Sherine Thomas Unseats Incumbent in Family-Focused 353rd Court, Takes On Backlog

Sherine Thomas won the Democratic primary with more than 56% of the vote (photos courtesy of Sherine Thomas Campaign)

Sherine Thomas is a believer in the American dream, but she didn’t expect to become a judge. When her mother emigrated from India, she came alone, recruited in the early 1970s as the United States struggled with a nursing shortage. She wrote home to her husband and three daughters every night, sometimes crying, sometimes too tired to start over when tears smudged the ink. “A lot of people sacrificed for this,” Thomas told the Chronicle Wednesday.

She said becoming a lawyer, let alone a judge, “wasn’t necessarily the specific plan. But it was the hope that my family had for us, to be able to do great, wonderful things. Little Sherine would not have thought this would be a thing. But I had the wonderful voices of my parents and my family and my sisters saying, 'Yes, you can.’”

Thomas thinks it was both her decades of experience in Travis County’s legal community and her perspective on the justice system’s role that convinced 47,000 Democratic voters (56%) she was the right choice. “The courthouse was a symbol of the promise and potential of this country, and I wanted to make sure that we were living up to that promise and potential for everybody. I think that’s what resonated.”

In her bid for the 353rd Court, which handles family issues including child custody, Thomas was up against incumbent Madeleine Connor and challenger Susana Castillo, a relatively new face in Travis County’s political scene. Castillo’s campaign focused on equal access to the justice system, especially for immigrants.

Connor said she’s grateful to the 12,000 people who voted for her. “I believe that’s a comment on my good work as a judge,” she said. Connor has been a controversial judge, as she was twice deemed a vexatious litigant and, in an unusual move, ran for a different district judge seat (419th) while still in office, which would have left the 353rd open to a Gov. Greg Abbott appointee. Connor said she’s looking forward to serving out the remainder of her term, “with the same judicial curiosity and civility as I’ve demonstrated throughout my tenure. My goal was, and always has been, providing a level playing field to the citizens of this county.” She emphasized that her colleagues are all “kind, smart, and selfless. They all deserve their seats. I’m sure Sherine will fit right in.”

Thomas said she hopes to shadow Judge Connor and other civil court judges before she takes office. Her focus, at first, will be on efficiency and clearing up backlogged cases. She hopes to have the backlog cleared in six months. When her own court is in order, she plans to work with other district judges to expand existing programs that connect people in every court to free legal resources. “I do think we have some great inroads into those conversations, and I can’t do any of that alone,” Thomas said. “But I don’t think the judges that are on the bench right now are going to be hurdles. Rather, they’re gonna be really great teammates figuring out where the pitfalls are so we can overcome them.”

Editor' Note Friday, March 8, 9:48am: This story has been updated to correct that Thomas is one of three sisters, not two. The Chronicle regrets the error.