I am a 42-year veteran Prosecutor (television clips), Chief Prosecutor (newspaper clips) and criminal defense lawyer – and I created this website to acknowledge the excellent efforts of my colleagues who work with felonies and misdemeanors at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center in Houston, Texas.
Show Me The Justice Lawyer Jeff Ross – The “Rosster”
I publish trials in progress, trial verdicts, in-trial pleas and dismissals, trial setting dismissals, trial standings, judge standings, lawyer statistics, lawyer standings, photos and other court news and nuggets.
“My goal is to shine a light on the fine prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges and other courthouse personnel who serve the interest of justice in our community. Our work is the last line of defense for those who will lose their freedom or become free. Thanks to all for your fine work!”
For additions, deletions, corrections or to send a head shot or trial victory in another county please contact me at (cell) 713-582-4462 or (email) jeffross486@gmail.com
Published: Weekly – Every Friday by 5pm – Publishing deadline is 3pm Fridays – First Publication February 2017
“TRIAL IN PROGRESS” – HARRIS COUNTY CRIMINAL COURTHOUSE. Trials in Progress are updated twice-a-day and the information is gathered from the Harris County District Clerk’s website – “preview docket sheet” found under the“images” tab of the case summary page
AUG 10th –updated 6a
183rd Court
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT FAMILY MEMBER
1958844 – Prosecutor Grayson Berdofe – Defense Maverick Ray and Savannah Luna(judge Lance Long presiding: state’s case resumes August 10th)
496th Court
CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD
1794606 – Prosecutors Keegan Childers and Samantha Barnhart – Defense Jerome Godinich(judge Dan Simons presiding: opening statements 10:30a August 10th)
497th Court
SUPER AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD
1958978 – Prosecutors Nidia Ventura and Radarius Morrow – Defense Vafa Jasemi Zergani, Chris Henderson and Alex Tijerino(judge Peyton Peebles presiding: opening statements 10a August 10th)
ERD Court
CAPITAL MURDER
1970743 – Prosecutors Samantha Knecht, Garrett Moore and Selah Lile – Defense Julio Vela, Jacob Vela and Gianpaolo Macerola (visiting judge Marc Brown presiding 4th floor Family Law Center: opening statements 9:30a August 10th)
1682249 – Prosecutors Elizabeth Russell and Dylan Larsen – Defense Patrick Ruzzo(visiting judge Jim Anderson presiding 4th floor Family Law Center: opening statements 9:30a August 10th)
We had 24 lawyers complete 16 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 8 Guilty Verdicts, 8 Not Guilty Verdicts, 1 In-Trial Dismissal, 0 In-Trial Pleas and 0 Hung Jury/Mistrials.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 33 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
This week’s Harris County criminal jury trial results include guilty verdicts, not guilty verdicts, and other trial outcomes from courts throughout the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. ShowMeTheJustice.com updates these trial results weekly as part of its ongoing coverage of criminal justice in Houston, Texas.
Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Justin Harris for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
Assault Family Member
(judge Paula Goodhart presiding – CCL2 – jury trial – Cause Number 2594624)
Congratulations to Prosecutor Keegan Childers for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
Sentence: Life in Prison
(judge Dan Simons presiding – 496th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1821132) co-counsel Samantha Barnhart
Congratulations to Prosecutor Samantha Barnhart for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
Sentence: Life in Prison
(judge Dan Simons presiding – 496th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1821132) co-counsel Keegan Childers
Congratulations to Prosecutor Abraham Chopin for earning Guilty Verdicts for the State of Texas.
Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance
Sentence: 15 Years in Prison
(judge Tami Pierce presiding – 180th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1903569 – 1903570)
Congratulations to Prosecutor Nicholas Saenz for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Sentence: 10 Years Probation
(judge Andy Beall presiding – 185th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1926662)
Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Jordan Schuck for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
Trespass
(judge Andrew Wright presiding – CCL7 – jury trial – Cause Number 2615895) co-counsels Eric Kraus and Larry Williams
Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Eric Kraus for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
Trespass
(judge Andrew Wright presiding – CCL7 – jury trial – Cause Number 2615895) – co-counsels Jordan Schuck and Larry Williams
Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Larry Williams for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
Trespass
(judge Andrew Wright presiding – CCL7 – jury trial – Cause Number 2615895) co-counsels Jordan Schuck and Eric Kraus
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Jay Dedrick for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
Assault Family Member – Choking
(judge Te’iva Bell presiding – 339th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1944189) co-counsel Brad Runcie
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Brad Runcie for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
Assault Family Member – Choking
(judge Te’iva Bell presiding – 339th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1944189) co-counsel Jay Dedrick
Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Chad Davis for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
DWI 2nd
(judge Andrew Wright presiding – CCL7 – jury trial – Cause Number 2603719) co-counsel Danielle Saenz
Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Danielle Saenz for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
DWI 2nd
(judge Andrew Wright presiding – CCL7 – jury trial – Cause Number 2603719) co-counsel Chad Davis
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Arienna Toh for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
Injury to the Elderly
(visiting judge Christi Kennedy presiding – 176th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1923425) co-counsel Elle Jetton
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Elle Jetton for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
Injury to the Elderly
(visiting judge Christi Kennedy presiding – 176th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1923425) co-counsel Arienna Toh
Congratulations to the Defense Attorney Nicholas Poehl for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
Interference with an Emergency Request for Assistance
(visiting judge Sherman Ross presiding – CCL4 – jury trial – Cause Number 2574900)
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Paul Morgan for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
Tampering with Evidence
(judge Kelli Johnson presiding – 178th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1914189)
Congratulations to Prosecutor Joshua Normand for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Burglary of a Habitation
Sentence: 4 Years Probation
(judge Hilary Unger presiding – 248th Criminal District Court – court trial – Cause #1940501)
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Mauricio Vazquez for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
Bail Jumping
(judge Lance Long presiding – 183rd Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1841788) co-counsel Damon Parrish II
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Damon Parrish II for earning a Not Guilty Verdict for your client.
Bail Jumping
(judge Lance Long presiding – 183rd Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause Number 1841788) co-counsel Mauricio Vazquez
Congratulations to Prosecutor Meher Iqbal for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
DWI >.15
Sentence: 22 Months Probation
(judge Linda Garcia presiding – CCL16 – jury trial – Cause #2598764)
Congratulations to Prosecutor Alex Nutt for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Evading Arrest with a Vehicle
Sentence: 7 Years Probation
(judge Peyton Peebles presiding – 497th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1941217)
Congratulations to Prosecutor Nikki Fontenot for earning a Guilty Verdict for the State of Texas.
Possession of Marijuana 4oz – 5lbs
Sentence: 1 Year in Jail
(visiting judge Christi Kennedy presiding – 228th Criminal District Court – jury trial – Cause #1786237)
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Sean Darvishi for earning an In-Trial Dismissal for your client
DWI
(judge Erika Ramirez presiding – CCL8 – jury trial – Cause Number 2600480) co-counsel Manny Guerra
Congratulations to Defense Attorney Manny Guerra for earning an In-Trial Dismissal for your client
DWI
(judge Erika Ramirez presiding – CCL8 – jury trial – Cause Number 2600480) co-counsel Sean Darvishi
ShowMeTheJustice.com is the leading independent source for Harris County criminal trial statistics, jury verdicts, attorney leaderboards, judicial activity, trial-setting dismissals, sentencing data, and courthouse news. Our database tracks thousands of criminal jury trials and continues to grow with weekly updates from the Harris County Criminal Courthouse.
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%.
Show Me The Justice congratulates Defense Attorney Samuel Gardner for earning 9 “Not Guilty” Verdicts since 2017
Samuel is tied for NUMBER 22 on the “Rosster” of TRIAL LAWYERS WITH THE MOST WINSSINCE 2017
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)
Note: The following spreadsheets, standings, charts, graphs and compilations may NOT be 100% accurate and should not be relied upon as authoritative information.
