El Paso, Texas – The race for County Criminal Court at Law No. 1 judge is heating up as two Democratic candidates vie for the seat. Linda Noelle Estrada and Linda Perez are both seeking to take on the role in the upcoming election. The County Criminal Court at Law No. 1 handles misdemeanor cases related to DWI, family violence, bond forfeitures, burglaries, and prostitution.
Linda Noelle Estrada, 40, currently serves as a criminal law magistrate judge and has a background as a criminal defense attorney. She plans to focus on running an efficient docket, utilizing paperless processes, and implementing Zoom for uncontested hearings. Additionally, she aims to respect the time of potential jurors and limit the length of their service.
Linda Perez, 49, is the incumbent County Criminal Court at Law No. 1 judge. She has inherited an efficient docket and aims to continue running it in a fair and efficient manner. Prior to becoming a judge, Perez worked as an Assistant Attorney General, Assistant County Attorney, Assistant District Attorney, and Deputy Public Defender. She brings over 14 years of experience to the role.
The candidates were asked several questions about their plans for the office and their qualifications. Estrada expressed her intention to propose a specialty court focused on gang intervention, in response to the recent increase in gang-related violence in the community. The program would provide resources such as substance abuse treatment, tattoo removal, mentoring, and education to participants. Perez, on the other hand, highlighted the importance of addressing substance abuse, mental health, and homelessness in the criminal justice system. She aims to establish a court-administered treatment program for misdemeanor offenders.
When it comes to self-imposed term limits, Estrada believes in leaving the decision to the voters. She commits to serving as long as she can efficiently run the docket with fairness and respect. Perez, on the other hand, expresses her willingness to serve as long as the El Paso community allows her.
Both candidates believe they are the best candidate for the position. Estrada emphasizes her extensive experience in criminal law, having worked as a defense attorney for eight years and gaining five years of judicial experience. Perez, on the other hand, highlights her unanimous appointment by the El Paso County Commissioners Court and her varied experience in different roles within the justice system.
The race for the County Criminal Court at Law No. 1 judge promises to be a competitive one, as Linda Noelle Estrada and Linda Perez vie for the opportunity to serve the El Paso community and dispense justice fairly and efficiently. The election will determine who will assume the role and tackle the important misdemeanor cases that come before the court.