HARRIS COUNTY – The Harris County Criminal Courts at Law have been working to catch up on backlogged cases from over the years.
There are still thousands of active cases that have been moved to the side. It’s no small feat, but the courts are making steady progress.
Since January 2022, the courts have cleared 126,329 cases in total, an average of 7,896 cases across the 16 courts. These accelerated efforts have shrunk the backlog total by 65%, going from 24,457 cases to just 8,387 cases.
The average clearance rates have reflected this progress, trending well over 100%, including 137% in February. This means the courts are typically clearing more cases than they are receiving by a notable margin.
The current backlogs have largely been caused by natural disasters and the pandemic. COVID-19 social distancing requirements and forced Hurricane Harvey renovations hampered the ability to hold jury trials, which are a key element to moving cases forward. Other natural delays, like waiting for evidence to be collected, cleared and presented, have also contributed to delays.
In 2022, KPRC 2 Investigates’ Robert Arnold reported then-prosecutor Sean Teare, now the Democratic candidate for Harris County District Attorney, said the backlog of cases were ‘stagnant’.
Teare said as jury trials resumed and courts started re-opening, the speed of cases reaching resolution picked up.
At the time, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office (HCDAO) reported the backlog was 135,030 for criminal courts.
National parameters call for misdemeanor court cases to be disposed of with 180 days, and cases that are still active in the system after that period are considered backlogged.
Misdemeanor judges shared with KPRC 2′s Rilwan Balogun they’re working to close cases ahead of the national average.
My scheduling order is roughly about that too180 days to get to the point where at least I am setting this case for trial or accepting some type of disposition,” said Judge Shannon Baldwin of the Harris County Criminal Court at Law Number 4. “Most attorneys, even the district attorney’s office, I expect that they’re going to do their due diligence and make sure that what should happen happens in a timely fashion. When it doesn’t, I treat them as the adults that they are and set a trial.”
Baldwin elected in 2018 and took the bench the following year said she inherited one of the heaviest dockets.
“My cases were well over 2,500 cases when I was elected,” she said.
Judge Juanita Jackson of Harris County Criminal Court Number 4 shared she too entered her role with thousands of cases.
“We’re all here working hard to make sure that they system works for everyone that the criminal justice system at least here in Harris County is no longer a revolving door,” said Jackson.