The “Rosster” of Criminal Courtroom Winners – Week Ending May 22, 2026


We had 33 lawyers complete 18 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 9 Guilty Verdicts, 5 Not Guilty Verdicts, 2 In-Trial Dismissals, 2 In-Trial Pleas and 1 Hung Jury/Mistrial/Other.

Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 26 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!


Nisha King Hawkins

Congratulations to Prosecutor Nisha King Hawkins for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Te’iva Bell presiding – 339th Criminal District Court – jury trial) – Cause #1915434 ) co-counsel Renee Serrato

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Renee Serrato

Congratulations to Prosecutor Renee Serrato for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Te’iva Bell presiding – 339th Criminal District Court – jury trial) – Cause #1915434 ) co-counsel Nisha King Hawkins

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Antoy Bell

Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Antoy Bell for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

( judge Toria Finch presiding – CCL9 –  jury trial – case from CCL4 – Cause Number 2309401) co-counsel Antuan Johnson


Antuan Johnson

Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Antuan Johnson for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

( judge Toria Finch presiding – CCL9 –  jury trial – case from CCL4 – Cause Number 2309401) co-counsel Antoy Bell


Bethany Belisle

Congratulations to Prosecutor Bethany Belisle for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(visiting judge Marc Brown presiding – 180th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1771720 ) co-counsel Helen Le

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Helen Le

Congratulations to Prosecutor Helen Le for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(visiting judge Marc Brown presiding – 180th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1771720 ) co-counsel Bethany Belisle

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Dylan Larsen

Congratulations to Prosecutor Dylan Larsen for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Beverly Armstrong presiding – 208th Criminal District Court – jury trial (RETRIAL) – Cause #1729653 ) co-counsel Marie Defretin


Marie Defretin

Congratulations to Prosecutor Marie Defretin for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Beverly Armstrong presiding – 208th Criminal District Court – jury trial (RETRIAL) – Cause #1729653 ) co-counsel Dylan Larsen


Max Patterson

Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Max Patterson for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Tonya Jones presiding – CCL15 –  jury trial – Cause Number 2587249) co-counsels Brandt Wild and Blanche Ndoutou


Brandt Wild

Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Brandt Wild for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Tonya Jones presiding – CCL15 –  jury trial – Cause Number 2587249) co-counsels Max Patterson and Blanche Ndoutou


Blanche Ndoutou

Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Blanche Ndoutou for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Tonya Jones presiding – CCL15 –  jury trial – Cause Number 2587249) co-counsels Brandt Wild and Max Patterson


Anna Eady

Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Anna Eady for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Andrew Wright presiding – CCL7 –  bench trial – Cause Number 2571964)


Khamisie Green

Congratulations to Prosecutor Khamisie Green for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(visiting judge Natalie Fleming presiding – CCL8 – jury trialCause #2587959)


Kelcie Davis

Congratulations to Prosecutor Kelcie Davis for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(visiting judge Denise Bradley presiding – 497th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1916798 ) co-counsel Kaylee Veltri


Kaylee Veltri

Congratulations to Prosecutor Kaylee Veltri for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(visiting judge Denise Bradley presiding – 497th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1916798 ) co-counsel Kelcie Davis


Tyler Flood

Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Tyler Flood for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Kelley Andrews presiding – CCL6 case –  jury trial – Cause Number 2341863) co-counsel Brianne Boiarsky


Brianne Boiarsky

Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Brianne Boiarsky for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Kelley Andrews presiding – CCL6 case –  jury trial – Cause Number 2341863) co-counsel Tyler Flood


Gordon McCormack

Congratulations to Prosecutor Gordon McCormack for earning Guilty Verdicts for the State of Texas.

(judge Stacy Allen Barrow presiding – 487th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1909514- 1909516 )


Doug Murphy

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Doug Murphy for earning Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Ana Martinez presiding – 179th Criminal District Court –  jury trial – Cause Number 1935395) co-counsel Chris McKinney

Sitting with “The Rosster” winners Doug Murphy and Chris McKinney was Doug’s son Wyatt Murphy, now a freshman, about to accelerate to a junior level at TCU college. Will this exciting experience in the courtroom persuade Wyatt to pursue a career in law?


Chris McKinney

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Chris McKinney for earning Not Guilty Verdict for your client.

(judge Ana Martinez presiding – 179th Criminal District Court –  jury trial – Cause Number 1935395) co-counsel Doug Murphy


Ryan Volkmer

Congratulations to Prosecutor Ryan Volkmer for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(visiting judge Lisa Burkhalter presiding – 184th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1709442) co-counsel Brittney Symons

HOUSTON CHRONICLE


Brittney Symons

Congratulations to Prosecutor Brittney Symons for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(visiting judge Lisa Burkhalter presiding – 184th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1709442) co-counsel Ryan Volkmer

HOUSTON CHRONICLE


Rodrigo Escobar

Congratulations to Prosecutor Rodrigo Escobar for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.