Weekly Harris County Trial-Setting Dismissals
ShowMeTheJustice.com recognizes the following Harris County criminal defense attorneys who obtained trial-setting dismissals this week. A trial-setting dismissal occurs when a criminal case is dismissed before jury selection, often after negotiations, further investigation, or other developments leading to dismissal of the charges.
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Paul St. John for earning a non trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1688772 out of the 176th Criminal District Court for the offense of
MURDER
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Sarah Gaucher for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2585693 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 6 for the offense of
TERRORISTIC THREAT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Bethany Cavanaugh for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2497538 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 2 for the offense of
DWI 2nd >.15
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Brett Podolsky for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1707800 out of the 337th Criminal District Court for the offense of
CONTINUOUS Sexual Abuse of a Child
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Kendra Vega for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2599848 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 8 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Mitchell Leonard for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2602958 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 8 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney De’La Spears for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2562751 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 09 for the offense of
ASSAULT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney MacKenzie Watson for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2606243 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Norwood Richardson for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2601053 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for the offense of
HINDERING APPREHENSION
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Elizabeth Huerta for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2584627 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for the offense of
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF $100 – $750
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Kyianna Sykes for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2601943 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for the offense of
RECKLESS DRIVING
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Will Vaughn for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2598523 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 11 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Josh Stephens for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2601765 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Damon Parrish II for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1657554 out of the 183rd Criminal District Court for the offense of
MONEY LAUNDERING >$300K
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Austen Hobbs for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1951675 out of the 179th Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT on a Pregnant Person
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Chisom Onyenezi for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1940055 out of the 179th Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Avery Baptiste Dixon for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2585453 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 1 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Avery Baptiste Dixon for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2589925 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 4 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Marjorie Muniz for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2566505 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 4 for the offense of
ASSAULT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Bianca Almaguer for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2599293 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 4 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Esabelle Cherry for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2591975 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 6 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Chadrick Henderson for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1913101 out of the 263rd Criminal District Court for the offense of
BURGLARY with Intent to Commit a Felony
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Brian LaVine for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1947307 out of the 339th Criminal District Court for the offense of
EVADING ARREST with a Vehicle
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Chantrisse Howard for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2584686 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 2 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Alexis Gilbert for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2550994 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 9 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Nathan Beedle for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2583954 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of
HARASSMENT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Sameeha Vaid for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2608881 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Sameeha Vaid for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2592760 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Marcos Adrogue for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2535145 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of
ASSAULT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Antonelly Vargas for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2602240 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 15 for the offense of
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Sanam Mirfattah for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1932358 out of the 262nd Criminal District Court for the offense of
ASSAULT Family Member
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Tyler Flood for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 2587975 out of Criminal Court at Law Number 04 for the offense of
DWI
Show Me The Justice recognizes Defense Attorney Whitney Moore for earning a trial setting dismissal for your client in Cause Number 1969444 out of the 185th Criminal District Court for the offense of
August 7, 2026 – The race for the top spot continues! Congratulations toHarrisCounty prosecutors Traemon Anderson, Tieranee Jones, Mikeala Morris, Peter Uli III, and Nidia Ventura, who currently lead all prosecutors with seven (7) guilty verdicts in 2026. Samantha Barnhart remains within striking distance with six (6) guilty verdicts. Rankings are updated regularly by ShowMeTheJustice.com, featuring Harris County criminal trials in progress, criminal trial statistics, attorney leaderboards, verdicts, and courtroom news.
Visit ShowMeTheJustice.com for Harris County criminal jury trial results, attorney leaderboards, judge statistics, verdict trends, courthouse news, and comprehensive courtroom analytics.
DEFENSE LEADER BOARD 2026
Leading Defense Attorneys for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts for 2026
August 7, 2026 – The competition among Harris County’s top criminal defense attorneys continues to intensify. Arienna Toh currently leads the field with four (4) jury trial victories in 2026. Close behind are Brianne Boiarsky, Alyssa Craze-Awbrey, Tyler Flood, Paul Morgan, and Jordan Schuck, each with three (3) trial wins. The remaining attorneys on the leaderboard have each earned two (2) jury trial victories, reflecting the depth of trial talent in the Harris County criminal courthouse. Rankings are updated regularly by ShowMeTheJustice.com based on publicly available jury trial verdicts.
