Cheryl Elliot Thornton

What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?

I am first and foremost a public servant. As a public servant I have served my greater community by serving as Senior Assistant County Attorney for Harris County, Assistant Attorney General IV for the State of Texas, Administrative Law Judge for two State agencies and ultimately as the Presiding Judge of the 164th Civil District Court. Each of these experiences have trained me how to be a good judge for the people of Harris County and have enhanced the qualities of fairness and equanimity

What will you do to promote the just, prompt, and affordable resolution of civil cases that come before your court?

As the current Presiding Judge of the 164th Civil District Court, I employ the practice of addressing the older cases as expeditiously as possible. When I first assumed the bench my oldest case dated 2009. Now, my oldest is 2018. These cases are expedited such that the billable hours can b addressed and that each party can get their case before the bench. If amenable, or in some cases necessary, mediation will be ordered if it appears to be the best, affordable and expeditious method.

What will you do to ensure that cases before your court are heard in a timely manner?

I will continue to address the backlog I inherited by expeditiously addressing cases, preferably older cases first, while still addressing new cases that can quickly be resolved. I have implemented with my court a faster track submission docket as well as oral hearing docket.