Judicial Q&A: Judge Mike Wood

1. Who are you, and what are you running for?

I am Mike Wood, and I am running for re-election as Judge of Harris County Probate Court No. 2.

2. What kind of cases does this court hear?

This court hears probate and guardianship cases, the vast majority of which are uncontested. The court also hears contested will probates, contested guardianships, and suits brought by or against decedent’s estate administrators or executors or guardians for personal injury or death.

3. Why are you running for this particular bench?

I was appointed to this bench by Harris County Commissioners’ Court in August of 1993. I am running for re-election for the fifth time.

4. What are your qualifications for this job?

I am a graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law. I have admitted almost 30,000 wills to probate and created 3,400 guardianships in my time on the bench. Last year, I signed over 12,900 orders in the cases pending in my court.

5. Why is this race important?

You may be successful in love, and stay out of family court, a careful driver and business person, and stay out of civil court, and not commit a crime, and stay out of criminal court. But, eventually, everybody comes to probate court – it may be your family seeking a guardian for you, or your beneficiaries seeking to have your will admitted to probate. Who the judge is determines how you are treated by the staff and the court.

6. Why should people vote for you in November?

I have made several innovative changes in my court. The court has a database that allows the public to find out the status of pending cases online. In my court, letters testamentary and letters of administration can be prepared in advance and delivered to the appointee in the courtroom. I am holding uncontested probate hearings in justice of the peace courtrooms in Pasadena, on Wallisville Road, on Clay Road in West Houston and in Humble. My staff always personally answers the phone in my court.