16, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Hector Garza for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1759176 out of the 482th Criminal District Court for the offense of
MURDER – Sentence: 40 Years in Prison
(Presiding judge – Jim Anderson – jury trial) co-counsels Chris Condon and George Lindsey
September 18, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Nidia Ventura for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1832254 out of the 184th Criminal District Court for the offense of
CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD – Sentence: 36 Years in Prison/$10K Fine
(Presiding judge – Kat Thomas – jury trial) co-counsel Dylan Larsen
September 18, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Dylan Larsen for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1832254 out of the 184th Criminal District Court for the offense of
CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD – Sentence: 36 Years in Prison/$10K Fine
(Presiding judge – Kat Thomas – jury trial) co-counsel Nidia Ventura
September 12, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Maegan Williams for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1738372 out of the 339th Criminal District Court for the offense of
MURDER – Sentence: 20 Years in Prison
(Presiding judge – Te’iva Bell – jury trial) co-counsel Stepheny De Silva
September 12, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Stepheny De Silva for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1738372 out of the 339th Criminal District Court for the offense of
MURDER – Sentence: 20 Years in Prison
(Presiding judge – Te’iva Bell – jury trial) co-counsel Maegan Williams
September 17, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Elena Contreras for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 1862287 out of the 496th Criminal District Court for the offense of
POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE – Sentence: 2 Years in Prison
(Presiding judge – Dan Simons – jury trial)
September 16, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Bernie Villarreal Aguirre for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client in Cause Number 2551624 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 7 for the offense of
ASSAULT
(Presiding judge – Andrew Wright – jury trial)
September 16, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Tyler Flood for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client in Cause Number 2471716 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 14 for the offense of
DWI
(Presiding judge – Jessica Needham – jury trial) co-counsel Brianne Boiarsky
September 16, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Brianne Boiarsky for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client in Cause Number 2471716 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 14 for the offense of
DWI
(Presiding judge – Jessica Needham – jury trial) co-counsel Tyler Flood
September 16, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Linda Luo for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 2567037 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 12 for the offense of
DWI 2nd – Sentence: 180 Days in Jail
(Presiding judge – Ashley Guice – jury trial) co-counsel Katelyn Prescott
September 16, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Prosecutor Katelyn Prescott for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas in Cause Number 2567037 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 12 for the offense of
DWI 2nd – Sentence: 180 Days in Jail
(Presiding judge – Ashley Guice – jury trial) co-counsel Linda Luo
September 17, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Duncan Isaac for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client in Cause Number 2546354 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
(Presiding judge – Tonya Jones – jury trial)
September 15, 2025 – Show Me The Justice
Show Me The Justice acknowledges the hard work and dedication from Prosecutors (l-r) Lindsey Bondurant and Jenny Bloodworth and Defense Attorneys Justin Fischer and Danielle Saenz in Cause Number 1755171 out of the 174th Criminal District Court which resulted in a Hung Jury for the offense of
MURDER
(presiding judge Hazel Jones – jury trial)
DEFENSE LEADER BOARD – LAST 8 YEARS
Leading Defense Attorneys for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts since February 2017 – OVER 2,000 PRACTICING DEFENSE ATTORNEYS at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse (stats taken from above spreadsheet) Random acknowledgement of a leading defense attorney
#33 on LEADER BOARD
OVER 2,000 PRACTICING DEFENSE ATTORNEYS IN HOUSTON
Show Me The Justice congratulates Defense Attorney Lara Autrey for earning 7 “Not Guilty” Verdicts since 2017 – Lara is NUMBER 33 on the “Rosster” of TRIAL LAWYERS WITH THE MOST WINS SINCE 2017
Note: The following spreadsheets, standings, charts, graphs and compilations may NOT be 100% accurate and should not be relied upon as authoritative information.
