Paula Goodhart grew up influenced by the conservative values of a strong law enforcement family. Her father was a Pasadena Police officer before he joined the United States Border Patrol where he actively enforced our borders in Texas and California. He ultimately retired from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Her brother, uncle and cousin also had careers in law enforcement. Paula carried on the family tradition of respect and commitment to public service and pursued a career as a prosecutor, a private practitioner and now as a judicial candidate for Harris County Criminal Court at Law #1.Paula attended public schools in the Pasadena School District. She attended the University of Texas where she graduated Cum Laude with Liberal Arts Honors. While attending U.T., Paula spent the summer months in Buenos Aires Argentina where she advanced her Spanish-speaking skills. After graduation from U.T., Paula attended the University of Houston Law Center where she served as the Vice President of the Student Bar Association and Chief Prosecutor of the Honor Court. While in law school, Paula worked as an intern at the Harris County District Attorney's office starting in the check fraud division then in the Grand Jury division.
In 1993, Harris County DA Johnny Holmes hired Paula as an Assistant District Attorney where she served the victims of this county for nearly 14 years. While at the Harris County District Attorney's Office Paula was a chief prosecutor working in the County Criminal Courts at Law, the Family Criminal Law Division, the Felony Trial Bureau, the Public Integrity Division and the Major Offender Division of the Special Crimes Bureau. While in the Major Offenders Division, Paula assisted law enforcement agencies across the State in the apprehension and prosecution of the most violent and sought after criminals. One such case involved a cooperative effort between the District Attorney's Office and the F.B.I. where Paula tried an individual for aggravated sexual assault of a child associated with domestic human trafficking. That defendant brought a 14-year-old to Texas from Florida and forced her to prostitute herself repeatedly on the streets of our community for his financial gain. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. In addition, Paula taught Criminal Law at the Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff's Department, the Pasadena Police Department, the Houston Fire Department and Harris County Fire Marshall's Office.
Paula also worked hand in hand with police officers who targeted online criminals who exploited children and collected child pornography. For her efforts, Paula was awarded the Victim Witness Program Award for Outstanding Service on Behalf of Crime Victims, commended by the F.B.I. for exceptional service in the public interest and by the Director of the T.S.A.
During her career as a prosecutor, Paula handled thousands of criminal cases, tried over 100 jury trials including aggravated robberies and capital murders to name a few. In 2007, Paula left her career as a prosecutor to broaden her legal experience and pursue a private practice in criminal law. Paula is an active volunteer at her children’s school. Paula is married to Craig Goodhart and they have four children.
Paula is proud to be endorsed in this campaign for Judge of Harris County Criminal Court-at-Law #1 by the following: Latino Peace Officers Association, the Coalition of Pasadena Police, the Pasadena Police Officer's Union, the Fraternal Order of Border Agents and the Association of Former Federal Narcotics Agents.