Visit ShowMeTheJustice.com for Harris County criminal jury trial results, attorney leaderboards, judge statistics, verdict trends, courthouse news, and comprehensive courtroom analytics.
FELONY JUDGE LEADER BOARD 2026
All Elected Felony Judges and their trial totals for 2026
2026 Harris County Felony Trial Leaderboard – Jury trial activity remains strong throughout the Harris County felony courts. Judge Dan Simons has presided over more criminal jury trials than any other felony judge in 2026, with 23 trials completed. Veronica Nelson and Peyton Peebles are tied for second place with 12 trials, while Stacy Allen Barrow follows closely with 11 trials. The remaining judges on this leaderboard continue to maintain active criminal trial dockets, demonstrating the significant volume of felony jury trials occurring throughout the Harris County courthouse.
Key Takeaways
Dan Simons leads all Harris County felony judges with 23 jury trials in 2026.
Three felony judges have conducted 10 or more jury trials this year.
Nine felony judges have completed eight or more criminal jury trials.
Rankings are updated as new Harris County criminal jury verdicts are reported.
Visit ShowMeTheJustice.com for the latest Harris County criminal jury trial statistics, felony and misdemeanor judge leaderboards, prosecutor and defense attorney rankings, verdict trends, court dockets, and daily courthouse action.
MISDEMEANOR JUDGE LEADER BOARD 2026
All Elected Misdemeanor Judges and their trial totals for 2026
2026 Harris County Misdemeanor Trial Activity – Jury trial activity remains robust in the Harris County misdemeanor courts. Judge Andrew Wright has presided over more misdemeanor criminal jury trials than any other county criminal court judge in 2026, with 19 trials completed. Judge Erika Ramirez follows with 14 trials, while Judges Shannon Baldwin and Linda Garcia have each completed 11 jury trials. The remaining judges on this leaderboard continue to maintain active misdemeanor trial dockets as they move criminal cases through the Harris County justice system.
Key Takeaways
Andrew Wright (CCL7) leads all Harris County misdemeanor judges with 19 jury trials in 2026.
Three misdemeanor judges have conducted 11 or more jury trials this year.
Five county criminal court judges have completed at least 9 jury trials, reflecting a high level of courtroom activity.
These rankings are updated regularly as additional Harris County criminal jury trials conclude.
Visit ShowMeTheJustice.com for the latest Harris County criminal jury trial results, misdemeanor and felony judge leaderboards, prosecutor and defense attorney rankings, verdict statistics, court dockets, and daily courthouse action.
2026 Harris County Visiting Judge Trial Activity – Visiting judges remain an essential part of the Harris County criminal justice system, presiding over numerous jury trials throughout the year. Vanessa Velasquez and Lisa Burkhalter share the top spot with 10 criminal jury trials each, while Marc Brown and Christi Kennedy have each completed seven trials. Their service helps ensure that criminal cases continue moving efficiently through one of the nation’s busiest court systems.
Key Takeaways
Vanessa Velasquez and Lisa Burkhalter are tied for the lead with 10 jury trials each in 2026.
Four visiting judges have presided over seven or more criminal jury trials this year.
Visiting judges provide valuable judicial support by helping Harris County manage its high volume of criminal jury trials.
Rankings are updated regularly using publicly available Harris County criminal court records.
Visit ShowMeTheJustice.com for the latest Harris County criminal jury trial results, felony and misdemeanor judge leaderboards, visiting judge statistics, prosecutor and defense attorney rankings, verdict trends, court dockets, and daily courthouse action.
