Harris County TX (Houston) may have the longest ballots in the country. Some 100 judges are elected to 4-year terms, split between presidential and non-presidential years
Judge Steven Kirkland is seeking re-election to the 334th Civil District Court. This is a trial court for major civil cases. He has an opponent in the Democratic primary and will be on the ballot everywhere in the county. A Republican has filed in the other primary.
I am supporting him as a volunteer and I am not a lawyer.
I met Steven Kirkland in 1983 when he was on the campaign staff of a candidate for the Houston City Council. This was before he considered going into law.
He has his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center (1990). Earlier he earned a BA from Rice University (1982).
In 2008 he was elected judge of the 215th Civil District, with the benefit of a Democratic sweep of the county. Presidential candidate Obama just barely won the county. Kirkland had been serving as a Houston municipal judge, 2001-8. During his service as municipal judge he started a court for the homeless. Persons without a home or job often run afoul of the law, such as when they try to use public transportation and are broke. The City is obligated to uphold the laws, but the homeless court can provide ways to work off fines, and provide more humane ways to deal with situations. For this work he received in 2006 the Government Friend of the Homeless Award from the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston.
I attended his investiture early in 2009. When he introduced his life partner, another male, there was applause, especially from leaders of the local Democratic Party. The couple is now married. Let's vote to get marriage equality further entrenched!
The term of office is 4 years and he had a contested primary in 2012. A disgruntled lawyer recruited and financially supported an opponent, who brought up a drunk driving conviction Kirkland had gotten in 1984. He had quit drinking that year, about a year before I quit. He lost the primary, even with endorsements from almost every local Democratic club. I see this as a sign that Democratic clubs need to be influencing more people. Also that more people in the Houston area ought to seek advice from Democratic organizations.
In 2014 he won a contested primary but could not overcome a Republican sweep in the county. The one primary opponent was supported by the same disgruntled lawyer.
After 2012 he served as an assistant City Attorney for Houston. In 2016 he was elected to the 334th District Court, his present position.
One thing I like about him is his liking for clarity. Indeed, he teaches as an adjunct professor in the University of Houston School of Communications.
In the 2019 poll the Houston Bar Association had 63 % of lawyers rate him as excellent or very good.
It costs money to run for any office. Your donations would be most appreciated. When you have donated you can plant links on Facebook and Twitter to ask others to donate also.
You can vote for him if you are registered to vote in Harris County. Early voting will start Feb. 18. Always wise to vote early so you have time to rectify problems. You must be registered, however, at least 30 days prior to Mar. 3.