Judge Stone Wins Election!
Judge Stone: Probate Court 1
On November 4, Judge Kathy Stone received more than 52.4% of the votes in Harris County, winning by the largest margin of any judicial candidate or incumbent seeking a county or district court bench. Judge Stone was sworn in on Wednesday, November 26, at 12:00 noon as Judge of Probate Court 1. She is the first, of a large number of Democrats to be elected to judicial office in Harris County, to be sworn in. As such, the ceremonial courtroom on the top floor of the Civil Court House in downtown Houston was full to overflow capacity, wit dozens forced to stand in the aisles. This event was rich in both symbolism and substance. “Probate courts hear more than just the probate of wills, will contests, and guardianships. Judges in Probate Court also preside over complex personal injury cases resulting in death or incapacity requiring a guardianship. Even issues most often heard in Family District Court or Civil District can end up in Probate court in certain circumstances. For these reasons, a Probate Court Judge must have a familiarity with many aspects of the law.”
Senior Parner Shelly Sanford with Judge Stone at Reception in the Judge
Judge Stone has nearly 18 years of judicial experience, and the “breadth of experience, the depth of knowledge, and the strength of character to be an effective Probate Judge,” says her campaign chief. She served twice on the 55th Civil District Court, serving from 1991 to 1998. Since then, she has presided over cases as Senior Judge Sitting by Assignment in the Civil, Criminal, and Family District Courts, County Courts-at-Law, and Justice Courts in Harris and surrounding counties. “I have tried nearly every type of case” Judge Stone told the audience attending her swearing–in ceremony. Judge Stone graduated from South Texas College of Law in 1979 and was Assistant Editor-in-Chief of the Law Journal and competed in Moot Court. She has also been named “Woman of Excellence” by the Federation of Professional Women.