PROSECUTOR LEADER BOARD – Last 9 Years
Harris County Career Prosecutor Leaderboard for Winning Felony and Misdemeanor Verdicts since February 2017 Note: Prosecutors listed may no longer be working at the District Attorney’s Office
Harris County Prosecutor Career Leaderboard – Since February 2017, hundreds of prosecutors have tried criminal jury cases in the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. Danielle Oxford currently holds the top position with 43 guilty jury verdicts, followed by Heather Axline with 34 verdicts. Keaton Forcht and Helen Le are tied with 29 verdicts, while several other prosecutors continue to build impressive trial records. This leaderboard reflects sustained jury trial experience over nearly a decade and is updated regularly by ShowMeTheJustice.com.
Key Takeaways
Danielle Oxford leads all Harris County prosecutors with 43 jury trial guilty verdicts since February 2017.
Heather Axline ranks second with 34 guilty verdicts.
Four prosecutors have earned at least 28 jury trial guilty verdicts during the tracking period.
The rankings include felony and misdemeanor jury trial verdicts from Harris County criminal courts.
Statistics are updated regularly as new jury verdicts are recorded.
These standings reflect the total number of guilty jury verdicts recorded for each prosecutor during the tracking period. They are intended as historical statistical information and do not measure conviction rates, overall case performance, or prosecutorial effectiveness.
Visit ShowMeTheJustice.com for Harris County criminal jury trial results, prosecutor and defense attorney leaderboards, judge statistics, verdict trends, courtroom news, and comprehensive criminal courthouse analytics.
2026 Harris County Misdemeanor Docket Report
Top 10 Misdemeanor Courts (out of 16 courts) for LOWEST docket totals through July 2026 (non pretrial intervention cases) – source: Harris County Courts Active Cases Report
2026 Harris County Misdemeanor Docket Report – Pending criminal caseloads vary considerably among the County Criminal Courts at Law. Judge Jessica Padilla currently maintains the smallest pending misdemeanor docket with 780 active cases, while the largest misdemeanor docket contains 1,517 pending cases. Differences in docket size may result from numerous factors, including case assignments, filing volume, court scheduling, transfers, and the timing of case dispositions. These rankings provide a current snapshot of pending misdemeanor caseloads across the Harris County criminal courts.
Key Takeaways
Jessica Padilla (CCL14) has the smallest pending misdemeanor docket with 780 active cases.
Leslie Johnson (CCL3) and Paula Goodhart (CCL2) also have fewer than 1,000 pending cases.
The largest pending misdemeanor docket currently contains 1,517 active criminal cases.
Docket sizes fluctuate throughout the year as new cases are filed and existing cases are resolved.
Rankings are updated regularly using publicly available Harris County court records.
Note:Pending case totals represent a snapshot of each court’s active criminal docket on the date indicated. Docket size alone should not be interpreted as a measure of judicial performance or courtroom efficiency, as caseloads are influenced by factors such as new filings, case complexity, transfers, specialty court assignments, staffing, and the timing of case dispositions.
Visit ShowMeTheJustice.com for Harris County criminal court statistics, misdemeanor and felony docket reports, judge leaderboards, jury trial results, prosecutor and defense attorney rankings, verdict trends, and daily courthouse action.
2026 Harris County Felony Caseload Report
Top 10 Felony Courts (out of 29 courts) for LOWEST docket totals through July 2026 – source: Harris County District Criminal District Courts Dashboard
The 2026 Harris County Felony Docket Leaderboard ranks the Criminal District Courts by the number of active pending felony cases. As of this update, Judge Matt Peneguy maintains the lowest pending felony caseload, followed by Judge Nata Cornelio and Judge Veronica Nelson. Felony docket totals fluctuate throughout the year as new indictments are filed, cases are transferred, trials conclude, pleas are entered, and other matters are resolved. These rankings are updated regularly using publicly available Harris County court statistics.
Key Highlights
Matt Peneguy (488th District Court) currently has the lowest pending felony docket with 193 active cases.
Nata Cornelio (351st) and Veronica Nelson (482nd) round out the top three lowest felony dockets.
The largest felony docket currently contains 995 pending cases.
Pending felony caseloads change regularly as cases are filed, transferred, disposed of, or set for trial.