(judge Hilary Unger presiding – 248th Criminal District Court – jury trialCause #1922735)


Bryan Garris

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Bryan Garris for earning an In-Trial Dismissal (after some successful Motions to Suppress being granted) for your client.

(judge Shannon Baldwin presiding – CCL4 –  jury trial – Cause Number 2565483) co-counsel Coby Dubose


Coby Dubose

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Coby Dubose for earning an In-Trial Dismissal (after some successful Motions to Suppress being granted) for your client.

(judge Shannon Baldwin presiding – CCL4 –  jury trial – Cause Number 2565483) co-counsel Bryan Garris


Jed Silverman

Congratulations to Defense Attorney Jed Silverman for earning an In-Trial Dismissal for your client.

(judge Nata Cornelio presiding – 351st –  jury trial – Cause Number 1901253)


Mark Werner

Congratulations to Prosecutor Mark Werner for earning an In-Trial Plea for the State of Texas.

Sentence: 3 Years in Prison

(judge Dan Simons presiding – 496th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1938293)


Show Me The Justice acknowledges the hard work and dedication from Prosecutors Matt Magill and Scott Hutchings and Defense Attorneys Wilvin Carter and Teresa Lakho in Cause Number 1894991 out of the 180th Criminal District Court which resulted in a Hung Jury for the offense of

(judge Tami Pierce presiding – jury trial)

CLICK2HOUSTON


Lisa Collins

Congratulations to Prosecutor Lisa Collins for earning an In-Trial Plea for the State of Texas.

Sentence: 35 Years in Prison

(judge Emily Detoto presiding – 177th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1811947) co-counsel Cole Van Ness

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Cole Van Ness

Congratulations to Prosecutor Cole Van Ness for earning an In-Trial Plea for the State of Texas.

Sentence: 35 Years in Prison

(judge Emily Detoto presiding – 177th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1811947) co-counsel Lisa Collins

HPD PRESS RELEASE


Note: This scoreboard may not be 100% accurate as I could have missed some mistrials that occurred at the early stages of the trial or a quick court trial that lasted a couple of hours….. but it is close to 100%.


Murray Newman

Leading Defense Attorneys for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts since February 2017OVER 2,000 PRACTICING DEFENSE ATTORNEYS at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse (stats taken from above spreadsheet)


Note: The following spreadsheets, standings, charts, graphs and compilations may NOT be 100% accurate and should not be relied upon as authoritative information.


Gold Star Dismissal
Kandice Horsey

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Kandice Horsey for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1857709 out of the 179th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Audris Ponce

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Audris Ponce for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1619449 out of the 351st Criminal District Court for the offense of


April Lopez

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney April Lopez for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1619449 out of the 351st Criminal District Court for the criminal offense of


Danielle Broussard

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Danielle Broussard for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1857708 out of the 179th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Murray Newman

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Murray Newman for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2585638 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of


Sameeha Vaid

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Sameeha Vaid for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2606089 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of


Chris Cockrell

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Chris Cockrell for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2596261 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 3 for the criminal offense of


Chad Henderson

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Chadrick Henderson for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2586285 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for the offense of


Mario Santos

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Mario Santos for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2550561 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for the offense of


Drew Darnell

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Drew Darnell for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2596470 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for the offense of


Jerome Godinich

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Jerome Godinich for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1919235 out of the 174th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Matthew Curl

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Fox Curl for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2543721 out of County Criminal Court at Law Number 4 for the offense of


Charles Banker

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Charles Banker III for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2590932 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 4 for the offense of


Steve Boman

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Steven Boman for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2599531 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of


Michael Pham

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Michael Pham for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1942872 out of the 177th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Gold Star Dismissal
Brett Podolsky

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Brett Podolsky for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1888597 out of the 351st Criminal District Court for the offense of


Gold Star Dismissal
Matt Sharp

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Matthew Sharp for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1888597 out of the 351st Criminal District Court for the offense of


Andrew J. Williams

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Andrew Williams for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1914688 out of the 351st Criminal District Court for the offense of


Gold Star Dismissal
Marisa Ayala

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Marisa Ayala for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1859677 out of the 497th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Charles Johnson

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Charles Johnson Jr. for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2586635 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of


Quinon Brooker

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Quinon Brooker for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2602093 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of


TJ Williams

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Teira Johnson Williams for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1939549 out of the 482nd Criminal District Court for the offense of


Gold Star Dismissal
Brett Podolsky

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Brett Podolsky for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1470778 out of the 208th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Hunter Simmons

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Hunter Simmons for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1905786 out of the 497th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Beth Exley

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Beth Exley for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1692122 out of the 209th Criminal District Court for the offense of


Scott Bernstein

Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Scott Bernstein for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2589351 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of










WHO ARE THE JUDICIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY MISDEMEANOR AND FELONY JUDGE POSITIONS FOR 2026? Check out the list below!

