ELLIS COUNTY – As of this writing, it is still undecided if Ellis County is getting a second criminal court.
I know a number of people have been asking me to uncover that answer.
After some jostling, it seems this item was apparently put into (or back into) State Rep. Jeff Leach’s HB2878.
It also seems the “addition” was an unnecessarily bumpy one. And, bumpy for possible reasons that did not require a bump at all.
Further discussion on the 504th District Court with both State Rep. Brian Harrison and new Ellis County Judge John Wray is planned in the week ahead.
This discussion will be to further my ability to share the good news about a new court coming or the bad news if the answer is no.
If no, this might perhaps push the residents of Ellis County to delve into why politics often blocks progress.
Before former Ellis County Judge Todd Little left his seat in mid-May, he discussed the requested second criminal court in Ellis County and said it would be a reality.
From there it seems the court went from a yes, to a no, and now to a maybe.
Keeping in mind the Texas 89th legislative session has been an interesting one – it ends this week.
So, unless this item passes with HB2878 and is signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott now or possibly becomes part of a special session (no word on special sessions as of this writing), the county will be the real loser in this complex issue with quite an elusive answer to date.
Last week, Wray posted on social media he wanted to thank Rep. Leach and Sen. Brian Birdwell for “their efforts to include the new Ellis County 504th District Court in the final version of SB 2878.”
Wray, like many others in Ellis County, sees the 504th District Court as a much needed addition to the Ellis County courts.
Harrison also saw this need when he originally worked with Little to make the 504th District Court a reality during this session.
Wray said, “It will help us manage our ever growing docket of felony criminal cases, which is an unfortunate but unavoidable consequence of rapid population growth.
“This new court is vitally important to ensure you and your family remain safe from crime, and to ensure local judicial resources are sufficient to protect the value of your home and locally owned business.”
During the 86th Legislature in 2019 when Wray was a State Representative, he was at the forefront of creating a new court for Ellis County during that session.
A key player during that creation too was Leach, who serves as chairperson of the Texas House Committee on the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence.
At that time Wray presented the necessary information for the new court to Chairperson Leach and the JCJ Committee, and it was included in HB 2120, the “omnibus”courts bill for the 86th Legislature.
Will this new court be as smooth for approval as it was during the 86th session?
While Wray was commenting on social media about his hopes that Leach will help, one Ellis County resident pointed out it was Leach who pulled it from the 89th session’s Omnibus bill – apparently due to some fancy political maneuvering.
Maneuvering Harrison has pointed out was, “Because I exposed the corrupt leadership of the Texas House, they attempted to harm my constituents by stopping the creation of a desperately needed criminal court, after the senate had passed a bill to create it.”
He posted these comments on social media and added, “Watch me expose their lies, fight back and win. I have worked with the Texas senate and now have assurances this court will be created.”
Also in the political mix is Wray and Harrison fought for the District 10 Ellis County State Rep. seat back in 2021. It was seat that was at one time occupied by Wray.
In 2021, it was a special election runoff to replace former state Rep. Jake Ellzey who sat there for a brief time after Wray did not run.
So, if Wray came in and closed the deal, residents should thank him.
Since Harrison got the ball rolling, he certainly deserves a big thank you, too.
Aren’t the WINS what the state representatives, city council members, county commissioners, judges, and any political leader should be focused on any way?
The wins for the people and the reason the politicians were voted into office in the first place?
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.