Rankings are updated periodically using publicly available Harris County court records.
Note:Pending felony case totals represent a snapshot of each court’s active docket on the date shown. Docket size alone should not be interpreted as a measure of judicial performance or efficiency. Caseloads are influenced by numerous factors, including new felony filings, case complexity, court assignments, transfers, staffing, and the timing of case dispositions.
Visit ShowMeTheJustice.com for Harris County criminal jury trial results, prosecutor and defense attorney leaderboards, judge statistics, verdict trends, courtroom news, and comprehensive criminal courthouse analytics.
Harris County Murder Trial Statistics Since 2017
Note:The following murder sentencing statistics were derived from my “ALL LAWYERS VERDICTS SINCE 2017” spreadsheet which included ALL the murder trials since 2017. I looked up each case number on the District Clerk’s website and entered the sentence onto the below downloadable spreadsheet. I gave a score of 100 years for a life sentence and 0 for probation.Statistics good from February 1, 2017 through June 14, 2026.
Harris County Murder Trial Statistics (2017-Present)
Since 2017, ShowMeTheJustice.com has monitored every completed Harris County murder jury trial to provide attorneys, judges, journalists, researchers, students, and the public with accurate courtroom statistics.
This report analyzes:
Murder jury trial outcomes
Conviction and acquittal rates
Average prison sentences
Median prison sentences
Life sentence frequency
Sentencing distribution following guilty verdicts
As of June 14, 2026, prosecutors have obtained 327 guilty verdicts (84.1%), while juries have returned 62 not guilty verdicts (15.9%).
The average sentence following a murder conviction is 51.7 years, while the median sentence is 45 years, illustrating the significant prison terms typically imposed after conviction.
Did You Know? Nearly 1 out of every 6 Harris County murder jury trials since 2017 has resulted in a Not Guilty verdict.
179 HARRIS COUNTY CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD JURY TRIALS SINCE 2017
Note:The following continuous sexual abuse of a child sentencing statistics were derived from my “ALL LAWYERS VERDICTS SINCE 2017” spreadsheet which included ALL the continuous sexual abuse of a child trials since 2017. I looked up each case number on the District Clerk’s website and entered the sentence onto the below spreadsheet. I gave a score of 100 years for a life sentence and 0 for probation.Statistics good from February 1, 2017 through June 14, 2026.
Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child Trial Statistics
ShowMeTheJustice.com has tracked 179 Harris County jury trials involving the offense of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child since 2017.
As of June 14, 2026, juries have returned:
149 Guilty Verdicts (83.3%)
30 Not Guilty Verdicts (16.7%)
Among those convicted:
Average sentence: 48 years
Median sentence: 39 years
53.0% received sentences between 26 and 50 years
26.1% received sentences of 51 to 100 years
20.9% received sentences of 25 years or less
These statistics provide a historical overview of jury verdicts and sentencing trends for one of the most serious felony offenses prosecuted in Harris County.
Did You Know? More than 8 out of every 10 Harris County juries have returned guilty verdicts in Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child jury trials since 2017.
HARRIS COUNTY CHILD SEX OFFENSE JURY TRIAL STATISTICS Since 2017
Note:The following child sex case sentencing statistics were derived from my “ALL LAWYERS VERDICTS SINCE 2017” spreadsheet which included ALL the child sex case trials since 2017. I looked up each case number on the District Clerk’s website and entered the sentence onto the below spreadsheet. I gave a score of 100 years for a life sentence and 0 for probation.Statistics good from February 1, 2017 through June 14, 2026.
Harris County Child Sex Offense Jury Trial Statistics Since 2017
This report compares sentencing trends and jury verdicts for four major child sex offenses prosecuted in Harris County, including conviction rates, acquittal rates, average prison sentences, median prison sentences, and the number of completed jury trials.
