1. Who are you, and what are you running for?
Judge Roberta Lloyd, Harris County Civil Court-at-Law No. 4.
2. What kind of cases does this court hear?
We hear a general civil docket – car wrecks, lots of debt collections and quite a few contract disputes. Someone has to be seeking at least $500 but not more than $100,000 to file in our courts. We serve as the appellate court for the Justice of the Peace courts. That includes a lot of forcible detainer/eviction appeals from those courts. The County Civil Courts also have exclusive jurisdiction over condemnation cases. Also, we are able to determine possession of property, which has lead to lots of cases dealing with mortgage foreclosures because while mortgages are usually above $100,000 — and thus up in the District Courts — they can’t determine who has superior right to possession. That falls to our courts. We also hear tow appeals and toll road appeals.
3. Why are you running for this particular bench?
I’m running because I was raised to believe that you give back to your community. I’ve lived in Texas for about 20 years and Harris County has been wonderful to me. I’ve spent my life as a public servant and I can think of no better way to use my time and talents. I feel passionately about protecting the rule of law, the rights of those engaged in litigation and small businessmen and women.
4. What are your qualifications for this job?
I have served as the judge in this court since being unanimously appointed by Commissioners Court in 2004. I ran unopposed in the 2006 election and, since taking the bench, I have worked to uphold the law and serve the people of Harris County to the best of my abilities and experience. In the six years I have been a judge, I have presided over more than 230 jury trials to verdict and disposed of more than 35,000 cases. I also brought 24 years of experience to the bench.
I received a B.S. from Florida State University in Finance; my J.D. from Stetson University College of Law and my L.L.M. in Taxation from the University of Miami (Fla). I was an Assistant State Attorney in Florida, after some time in private practice. I see both sides of all cases. I also served as Assistant General Counsel, University of Florida in Tampa, and as a professor at Flagler College.
But I’m most proud of my time at the Harris County Attorney’s Office from 1991 until 2004. I was ultimately named Chief of the Community Protection Division. Through the years, I have been in every neighborhood of Harris County protecting the rights of citizens to live peacefully in their homes. From public nuisance abatements to consumer protection actions to animal cruelty seizures, I have always done my best to protect neighborhoods. In fact, my work in animal cruelty resulted in my appearing weekly on the TV show “Animal Cops – Houston” for three years.
5. Why is this race important?
This race is vital because the cases heard in these courts are important. You might not hear about them on the news but they touch the lives of men and women trying to get by every day. They touch the lives of the small businessman trying to make it. These courts are where bread-and-butter law is practiced. These matters are too important to be allowed to rest in the hands of someone who cannot handle the job.
6. Why should people vote for you in November?
I’m asking people to vote for me because I have the experience and character to do this job and do it right. I don’t mince words. I’ll always tell you what I think. I’m not a politician. I’m a judge, and that means something. It means you protect the law and the people and, again, I can’t think of a better way to serve.
Website: JudgeLloyd.com
Facebook: Judge Lloyd
