Current position: Judge, Harris County Criminal Court at Law #5 since January 1, 2003. Judge Harris is a native Houstonian and a graduate of Lamar High School. She graduated from Newcomb College of Tulane University with a BS in Psychology, in May 1982. Judge Harris then earned her JD degree from the University of Houston Law Center in May of 1986 and was licensed by the State Bar of Texas in November of 1986. Hired by Harris County District Attorney John B. Holmes as a prosecutor in 1986, she worked for that office until December 31, 2002, having been promoted to Felony Chief Prosecutor in December of 1991.While on the bench, the Judge participated extensively in a committee which created the mental health courts and another committee which addressed domestic violence issues from a religious and educational perspective. Judge Harris also presides over a DWI court caseload and has focused upon cases involving youthful offenders with great efforts to rehabilitate and divert these offenders from the criminal justice system.
Judge Harris has been married since 1991 to husband Alan, a police lieutenant, and they have two high school-aged sons. The Harris family attends St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Community, where Judge Harris is currently a leader in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word program and a former teacher in the Children’s Church program. Judge Harris has also been an active volunteer for years in her children’s schools and extracurricular activities.