Comparing Jury Trial Outcomes in Child Sex Offense Cases
Since 2017, ShowMeTheJustice.com has tracked hundreds of Harris County jury trials involving child sex offenses. This report compares four of the most frequently prosecuted offenses:
Super Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
Sexual Assault of a Child
Indecency with a Child
The statistics illustrate how jury verdicts and sentencing outcomes vary depending on the charged offense.
Among the offenses analyzed:
Super Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child resulted in the longest average prison sentence (59.2 years) and the lowest acquittal rate (13.3%).
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child produced an average sentence of 39.7 years with acquittals in 21.1% of jury trials.
Sexual Assault of a Child averaged 24.7 years with a 29% acquittal rate.
Indecency with a Child averaged 19.1 years, with acquittals occurring in 32.7% of jury trials.
These statistics provide a historical comparison of jury verdicts and sentencing patterns using publicly available Harris County court records.
Did You Know? As the severity of the charged offense increases, average prison sentences generally become longer while acquittal rates decrease. In this data set, Super Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child has both the highest average sentence and the lowest percentage of not guilty verdicts.
The comparison demonstrates how average sentences and acquittal rates differ among the major child sex offenses prosecuted in Harris County, based on completed jury trials since 2017.
HARRIS COUNTY JURY TRIAL RESULTS BY OFFENSE (2017–2026)
Note:The following jury trial verdicts were derived from my “ALL LAWYERS VERDICTS SINCE 2017” spreadsheet which included ALL the trials since 2017. Statistics good from February 1, 2017 through June 14, 2026.
Harris County Criminal Jury Trial Results by Offense Since 2017
This report compares conviction rates and acquittal rates across several frequently tried criminal offenses in Harris County, using completed jury trials tracked since 2017.
Harris County Jury Trial Conviction Rates by Offense
Since 2017, ShowMeTheJustice.com has compiled jury verdict statistics from hundreds of Harris County criminal jury trials to compare conviction and acquittal rates across a variety of felony and misdemeanor offenses.
This report includes jury trial results for:
DWI
Assault Family Member
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated Robbery
Capital Murder
Assault
Sexual Assault
Injury to a Child
The statistics demonstrate that conviction rates vary considerably depending on the offense charged. For example, Capital Murder has the highest conviction rate in this report at 95.2%, while Assault and Assault Family Member cases resulted in acquittals more often than convictions during the period studied.
These statistics are compiled from publicly available Harris County court records and are updated as additional jury trials conclude.
Key Highlights
Capital Murder: 95.2% guilty verdicts
Aggravated Robbery: 84.4% guilty verdicts
DWI: 61.4% guilty verdicts
Sexual Assault: 59.7% guilty verdicts
Aggravated Assault: 59.9% guilty verdicts
Injury to a Child: 53.6% guilty verdicts
Assault Family Member: 59.7% not guilty verdicts
Assault: 65.7% not guilty verdicts
Did You Know? Conviction rates vary significantly by offense. In this data set, Capital Murder produced the highest percentage of guilty verdicts, while Assault and Assault Family Member cases resulted in acquittals more frequently than convictions.
How to Read This Chart: These percentages represent jury trial outcomes only and do not include cases resolved by plea agreement, dismissal, deferred adjudication, or other dispositions. The statistics reflect completed Harris County jury trials tracked by ShowMeTheJustice.com since 2017.
Who Represents Criminal Defendants in Harris County?
Harris County Criminal Defense Representation Statistics (2026)
This report illustrates how criminal defendants in Harris County are represented, comparing privately retained counsel with appointed attorneys, managed assigned counsel (MAC), and the Public Defender’s Office using publicly available case filing data.
Who Represents Criminal Defendants in Harris County?
Using publicly available data from the Harris County District Clerk’s Office, ShowMeTheJustice.com analyzed criminal case filings to determine how defendants are represented in Harris County courts.
As of June 7, 2026, the distribution is:
Appointed Attorneys: 32.8%
Managed Assigned Counsel (MAC): 23.5%
Privately Retained Attorneys: 26.5%
Public Defender’s Office: 17.2%
Combined, approximately 74% of criminal defendants are represented by publicly funded legal counsel, while 26.5% retain private attorneys.
