County requests new district court from Texas Legislature

Ellis County, TX – At their regular meeting on February 4th, the Ellis County Commissioners’ Court unanimously approved a resolution requesting the Texas Legislature to create a new judicial district court for Ellis County. Addressed to Senators Bob Hall and Brian Birdwell, as well as District 10 Representative Brian Harrison, the resolution outlines the need for a new district court of general jurisdiction in Ellis County.

“…The existing judges of Ellis County work diligently to handle thousands of cases each year that affect the lives and property of the citizens of Ellis County,” reads the resolution, “yet all recognize that the Ellis County judicial system is moving toward its maximum capacity.”

“We’ve been having to use ARPA funds to recover from our backlog of cases ever since the state suspended judicial operations during COVID,” said County Judge Todd Little. “While our current judges have gone above and beyond to administer justice as efficiently as possible, we also recognize that the demand for trials is only going to increase with our growing population.”

In a separate letter of support for the new court, the existing Ellis County district and county court at law judges wrote that they were “ever mindful of the truism…that ‘justice delayed is justice denied.’” Because Ellis County has been cited as the eighth-fastest growing county in the United States, “the need for the new court exists now, and will to continue to increase,” they wrote.

“We are asking our legislative representatives to fund the new district judge position and authorize a court of general jurisdiction,” said Little. “All other resources will be funded by our local county revenue.”