Commissioners appoint Jermaine Thomas as judge of new Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 5
Loading...
Summary
The court unanimously approved three motions to appoint Associate Judge Jermaine Thomas as judge of the newly created Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 5, direct administrative steps and plan a permanent courtroom space by late November.
Harris County Commissioners Court voted to appoint Associate Judge Jermaine Thomas as the first judge of the newly created Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 5 and directed county departments to complete administrative steps to effectuate the appointment.
Commissioner Briones introduced Judge Thomas and praised his background and commitment to fairness, noting his upbringing in public housing and public schools and years of legal experience. Thomas thanked the court and pledged to serve with "fairness, respect and humility," saying he was “deeply honored and genuinely humbled” by the appointment.
The court approved three related motions: (1) appointment of Jermaine Thomas to Court at Law No. 5 (effective 12/04/2025); (2) direction to the Office of County Administration and Human Resources to complete administrative requirements; and (3) direction to the Office of the County Engineer, in coordination with multiple departments, to finalize a permanent space plan for the new court by 11/25/2025. The motions were seconded and approved by vote of the court.
The appointment follows state legislative authorization for the new court and was accompanied by directions to ensure administrative readiness, personnel onboarding and space planning ahead of the effective date.
