On Tuesday, Pct. 5 Place 1 Justice of the Peace Court saw a staggering 759 eviction cases scheduled for the day—a sharp increase that is pushing the limits of the court system and leaving many tenants in precarious situations.
MORE INFO: Tenants wait in freezing temperatures as eviction backlog overwhelms Harris County
For tenants like those seen waiting outside the courthouse, the experience is one of uncertainty and frustration.
“It’s freezing out here, it’s literally below 30 degrees, and no one is trying to accommodate us or help us,” one tenant shared, underscoring the harsh conditions faced by those involved in eviction proceedings.
The volume of cases has significantly impacted the ability of judges to manage the docket effectively.
“In the past, we considered a docket with over 400 cases to be a ‘mega docket,’” Lone Star Legal Aid Attorney, Dana Karni, said.
“What we saw yesterday was a single day with more than 700 eviction cases set for hearing, an unprecedented level of cases in one day,” Karni said.
This surge comes as new judges, inheriting backlogged cases from their predecessors, are now tasked with an already overwhelming workload. One newly appointed judge at Pct. 5 Place 1 is grappling with hundreds of cases that were transferred from the previous court leadership. As a result, the pace of hearings has slowed, leaving tenants to navigate a complex and often confusing legal process.
In contrast, a Justice of the Peace from Pct. 1, where fewer eviction cases are processed, has drawn attention for his proactive approach to the crisis.
“That’s not access to justice; it’s the opposite,” said Justice of the Peace, Steve Duble, who noted that his court has benefited from a grant he and his staff applied for, helping to reduce the burden of the backlog and ensuring more timely hearings.
“I credit Judge Lombardi for at least coming forward and apologizing, then resetting a number of cases,” the judge added, referencing his colleague’s predicament.
With eviction filings continuing to rise, tenants and court officials alike are calling for systemic changes to address the root causes of the crisis. As winter weather sets in and the court system struggles to keep pace, the challenges facing Harris County residents show no signs of easing, leaving many in limbo as they wait for their day in court.
