Brazoria County judges sit on four different benches: five district courts handle felonies and larger civil cases, four county courts at law handle misdemeanors and probate, eight justices of the peace handle small claims and minor offenses across four precincts, and the County Judge runs county government from the Commissioners Court. Every one of them is elected in a partisan race and serves a four-year term.
The County Judge
L.M. “Matt” Sebesta, Jr. holds the office of County Judge.1Brazoria County, TX. County Judge The title is misleading if you’re expecting a courtroom. The County Judge presides over the Commissioners Court, which sets the county budget, establishes tax rates, and manages county operations. The office does carry judicial authority over a narrow set of matters, including mental health commitments and alcohol beverage permits, but the litigation most residents think of runs through the courts below.
District Court Judges
The five district courts hold original jurisdiction over all felony criminal cases and civil lawsuits where the amount in dispute exceeds $500.2State of Texas. Texas Government Code 24.007 – Jurisdiction That covers murders, sexual assaults, drug trafficking, high-value contract disputes, and family law matters including divorces, child custody, and termination of parental rights.
The sitting district court judges are:3The Texas Office of Court Administration. Court Activity Reporting and Directory System
- 149th District Court: Judge Jessica J. Pulcher
- 239th District Court: Judge Greg Hill
- 300th District Court: Judge Chad Dwayne Bradshaw
- 412th District Court: Judge Justin R. Gilbert
- 461st District Court: Judge Joe (Patrick) Bulanek Jr.
Felony sentences these judges impose fall into ranges set by statute: 180 days in a state jail facility at the lowest end, two to ten years for third-degree felonies, two to twenty years for second-degree felonies, and up to life for first-degree offenses like murder or aggravated sexual assault. Within whatever range applies, the judge has broad sentencing discretion.
County Courts at Law Judges
The four county courts at law handle Class A and Class B misdemeanors, probate matters like wills and guardianships, and civil disputes within their statutory jurisdiction. A Class A misdemeanor can carry up to one year in county jail and a $4,000 fine; a Class B carries up to 180 days and a $2,000 fine. These are the courts where DWI cases, assault charges, theft below the felony threshold, appeals from justice court, and landlord-tenant fights above the JP limit end up.
The sitting judges are:4Brazoria County, TX. Brazoria County Staff Directory
- County Court at Law No. 1: Judge Courtney Gilbert
- County Court at Law No. 2: Judge Thomas Pfeiffer
- County Court at Law No. 3: Judge Jeremy Warren
- County Court at Law No. 4: Judge Lori Rickert
Justices of the Peace
Eight justices of the peace serve Brazoria County, two per precinct across four precincts. JP courts handle Class C misdemeanors, which are fine-only offenses like minor traffic violations, public intoxication, and small-dollar theft. They also hear small claims cases up to $20,000 and all eviction proceedings within their precinct boundaries.5State of Texas. Texas Government Code 27.031 – Jurisdiction
The current justices of the peace are:4Brazoria County, TX. Brazoria County Staff Directory
- Precinct 1, Place 1: Judge Jack Brown
- Precinct 1, Place 2: Judge Robin Rape
- Precinct 2, Place 1: Judge John Vasut
- Precinct 2, Place 2: Judge Richard Davis
- Precinct 3, Place 1: Judge Mike Merkel
- Precinct 3, Place 2: Judge Roy Castillo
- Precinct 4, Place 1: Judge Sarah Linder
- Precinct 4, Place 2: Judge Sherry Kersh
JP judges also perform marriages and, in areas without a medical examiner, may conduct official death inquests.
Associate Judges and Magistrates
The elected list is not the whole bench. Associate judges are assigned to Title IV-D child support and paternity cases run through the Texas Attorney General’s office, and they handle temporary orders in family law matters before a district judge takes the final hearing.6Office of Court Administration. The Role and Responsibilities of the Court Coordinator in a Child Support Court
Magistrates handle the front end of criminal cases. After an arrest, a magistrate conducts the initial appearance, informs the defendant of the charges, explains their rights, and sets bail. Magistrates also review search warrant applications and probable cause affidavits, which keeps the elected judges free to run trials and hear motions.
How Brazoria County Judges Are Selected
Every judge in the county reaches the bench through a partisan election. Texas is one of only a handful of states that uses partisan elections at every judicial level, so candidates for district court, county court at law, justice of the peace, and County Judge all run with a party label. Terms are four years, and re-election is required to stay on the bench. Mid-term vacancies are filled by appointment, and the appointed judge then has to stand for election at the next opportunity.
Finding the Right Judge for Your Case
Every case filed in Brazoria County has a cause number, and that number is the fastest way to locate anything about it. Knowing you have a case “in district court” isn’t enough on its own, because there are five district courts: the 300th and the 412th are separate courtrooms with separate judges and separate dockets. The court number on your paperwork tells you which judge is assigned.
Whether the case is civil or criminal also decides which clerk holds the file. The District Clerk handles district court records. The County Clerk handles county court at law files and probate. If you don’t have the cause number, staff can usually pull the file if you can give them the names of all parties and roughly when the case was filed.
Court records are searchable through the Odyssey Public Access portal hosted by Tyler Technologies, which covers criminal, civil, and family cases along with court calendars and jail records.7Tyler Technologies. Odyssey Public Access When searching by case number, adding an asterisk at the end returns better results. If you need an attorney, the Brazoria County Bar Association keeps an online directory that filters by practice area.8Brazoria County Bar Association, Inc. Brazoria County Bar Association, Inc.