Information found on the Harris County Democratic and Republican parties websites

Check your voting status HERE


Congratulations to County Criminal Court at Law Number 8 judge Erika Ramirez (l-r) and to the 185th Criminal District Court judge Andy Beall for scoring the HIGHEST average “EXCELLENT” ratings in 8 different categories in the annual poll conducted by the Houston Bar Association.

HOUSTON BAR ASSOCIATION JUDICIAL EVALUATION RESULTS – 2025


Below is the list of the TOP 10 misdemeanor and felony judges in order of “top average” “excellent” scores over 8 different categories.



Grizzy's Hood News

FOR EXCITING LIVE VIDEOS OF HOUSTON CRIME IN PROGRESS VISIT GRIZZY’S HOOD NEWS AT GRIZZYSHOODNEWS.COM

DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE DASHBOARD

HARRIS COUNTY COURTS FACEBOOK PAGE

HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FACEBOOK PAGE

THEFT BY CHECK AND ISSUANCE OF A BAD CHECK TRIAL MANUAL

Great tips from the Harris County Court Reporters! 

Katelyn Harrelson

Katelyn Harrelson has been a court reporter since 2013. She substituted as a court reporter in all the courts until 2015 when she landed a permanent job in County Criminal Court at Law Number 6 with judge Larry Standley. She is now the court reporter in County Criminal Court at Law Number 6 – judge Kelley Andrews presiding.

Linda Hacker has been a court reporter since 1990. She worked freelance until 1994 then from 1994 to 2000 she worked as a substitute for the courts. In 2000 she landed a job as court reporter for the 339th then in 2009 as a court reporter for the 177th. She is currently one of several court reporters who work in the Emergency Trial Dockets.

Rachel Peres has been a court reporter since 2013. She spent 5 years as the court reporter for the 313th juvenile court before becoming the court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 4 – judge Shannon Baldwin presiding.

Karen Hendricks Garcia has been a court reporter since 2011. She spent 4 years doing freelance then became the court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for 4 years. Since January 2019 she has been the court reporter for the 228th Criminal District Court – judge Caroline Dozier now presiding.

Amanda Fazio has been a court reporter since 2008. She has spent her entire career assigned to the Harris County criminal courts. She has worked in five criminal courts during those 17 years and is currently the court reporter in the 209th District Court – judge Brian Warren presiding.

Ramona Sonnier has been a court reporter since 1999. She worked freelance for 4 years in all types of Harris County courts – including criminal, civil, juvenile, and family. In 2003 she got a permanent position with County Criminal Court at Law Number 5 under judge Margaret Harris and is now in the same court with judge David Fleischer presiding.

Tiffani June- Russell has been a court reporter since 1998.  She worked freelance for 15 of those 27 years while raising 3 children.  She is now the full-time court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 7 – Judge Andrew Wright presiding.

Leah Leal has been a court reporter since 2014.  She has worked her entire career in the criminal court system starting with County Criminal Court at Law Number 10 – Judge Dan Spjut – and more recently as the court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 13 –  judge Raul Rodriguez presiding.

Krista Hall has been a court reporter since 1995.  She worked free-lance for about 12 years then worked the civil courts, CPS  and misdemeanor courts.  She was with Judge Derbyshire until she landed her spot with Judge Sedrick Walker – County Criminal Court at Law Number 11. 

Jennifer Slessinger has been a court reporter since 1975.  She worked in the criminal courts for 37 years and the family courts for 7 years.  She was the court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 8 – judge Franklin Bynum – before retiring in 2022.

Shannon Simmons has been a court reporter since 1997.  She was a freelance reporter for twenty-one years, did a year in juvenile court then worked as a court reporter for County Criminal Court at Law Number 10.  Now she is with the 496th Criminal District Court, judge Dan Simons presiding.

Carrie Logan

Carrie Logan has been a court reporter for over 30 years – almost entirely in felony criminal courts.  She worked for judge George Godwin in the 174th for eight years and with judge Susan Brown in the 185th for 20 years.  She is now the court reporter for the 185th – judge Andy Beall presiding.

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