Harris County
Judge, County Probate Court No. 4
James S. Horwitz
Democratic Incumbent- On ballot as
- JAMES S. HORWITZ
- Current role
- Presiding Judge, Harris County Probate Court No. 4 (on the bench since January 1, 2019)
- Background
- Undergraduate and graduate studies, University of Houston
- J.D., University of Houston (1977)
- Founder, Law Offices of James S. Horwitz, P.C. (1977, after law school)
- Experience
- Re-elected November 8, 2022; defeated Will Archer, 51.3% to 48.7%
- Elected November 2018; defeated incumbent Christine Riddle Butts
- Attorney, over 40 years: estate planning, guardianship, probate and mental health matters (per candidate)
- Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): won, 58.5% to 41.5% over Lema Mousilli
- Top priorities
- Says the court works remotely weekly, "allowing individuals with uncontested matters to appear by zoom"
- "Harris County needs steady and experienced hands to navigate the issues of probate today and into the future"
- "I also want to continue to publicize the work that our Court accomplishes throughout Harris County, Texas."
- Tidbits
- Judicial philosophy: No public statement found
- Court administration: Campaign site: "We have held thousands of hearings via Zoom." He says the court "will continue to utilize these systems well into the future"
- Endorsements
- Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation
- Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus
- Bay Area Democratic Movement
- Houston Black American Democrats
- Houston Association of Women Attorneys
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- Houston Chronicle Editorial Board (primary)
- Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, Houston City Council member (listed by campaign)
- Abbie Kamin, former Houston City Council Member (listed by campaign)
- Adrian Garcia, Harris County Commissioner (listed by campaign)
- Martina Cartwright, Attorney, Professor at Thurgood Marshall Law School (listed by campaign)
- Cheryl Cash, Attorney, TSU General Counsel and Professor at Thurgood Marshall Law School (listed by campaign)
- Neal Manne, Managing Attorney for Susman Godfrey Law Firm (listed by campaign)
- Steve Kherker, Managing Attorney for Kherkher Garcia Law Firm (listed by campaign)
- Hon. Judge Christine Butts, Former Judge for Harris County Probate Court # 4 (listed by campaign)
- Hon. Craig Washington, Attorney and Former United States House of Representative member (listed by campaign)
- Annise Parker, former Mayor for the City of Houston (listed by campaign)
- Robin Bass, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 415 (listed by campaign)
- Katherine Mitchum, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0665 (listed by campaign)
- Zafar "Zaf" Tahir, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0444 (listed by campaign)
- Katherine O'Harra, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0214 (listed by campaign)
- William Pesota, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 578 (listed by campaign)
- Elena Diiorio, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 128 (listed by campaign)
- Flora Gill, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 744 (listed by campaign)
- Ray Paige, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0930 (listed by campaign)
- Almeda Dent, Harris County Democratic Precinct Chair # 0275 (listed by campaign)
- West Houston Democrats (listed by campaign)
- Mexican American Bar Association (MBAH) (listed by campaign)
- Area 5 Democrats (listed by campaign)
- The Greater Heights Democratic Club (listed by campaign)
- The Latino Labor Leadership Council of Southeast Texas (listed by campaign)
- Harris County Tejano Democrats (listed by campaign)
- Houston Police Officers Union (listed by campaign)
- Asian American Democratic Club (listed by campaign)
- Campaign website
- reelectjudgehorwitz.com
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