Democratic incumbent Jaclanel McFarland seeks to be reelected for a fourth term serving Harris County’s 133rd District Court. Former family court judge and Republican challenger Sheri Dean, who also currently serves as a visiting judge, seeks to secure the 133rd as her full-time position.
While it’s not up to the legal community alone who will prevail, a recent poll by the Houston Bar Association indicates that it’s a pretty tight race among Houston lawyers for their pick to serve in the court going forward. According to the poll, McFarland has 627 votes from practitioners, which is only 57 more than Dean. Whether it’s an incumbent or challenger, most the respondents’ candidate choice for the other judicial races included in the poll were overwhelmingly favored over their opponents.
A third of lawyers surveyed for the HBA’s last judicial evaluation poll said McFarland needs improvement in various areas — the top categories being ruling timely and decisively, using attorneys’ time efficiently, following the law and being prepared.
Dean, who served as a judge in Harris County’s 309th family district court from 2010 to 2018, received more favorable ratings the last time she was included on an HBA judicial evaluation poll (2017), with 19% of practitioners wanting to see improvement from Dean, the largest area being using attorneys’ time efficiently.
Before becoming a judge, Dean practiced civil, family and Social Security Disability law. She worked in the insurance business before switching careers and becoming a lawyer. McFarland practiced as a litigator for 31 years before becoming a judge and also practiced as a mediator.
McFarland did not respond to multiple requests for an interview or to fill out a written questionnaire prepared by The Texas Lawbook, but Dean’s answers are below.
Sheri Dean
Q: What led you to practice law?
A: At the age of 34 I decided I needed to make a career change. I had always been interested in the law and wanted a career that was fulfilling to me and helpful to others.
Q: What led you to enter this race?
A: I believe that this court needs a change and improvement. Although the judge of this court and my opponent has been in this court for over 11 years, the bar polls continue to show a need for improvement of almost 34%. I have served as a judge in the 309th District Court for eight years, and I will be ready from Day One to work as a full-time judge in an efficient way.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your career and how your previous experience would help you during your service on the bench.
A: I handled a large docket in the 309th District Court for eight-plus years. Learning to be efficient and consistent with an established work ethic was necessary to serve the public and the bar in a manner that was productive and positive. I have kept my skills as a judge since I continue to serve as a visiting judge for the State of Texas since 2018. Prior to becoming a judge in 2010, I had my own law firm for 18 plus years. I practiced civil, family and Social Security Disability Law. Prior to becoming an attorney, I worked for New York Life Insurance Co. as a Life, Health and Disability Pro agent. I was a first-year commission leader and achieved the Million Dollar Table designation. I worked in my family’s company for 13 years as vice president of marketing and personnel. We had retail stores in eight locations in three states with 48 employees. I believe that my diversified work background will be helpful in serving the public as a judge of this court.
Q: What do you wish you’d been taught in law school that you were not?
A: The process of how to file a case at the courthouse, calendaring and law office management. I was fortunate when I started my practice by knowing how to run a business with a business degree, but the requirements of running a law office are unique.
Q: What are one or two of the most significant cases you have handled as a trial lawyer?
A: Due to my ongoing status as a visiting judge and judicial candidate I cannot answer this question since it would be a violation of the judicial canons to do so.
Q: How often do you practice before the civil courts in Harris County?
A: I have not practiced in civil courts since 2010 due to my status as a judge in the 309th until December 2018 and currently as visiting judge for the State of Texas.
Q: How many cases have you tried before a jury in your career?
A: Between my experience as an attorney and judge over 50.
Q: Have you ever practiced before your opponent? If so, what was good and bad about the experience?
A: No.
Q: What kind of change would you like to see in the courthouse, and what would you do to promote change if elected?
A: To make sure the attorneys and litigants have an opportunity to be heard and know that when a decision is made in their case that we listened and then made a timely impartial decision based on the law and Constitution.
Q: What kind of feedback do you hear from fellow lawyers about your opponent and how would you do a better job?
A: I was asked to run to improve on this court by implementing the following:
- Be a full time judge who makes herself available to hear cases.
- Use my experience and knowledge of the law, both as an attorney and judge, to take care of the litigants.
- Work hard to streamline the process in my court so that attorneys can take care of their cases in an expeditious manner without wasting their time and that of their clients.
- Respect the bar, since I was one of them for 18 years before taking the bench, and recognize how important their time is.
- Be a consistent judge with knowledge and experience to rule on cases based on the law and Constitution.
- Take responsibility for the court seriously and be willing to take the responsibility to preside in a manner that is in accordance with the judicial canons.
I would be honored to serve in the above manner.
Q: What else sets you apart from your opponent?
A: I love the law and honor it by respecting it. I have a work ethic and commitment that will help to accomplish the above requested improvements.
Q: One of the biggest challenges civil courts are facing right now is the backlog of jury trials due to COVID-19. What would you do to combat that challenge?
A: Start trying them now under the current CDC guidelines and Supreme Court orders. We need to hear the jury trials beginning now and safely. The courthouse and courts are essential to the public, and every effort should be made to try cases in a timely manner.
Q: There is a significant problem with (a) jury attendance and (b) jury pool diversity. Less than one in five people summoned to jury service shows up. Those who do show up do not seem to be a representative cross-section of the community. How is this impacting the administration of justice in Texas and what can be done about it?
A: As a former judge of Harris County, I was on the jury committee. We tried to find ways to make it as easy as possible to encourage attendance. They call it jury duty for a reason. The community needs to take responsibility to serve as citizens of the county and state. The process is set up to send out jury summons to all areas and ZIP codes of Harris County, and if people appear when they are summoned, then there would be a cross section of the community. I believe a cross section of the community is important, and without enough jurors appearing for jury duty, there were times we did not have enough jurors to meet the demand for juries. It causes delay and resets. As far as what can be done about it, we should encourage and educate the public about why their appearance is necessary and important, including the fact that when they appear they are helping to provide the desired cross-section to administer justice in the courts.
Q: No matter what you say here, some voters will vote against you simply because they’re straight ticket voters and you’re on the wrong side of their ballot. There is another group of voters who are inclined to do the same, but could be convinced otherwise. What would you say to them? Why should they vote for you even if your political party doesn’t match their values?
A: There is no straight ticket voting this year, and therefore each individual judge should be considered for each race based on their qualifications, experience and commitment to consistently follow the law. I will impartially decide on cases based on the law and Constitution after considering all of the evidence and testimony. I will not make law from the bench, but rather apply the existing law after hearing the case to its conclusion.
Q: Is there anything else you would like voters to know?
A: Please see www.Dean4Judge.com for more about me.
Candidate response may be edited to comply with Texas Lawbook style guidelines.
Publisher’s Note: This coverage of the 2020 judicial elections by The Texas Lawbook is being made available outside our paywall courtesy of Thompson Coburn and Carter Arnett.