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Every criminal court in Harris County sits in one building: the Harris County Criminal Justice Center, 1201 Franklin Street, Houston, TX 77002. The sixteen misdemeanor County Criminal Courts at Law occupy floors 8 through 11, and the felony district courts occupy floors 13 through 20. The District Attorney's Office, the criminal sections of the District Clerk, and the jail tunnel are all in or attached to the same building. Our office at 310 Main, Suite 201 is a two-block walk away, and Brian Foley and Luis Baez spent years as prosecutors in these courtrooms.

Click any court below for the judge, floor, phone number, court coordinator, court reporter, and what to expect at your first setting.

County Criminal Courts at Law (Misdemeanors)

CourtJudgeFloorPhone
CCL No. 1Judge Alex Salgado8th Floor(832) 927-3100
CCL No. 2Judge Paula Goodhart8th Floor(832) 927-3125
CCL No. 3Judge Leslie R. Johnson8th Floor(832) 927-3150
CCL No. 4Judge Shannon Baldwin8th Floor(832) 927-3175
CCL No. 5Judge David M. Fleischer9th Floor(832) 927-3200
CCL No. 6Judge Kelley Andrews9th Floor(832) 927-3225
CCL No. 7Judge Andrew Wright9th Floor(832) 927-3250
CCL No. 8Judge Erika Ramirez9th Floor(832) 927-3288
CCL No. 9Judge Toria J. Finch10th Floor(832) 927-3300
CCL No. 10Judge Juanita Jackson10th Floor(832) 927-3325
CCL No. 11Judge Sedrick T. Walker II10th Floor(832) 927-3350
CCL No. 12Judge Genesis Draper10th Floor(832) 927-3375
CCL No. 13Judge Raul Rodriguez11th Floor(832) 927-3400
CCL No. 14Judge Jessica N. Padilla11th Floor(832) 927-3425
CCL No. 15Judge Tonya Jones11th Floor(832) 927-3450
CCL No. 16Judge Linda Garcia11th Floor(832) 927-3475

Felony District Courts

CourtJudgeFloorPhone
174th District CourtJudge Hazel B. Jones19th Floor(832) 927-4200
176th District CourtJudge Nikita V. Harmon19th Floor(832) 927-4225
177th District CourtJudge Emily Muñoz Detoto19th Floor(832) 927-4250
178th District CourtJudge Kelli Johnson19th Floor(832) 927-4275
179th District CourtJudge Ana Martinez18th Floor(832) 927-4100
180th District CourtJudge Tami Pierce18th Floor(832) 927-4125
182nd District CourtJudge Danilo Lacayo18th Floor(832) 927-4150
183rd District CourtJudge Lance G. Long18th Floor(832) 927-4175
184th District CourtJudge Katherine N. Thomas17th Floor(832) 927-3900
185th District CourtJudge Andrea Beall17th Floor(832) 927-3925
208th District CourtJudge Beverly D. Armstrong17th Floor(832) 927-3950
209th District CourtJudge Brian E. Warren17th Floor(832) 927-3975
228th District CourtJudge Caroline S. Dozier16th Floor(832) 927-3800
230th District CourtJudge Chris Morton16th Floor(832) 927-3825
232nd District CourtJudge Josh Hill16th Floor(832) 927-3850
248th District CourtJudge Hilary Unger16th Floor(832) 927-3875
262nd District CourtJudge Lori Chambers Gray15th Floor(832) 927-3700
263rd District CourtJudge Melissa M. Morris15th Floor(832) 927-3725
337th District CourtJudge Colleen Gaido15th Floor(832) 927-3750
338th District CourtJudge Michele S. Oncken15th Floor(832) 927-3776
339th District CourtJudge Te'iva J. Bell14th Floor(832) 927-3650
351st District CourtJudge Natalia "Nata" Cornelio14th Floor(832) 927-3680
482nd District CourtJudge Veronica M. Nelson14th Floor(832) 927-4040
486th District CourtJudge Vanessa Velasquez14th Floor(832) 927-8585
487th District CourtJudge Stacy Allen Barrow13th Floor(832) 927-8600
488th District CourtJudge Matthew Peneguy20th Floor(832) 927-8615
495th District CourtJudge Lori DeAngelo13th Floor(832) 927-8630
496th District CourtJudge Dan Simons13th Floor(832) 927-8645
497th District CourtJudge Peyton Peebles13th Floor(832) 927-8660

Associate Judges (20th Floor)

Harris County's felony associate judges handle magistration, bond hearings, and other dockets assigned by the district judges on the 20th floor of the Criminal Justice Center. Main line: (832) 927-8160. Associate Judge 1 Jessica Estrada, Associate Judge 2 Gavin Ellis, Associate Judge 3 Ike Okorafor, Associate Judge 4 Courtney St. Julian, Associate Judge 5 Sherlene Cruz, and Associate Judge 6 Lydia Clay-Jackson.

Going to Court in Harris County

Arrive at least 30 to 45 minutes before your docket time. The security line at the Franklin Street entrance and the elevators are slow on busy mornings, and being late can result in a bond forfeiture. Dress as you would for a job interview, leave weapons and pocket knives at home, and do not discuss your case in the hallways or elevators — prosecutors, officers, and witnesses ride the same elevators you do.

Judges cannot talk to you about your case. Canon 3, Section B(8) of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits ex parte communications, so do not write to the judge or try to explain your side to court staff. Have your attorney handle every contact with the court and the prosecutor.

Charged with a Case in Harris County?

Call or text (713) 703-1718 for a free, confidential consultation. We will tell you which court you are in, who the judge is, and exactly what will happen at your first setting.

Frequently Asked Questions


Where are the Harris County criminal courts?
All Harris County criminal courts sit in the Harris County Criminal Justice Center at 1201 Franklin Street, Houston, TX 77002. The sixteen misdemeanor County Criminal Courts at Law are on floors 8 through 11 and the felony district courts are on floors 13 through 20.
How do I find out which court my case is in?
Your bond paperwork or release papers list the court number. You can also search by name on the Harris County District Clerk's website. If you cannot find it, call us at (713) 703-1718 and we will look it up for you.
What is the difference between a County Criminal Court at Law and a District Court?
County Criminal Courts at Law hear Class A and Class B misdemeanors — DWI first offense, possession of marijuana, theft under $2,500, assault family member. District courts hear felonies — everything from a state jail felony to capital murder.
Can I call the judge about my case?
No. The Texas Code of Judicial Conduct prohibits a judge from discussing a pending case with one side outside the presence of the other. The court coordinator can confirm a court date, but anything about the facts of your case should go through your attorney.

Speak With a Houston Criminal Defense Attorney Today


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