Rocky Rules Supreme In Courtroom

Special to Texas Metro News

In the recent Democratic Primary election held on March 1, 2022, voters re-elected me to the 203rd Judicial District Court for a second term. (I am unopposed in the General election on November 8).

Thank you, Dallas County, for entrusting me to continue dispensing justice with the utmost integrity and fairness to both victims and the accused for another four years.

As presiding judge of the 203rd, I am honored and humbled by your vote of confidence in my leadership, and I want to take this opportunity to share highlights and accomplishments from my first term.

CAMPAIGN PROMISES DELIVERED

When I ran for the bench the first time in 2018, I laid out my reasons for running. I told voters I was going to restore accountability and justice to the 203rd Judicial District Court.

I have not only restored those attributes, but I have also returned respectability and dependability to the court’s reputation. I told voters they deserved a judge who has thorough knowledge of the law, honors the laws she is sworn to uphold, and who will not make rulings outside of her judicial authority and I have consistently upheld my campaign promises.

Lastly, I told the citizens of Dallas County, they deserve a judge who will hold people accountable for their actions by examining the root causes of why offenders commit crimes and consider all available options (including community supervision, diversion programs and incarceration) for punishment based on the merits of each case that comes be- fore the court and I am proud to say I achieved that goal through the court’s A.T.L.A.S. Program and newly-founded C.R.O.W.N. Program.

In addition to delivering on the aforementioned campaign promises, I also took action to improve the 203rd’s efficiency. Since taking over the bench on January 1, 2019, I immediately reduced the court’s dispositions and jail population, resulting in taxpayer savings.

In my first year on the bench, I took the 203rd from being ranked #17 of 17 of felony courts, to being ranked in the top 10 most efficient felony courts in Dallas County. In 2019, my court also ranked in the top three courts for most jury trials and most case dispositions. I have also increased community partnerships with Metrocare, Hope Ministries, Care Center Ministries, Men of Nehemiah and other treatment and rehab facilities throughout the county.

I am also a member, along with five other Dallas County judges, of Pipeline to Possibilities, a program committed to educating youth on various aspects of the justice system and inspiring youth to become leaders in society.