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Ryan Fremuth for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1904849 out of the 228th Criminal District Court for the offense of
INJURY to a Child
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney MacKenzie Watson for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2553996 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Treshaun Meredith for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2501512 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Patrick Ngwolo for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1800897 out of the 482nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
DWI 3rd
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Neil Krugh for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1900955 out of the 183rd Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT on a Peace Officer
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Dionne Press for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1902062 out of the 180th Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT on a Pregnant Person
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Inger Chandler for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1889225 out of the 183rd Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Lisa Andrews for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1848864 out of the 351st Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT with a Deadly Weapon
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Natalie Schultz for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1848867 out of the 351st Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT with a Deadly Weapon
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Inger Chandler for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1879828 out of the 496th Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED ROBBERY
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Cynthia Henley for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2548964 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 1 for the offense of
DWI 2nd
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Cynthia Henley for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2551728 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 1 for the offense of
THEFT $100 – $750
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Jonathan Vela for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2572455 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 1 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Bernie Villarreal Aguirre for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2542123 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 5 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Eric Garza for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2539375 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 13 for the offense of
TERRORISTIC THREAT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Brian LaVine for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1893989 out of the 183rd Criminal District Court for the offense of
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Stephanie Martin for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1889870 out of the 230th Criminal District Court for the offense of
FELON in Possession of a Weapon
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Michael Edwards II for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2548955 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Mario Santos for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2554043 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Dulce Toledo for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2557890 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
TERRORISTIC THREAT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Brian LaVine for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1881932 out of the 338th Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Salvo Blair for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1905483 out of the 209th Criminal District Court for the offense of
CONTINUOUS VIOLENCE Against the Family
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Austen Hobbs for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1892601 out of the 232nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
BURGLARY of a Habitation
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Troy Locklear for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1866751 out of the 338th Criminal District Court for the offense of
TERRORISTIC THREAT to a Police Officer
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Neil Krugh for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1815329 out of the 496th Criminal District Court for the offense of
INJURY to the Elderly
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Lance Hamm for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1894084 out of the 496th Criminal District Court for the offense of
THEFT $2500 – $30K
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Leticia Longmiles for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2541340 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 12 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Matt Gilliam for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1886115 out of the 351st Criminal District Court for the offense of
MURDER
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Jon Stephenson for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1886115 out of the 351st Criminal District Court for the offense of
MURDER
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Sean Darvishi for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1877584 out of the 174th Criminal District Court for the offense of
BURGLARY of a Habitation
September 19, 2025 Show Me The Justice presents WAR STORIES
Jeff Ross is a criminal defense attorney – His story:
THE 30-MINUTE DOCKET – WORKING AS A PROSECUTOR FOR THE MOST FEARED JUDGE IN THE COURTHOUSE
It was March 1984 and I was a baby prosecutor in CCL3 – Judge Jimmie Duncan – the most feared judge in the courthouse! He was a typical Texas cowboy sporting a holstered gun in court, cowboy boots, a cowboy designed jacket and a large silver buckle on his belt. He had steely-blue eyes and his face was gaunt with high cheek bones like the commander of the Death Star in the 1977 Star Wars movie. He berated police officers for coming late, he had demeaning pet-names for his staff and DA’s, he chastised attorneys for taking up his time for doing their job and he made defendants wish they were never born.
As one of 3 prosecutors in the court, we had to make our way over to the courthouse around 8:15a so that we could set up the paper state files on the counsel table and talk with the prisoners in the hold-over cells about their cases. Yes, we talked to the prisoners – who had NO representation – about their cases. Their choice was to either take a plea offer of a conviction/jail time or set the case for trial and sit in jail if they could not post bond. The judge HATED when we could not get 100% pleas from the prisoners. We usually got 100% pleas from the prisoners.
Judge Duncan made a point of ALWAYS starting his docket at 9a SHARP so we had to race to finish the jail cases before then. He would stand by his chamber’s doorway and when his court’s clock struck 9 he would enter the courtroom while everybody stood up shaking in their boots.
“The Docket” – all the cases on the docket were either FIRST appearances or TRIAL settings. There was no “non-issue” or “disposition” or “motions” or “pre-trial conference” or “judgement and sentence”. It was black or white.
