Hi, I’m Dennis Slate, a Houston-area lawyer and Municipal Judge. I’m running for County Criminal Court at Law #13 in November, 2010. Thanks for visiting my site, and thanks in advance for your support.

Why am I running?

Public service has been something I have taken great pride in since I enlisted in the Army at age 18. I have continued my service to this Country for over 17 years, even being activated in support of the Global War on Terror. I also currently serve the citizens of Houston and Pearland as a Municipal Judge. I feel that at this point in my career I have practiced law long enough to have the appropriate perspective and experience to make me a Judge that can listen and evaluate each case on its individual merits.

I have learned from hearing cases in my current courts that, to each person that has been charged with an offense, their case is the most important one in the world, and I must give it my full attention. I do not believe this is being done at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse under the current slate of judges. Too often persons charged with offenses and also victims of these offenses are subjected to random and poorly thought out policies. These policies in the misdemeanor courts are resulting in many of the problems we are seeing in jail overcrowding and defendant recidivism. I would like to help get the Harris County Criminal Courts back to focusing on each individual case to ensure that justice is done for both victims and the accused. 

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On January 7th, 2010, during a meeting of the Harris County Democratic Party Executive Committee, drawings for

placement on the ballot were held.  Prior to this night, as I told countless other participants at the event, I had never won any kind of drawing, that I had ever participated in, not even white elephant drawing at holiday parties.  I was not expecting my luck to change.  I was allowed to draw from the basket since I had filed for the bench first.

And much to my surprise(and delight) I pulled the #1 chip out.  So as you are going down your rather lengthy ballot in March, when you get to County Criminal Court #13, pick the first name you see; Dennis Slate.

I have been told that a first ballot placement is a good thing, and that it can result in a +5% vote total in longer ballots.  With this election in Harris County being the longest ballot in the history of the United States, I’ll take whatever advantage the placement gives me.

Dennis