1. Who are you, and what are you running for?
Jeff Williams. I am running for Justice of the Peace, Pct 5/2 where Judge Yeoman is retiring.
2. What kind of cases does this court hear?
It has exclusive jurisdiction of eviction cases; it holds small claims court cases up to $10,000 in controversy; it handles traffic tickets issued by the constable; minor criminal offenses (misdemeanors) not punishable by incarceration and truancy/tobacco abuse by minors. It is an important court.
3. Why are you running for this particular bench?
Many reasons. I have been an attorney for 28 years studying and working in the law; it’s been my life. Becoming a Judge is a natural progression of my experience. Further, as an attorney, I enjoy solving folks legal problems. People have been calling me for decades about contracts, landlord tenant issues, auto accidents, consumer problems and the like. I derive great satisfaction when my clients are so thankful that I’ve helped them with a major problem in their life. As a judge, I can take that to the next level in seeking a fair outcome instead of just advocating the side of one litigant. Further, as an attorney, I’ve been to too many JP courts where the person on the bench had no legal background and took way too long trying to determine what the legal issue was and the law that controlled, and often made a ruling totally outside the law, causing the matter to have to be appealed to the county court for a new trial at tax payer and my clients expense. When I heard Judge Yeoman was retiring and that no other attorney was running, I decided I should run.
4. What are your qualifications for this job?
Firstly, the good common sense and fairness I have developed in working with everyday folks on everyday legal problems. I’m 54 years old, I’ve had a lot of life’s experiences; I work with many boys in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts (I’m an assistant Scoutmaster and past cub scout committee chairman); I volunteer as a JAG officer for the Texas State Guard; I’ve been happily married for 24 years; I have two sons (9 and 16) now in scouts and HISD public schools.
And of course, there’s my legal background. While the law does not require a JP to have gone to 3 years of law school and sat for and passed the Bar exams; it sure helps. It just makes me that much better equipped to handle all the problems that come before the court. And having done this for 28 years is a great teacher. Think of any job you’ve ever done for 10 years or more; think of your skills when you first started and compare them to your abilities after doing it for 10 years – are you better at it now than you were then? Of course! Have you learned some ‘tricks of the trade’ they never taught you in school? You bet! I bring that all to the table. My opponents have none of that experience. I am the best qualified and most experienced for this job.
5. Why is this race important?
Wow, so many reasons! JP 5 is no sleepy little rural court; it is the busiest court in the entire state! It’s not a place for amateurs to learn on the job. 30 years ago when Judge Yeoman took the bench, the powers and authority were much less than they are now. The case load has increased to 100,000 new filings annually; the amount in controversy jurisdiction has ballooned from $150 to $10,000! When someone inexperienced gets on the bench, the cases crawl until they learn the ropes after a few years. Inappropriate decisions are made from the bench that result in injustice and necessitate appeals resulting in more cost to the litigant and the taxpayer. Truancy’s are held here; I’m the dad of two young boys and have worked with young boys in cub and boy scouting for 8 or so years now. I am even tempered and can work with these troubled youths to get them back in school. Traffic tickets come through this court. I respect the traffic laws and I do not have a history of receiving a lot of traffic tickets.
6. Why should people vote for you in the primary?
With my legal training, years of law practice and years of life experience with kids, scouts, volunteerism and respect for justice and the law, I am simply the best qualified for the job, and the folks going to court are entitled to the best qualified person on the bench.
7. Why did you choose to run in the Republican Primary versus the Democratic Primary?
I have always been a conservative. I believe in freedom and as little government involvement in people’s lives as is possible. I want folks to be able to earn and keep their money and have to be taxed as little as possible. Those are core conservative values of which I have always adhered.
Website: votejeffwilliams.com
Facebook: Jeff Williams
