Democrat Linda Marie Dunson is seeking re-election as judge of the 309th Family District Court in Harris County, a bench she has held since January 2019.
Dunson faces Republican Melissa Fertel in the Nov. 3 general election. The 309th court handles family law and child-protection cases.
"I believe public service is both a privilege and a responsibility," Dunson said in her response to a Surround Sound News questionnaire, explaining why she is seeking re-election.
Candidate information
- Office sought: Judge, 309th Family District Court
- Party: Democratic
- Education: Bachelor of Science in psychology and sociology, University of Houston (1997), magna cum laude; Juris Doctor, Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law (2001), magna cum laude; LL.M. in Taxation, University of Houston (2009)
- Family: Single, no children
- Endorsements: AFL-CIO; Harris County Democratic Party; Houston Black American Democrats; Greater Heights Democratic Club
- Recognition: President of the Year, National Bar Association
- Memberships: Burta Rhoads Raborn Inns of Court, National Association of Counsels for Children, Association of Women Judges, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, National Judicial College
Experience and public service
Before taking the bench, Dunson said, she practiced primarily family law through the Law Offices of Linda M. Dunson. Her background also includes work as an associate attorney for civil-rights attorney Alvin O. Chambliss, as director of legal programs for the NAACP Houston Branch and as chief operating officer and general counsel for Global Ports Solutions.
She led the Houston Lawyers Association as president. She was first elected to the 309th bench in 2018 and took office Jan. 1, 2019. It is her first elected public office, she said.
During her tenure, Dunson said she has presided over thousands of bench trials and more than 20 jury trials to verdict. She also established an Annual Family Reunification Celebration at the court, recognizing families who have navigated the child welfare system and reunited with their children.
Dunson is a co-author of "100 Successful Lawyers" with Evangeline Mitchell and is a licensed U.S. customs broker. She sits on boards including the Thurgood Marshall School of Law alumni board, Youth Outdoor Unity, Stay Recruited and Family Roots for Life.
On the issues
Judicial philosophy: Dunson said she approaches cases with "careful attention to the law, the evidence, and the individual circumstances before me," in a Q&A with Off the Kuff.
Trauma-informed practices: The 309th District Court was selected as one of six Trauma-Informed Pilot Courts in Texas by the Texas Children's Commission in conjunction with the Texas Alliance for Child and Family Services, according to Dunson's campaign website. Dunson said she participates in the Equity Workgroup, Capacity Workgroup and Trauma Informed Workgroup, which aim to analyze, recognize and minimize disparities in minority families affected by the child protective services system.
Campaign priorities: Dunson said her priorities include strengthening trauma-informed practices, improving outcomes for children and families, reducing unnecessary delays, expanding collaboration with attorneys, agencies and community partners, and improving access to justice.
Qualifications: Dunson cited her nearly eight years of judicial experience as a key distinction from other candidates. She said she has presided over thousands of bench trials and many jury trials, and that the court has implemented trauma-informed practices during her tenure. Describing advice she follows as a judge, Dunson said in her questionnaire response, "Behind every case number is a person, a family, and often a child whose life may be significantly affected by the decisions made in my courtroom."