These statistics provide a snapshot of how criminal defense representation is distributed throughout the Harris County criminal justice system.
Did You Know? Nearly three out of every four criminal defendants in Harris County receive representation funded through public resources, including court-appointed attorneys, the Managed Assigned Counsel (MAC) program, or the Public Defender’s Office.
About the Data These statistics are based on publicly available criminal case filing information provided by the Harris County District Clerk’s Office. Percentages reflect the type of legal representation associated with criminal defendants at the time of data collection and provide a snapshot of defense representation across the Harris County criminal court system.
Note: These percentages reflect representation in criminal case filings and should not be interpreted as trial rates, conviction rates, or attorney performance.
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
FOR EXCITING LIVE VIDEOS OF HOUSTON CRIME IN PROGRESS VISIT GRIZZY’S HOOD NEWS AT GRIZZYSHOODNEWS.COM
I interviewed 12 experienced court reporters working the Harris County Criminal Courts and got their “inside information” on how jurors, lawyers and witnesses could improve in trial to make it easier for the court reporter to take down ALL the information required of them for a good record. THESE ARE SOME GREAT TIPS! (Interviews took place in 2019)
Visit ShowMeTheJustice.com for daily Harris County criminal trial results, attorney rankings, verdict statistics, judge leaderboards, and the latest courthouse action.
We had 10 lawyers complete 5 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 5 Guilty Verdicts, 0 Not Guilty Verdicts, 1 In-Trial Dismissal, 0 In-Trial Pleas and 0 Hung Jury/Mistrials.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 25 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
We had 23 lawyers complete 12 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 7 Guilty Verdicts, 3 Not Guilty Verdicts, 0 In-Trial Dismissals, 1 In-Trial Plea and 3 Hung Jury/Mistrials.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 25 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
We had 21 lawyers complete 11 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 7 Guilty Verdicts, 2 Not Guilty Verdicts, 2 In-Trial Dismissals, 1 In-Trial Plea and 3 Hung Jury/Mistrials.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 18 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
We had 20 lawyers complete 11 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 3 Guilty Verdicts, 4 Not Guilty Verdicts, 2 In-Trial Dismissals, 0 In-Trial Pleas and 3 Hung Jury/Mistrials.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 18 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
We had 22 lawyers complete 11 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 6 Guilty Verdicts, 1 Not Guilty Verdict, 2 In-Trial Dismissals, 1 In-Trial Plea and 1 Hung Jury.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 21 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
We had 15 lawyers complete 9 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 5 Guilty Verdicts, 2 Not Guilty Verdicts, 1 In-Trial Dismissal, and 1 In-Trial Plea.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 31 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
We had 15 lawyers complete 8 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 3 Guilty Verdicts, 2 Not Guilty Verdicts, 1 In-Trial Dismissal, 1 In-Trial Plea and 1 Hung Jury.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 19 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
We had 22 lawyers complete 13 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 10 Guilty Verdicts, 4 Not Guilty Verdicts, and 1 In-Trial Plea.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 27 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
We had 19 lawyers complete 12 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 7 Guilty Verdicts, 4 Not Guilty Verdicts, and 1 In-Trial Dismissal.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 17 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
We had 15 lawyers complete 9 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 3 Guilty Verdicts, 4 Not Guilty Verdicts, 1 In-Trial Dismissal, 1 In-Trial Plea and 1 Hung Jury/Mistrial/Other.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 14 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
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!
We had 31 lawyers complete 17 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 10 Guilty Verdicts, 5 Not Guilty Verdicts, 1 In-Trial Dismissal, 2 In-Trial Pleas and 0 Hung Jury/Mistrial/Other.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 23 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
We had 22 lawyers complete 13 trials this week at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse. The results – 7 Guilty Verdicts, 2 Not Guilty Verdicts, 1 In-Trial Dismissal, 2 In-Trial Pleas and 0 Hung Jury/Mistrial/Other.
Congratulations to the trial winners and to the 18 Lawyers below who won their case with a dismissal of charges!