The judge would call the docket and if it was a “first appearance” then the defendant would answer “present” and we would move on to the next name. If it was set for “trial”, then we would read the names on the subpoena list attached to the front of the file and if the witnesses were present at 9a sharp we would announce “ready for trial.” If one or more of the witnesses were not there, we made a motion for dismissal. It did not matter if the witness came in 2 minutes late – case dismissed!. This docket call process took 10 minutes.
The next step would be to call up the arraignment defendants to the bench and the number 3 prosecutor – ME – would have to read the full complaint filed against the defendant within the 25 seconds he was writing on his docket or he would stare at you with those steely-blue eyes like he was about to cut your head off waiting for you to finish. It was then that I developed my skills as a speed reader like you would hear giving warnings at the end of a commercial. He would then ask the defendant for a plea of “guilty or not guilty” and the defendant would reply “not guilty” and within a second of that answer the coordinator would announce out loud his trial date and the judge would warn the defendant “YOUR CASE HAS BEEN SET FOR TRIAL! YOU NEED TO HIRE A LAWYER TO PREPARE FOR YOUR DEFENSE! YOU AND YOUR LAWYER NEED TO BE BACK HERE IN COURT ON JUNE 15TH READY FOR TRIAL!” This “arraignment” process took 10 minutes.
While I was doing the arraignments the other 2 DA’s were discussing the “trial ready” cases with the defense attorneys. The judge HATED when one of the lawyers wanted to go to trial. In his court, it was take a plea for a conviction or go to trial. NO pretrial diversions, NO deferreds, NO probations. The only probation he offered was on a first DWI and if you violated that probation you would do the ENTIRE 180 days or 1 year in jail on an MRP – no exceptions! Taking the pleas took another 10 minutes.
99% of the time the lawyers took a plea, the docket was done in ½ hour and by 9:30a my prosecutor colleagues and I were back in the jury room shooting the breeze with the judge who always had his feet on the table drinking his morning coffee. He was a different man in the jury room than the man in the courtroom. He would smile, crack jokes and tell stories. I will always remember my days with Jimmie Duncan – a legend who is now a relic.
If you have a WAR STORY about your experience with Judge Jimmie Duncan please email it to me at jeffross486@gmail.com. I also would like ANY WAR STORY you would like to tell.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY LEADERBOARD 2025
Leading Prosecutors for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts for 2025
DEFENSE ATTORNEY LEADERBOARD 2025
Leading Defense Attorneys for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts for 2025
FELONY JUDGES LEADERBOARD 2025
All Elected Felony Judges and their trial totals for 2025
MISDEMEANOR JUDGES LEADERBOARD 2025
All Elected Misdemeanor Judges and their trial totals for 2025
VISITING JUDGE LEADERBOARD 2025
Visiting Judges and their trial totals for 2025
PROSECUTOR LEADERBOARD – LAST 8 YEARS
Leading Prosecutors for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts since February 2017 Note: Prosecutors listed may no longer be working at the District Attorney’s Office
COURT DOCKET EFFICIENCY – MISDEMEANORS
Top 10 Misdemeanor Courts for LOWEST docket totals August 2025 – source: Harris County Courts Active Cases Report
COURT DOCKET EFFICIENCY – FELONIES
Top 10 Felony Courts for LOWEST docket totals August 2025 – source: Harris County District Criminal District Courts Dashboard
HARRIS COUNTY COURT REPORTERS AND THEIR TRIAL TIPS
Great tips from the Harris County Court Reporters!
I interviewed 12 of some of the best court reporters working the Harris County Criminal Courts and got their “inside information” on how jurors, lawyers, witnesses and judges can improve in trial to make it easier for the court reporter to take down ALL the information required of them for an excellent record.
HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S FACEBOOK PAGE
CLICK HERE for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Facebook Page
DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE DASHBOARD
Click here for some interesting Harris County Courthouse Statistics
HARRIS COUNTY COURTS FACEBOOK PAGE
HARRIS COUNTY FELONY DASHBOARD
HARRIS COUNTY MISDEMEANOR COURTS DASHBOARD
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