Ashley Mayes Guice, a Democrat, is running for a full term as Harris County Criminal Court-at-Law judge for Court 12 in the Nov. 3 general election. She faces Republican Anna Emmons.

Asked why she is seeking the office, Guice said in our candidate questionnaire: "I consider it an honor and a privilege to serve as the Judge of County Criminal Court 12. In this role I follow the law and use it to try and make a difference in the lives of those who come before me." She added, "I work to hold individuals accountable for posing any threat or harm to our community. But I also value the importance of creating second chances for individuals who accept responsibility for wrongdoing and demonstrate a commitment to turning their lives or behavior around."

Candidate information

Party: "Although the law knows no party, I am the incumbent Democratic candidate," Guice said in our questionnaire.

Education: "I received my BSM in Business Management and Legal Studies in Business in May 2025 from Tulane University. I received my Juris Doctor and a Diploma in Comparative Law from Louisiana State University's Law Center in May 2011," Guice said in our questionnaire.

Family: "I am the daughter of the late James Mayes, Jr. and Diane Mayes. I am married to Jonathan Guice, an Army Vet who presently works for the Department of Veteran Affairs. We are the proud parents of one son (8) and one daughter (6)," Guice said in our questionnaire.

Family in politics or government: "No," Guice said in our questionnaire.

Experience and public service

Occupation and work history: "I have practiced criminal law for 15 years. I started as a private criminal defense attorney. I went on to serve as a prosecutor in the Harris County DA's Office for over six years. I then went to work as an Assistant Public Defender in the Harris County PD's Office Felony Trial Division and remained there until I was first appointed as Judge of County Criminal Court #3 for a limited term," Guice said in our questionnaire. She continued: "In 2025 I accepted the Misdemeanor Division Chief position in DA Sean Teare's administration. I remained there until July 2025, when I was once again appointed to a vacant bench in Harris County Criminal Court at Law #12 where I currently preside and hope to preside for many more years to come!"

Previous elected or appointed office: "Previously appointed to preside as Judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law #3 from February 2022 to December 2022. I served out the remainder of another judge's term after she was appointed to a federal bench," Guice said in our questionnaire.

Accomplishments: "My colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, voted to make me the Presiding Judge over the 16 county criminal courts … I am currently in my second term of this role," Guice said in our questionnaire. She also said, "From prosecutor to defense attorney to staff attorney to judge, I have worked in EVERY role a lawyer can hold in the Criminal Justice Center and that has shaped my judicial philosophy."

On the issues

Critical differences from opponent: "My opponent has spent most of her career as a prosecutor. She has been a prosecutor in Montgomery and Liberty County over the past 7 years. Criminal justice in Harris County has evolved since she last practiced here," Guice said in our questionnaire. She added, "I am intimately familiar with the changes in misdemeanor bail policies that has curbed the mounting jail population and saved taxpayers millions of dollars … There is no learning curve for me. I am ready DAY ONE to continue doing a great job in Court 12."

Endorsements, according to BallotReady profile data: AFL-CIO, Greater Heights Democratic Club, Harris County Democratic Party and Houston Black American Democrats.

The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.