But when it comes to judicial campaigns – family court, district judge, or court of appeals – it's confusing what role a court plays in your life and why you should care.

There are Five Levels of Texas Courts

• Municipal and Justice
• County Level
• District
• Courts of Appeals and
• Supreme Court/Court of Criminal Appeals

The Courts of Appeals (level 4) hear appeals from County-Level and District Courts. It's the intermediary for highest level of Texas Courts: the Supreme Court (Civil)/the Court of Criminal Appeals (Criminal).

Join my Campaign for the 1st Court of Appeals today!

The Courts Matter

Legislators make the laws, but the courts interpret them. It's where you turn to settle disputes and to seek justice. Electing well-qualified judges is of profound importance to all in our community. Those charged with dispensing justice have a direct impact on protections for all of us.

Help Elect a Well Qualified Justice, Sign Up with the Cokinos Oakes Campaign!

Justices elected to the Court of Appeals must embody fairness, impartiality, and above all, justice. The people of Texas deserve no less.

Thank you for your support,

Natalia

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“I’ve spent the last ten years working with families and children of Harris County as a Juvenile lawyer. I have a particular area of expertise in the civil area that is not well-reperesented on the Court of Appeals,” Natalia said. “I am prepared to serve as Justice for the First Court of Appeals.”

Nine justices make up the Court of Appeals for the First Court of Appeals District of Texas. The justices are elected for six–year terms. The Court has intermediate appellate jurisdiction of both civil and criminal cases appealed from the district and county courts in the counties that make up the Court’s District (Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Harris, Waller, and Washington).

The Harris County Democratic Primary will be held April 3, 2012.

If the work of judges, probation officers and others in these courts is done well, a brush with the law may only be a bump in the road to a life of responsible citizenship. If not? Well, our prisons are filled to overflowing with examples of what can happen.

Three family law courts in Harris County handle juvenile justice matters. The 313th, 314th and 315th district courts are the bar of justice for young people aged 10 to 17. These courts deal with problems ranging from truancy, substance abuse, criminal mischief and school problems to burglary, theft, assault and gang-related activities.

We recommend the following candidates to fill these benches:

313th Family District Court: Natalie Oakes, the Democrat, is our choice to fill this open bench. Oakes, a Thurgood Marshall School of Law graduate, says she would focus on effective rehabilitation that reaches the young people coming before her court. She favors more emphasis on skills-based training, noting that “not everyone is going to college.” Oakes would bring a welcome new approach to the 313th, a court that needs changing.

Read the entire editorial at Chron.com.

June 30th is an important public day for our campaign. It is the first financial reporting deadline since the primary and it must demonstrate that we have the support and financial resources to win in November. Please consider giving $25, $50, or $100 today to help us make a strong showing.

Since I became the Democratic nominee for Judge of the 313th Juvenile District Court, I have been working hard to make sure that Democrats, Republicans, and Independents hear about my commitment to be tough on crime and smart with kids. The voters of Harris County know that we need more resources for our children who are at risk in the delinquency cases and in the children’s protective services cases.

Please consider contributing to ensure that we can take our message to the voters.

I have worked hard the last ten years exclusively as a juvenile attorney to develop more resources for the children I have represented. As a judge, I can do even more to develop resources. I feel confident that you agree that we need judges who have that type of experience and concern for our children in Harris County.

Thank you so much for your continued support.

Sincerely,

P.S. Please contribute whatever you can. Even small donations make big differences in judicial races.

I’m proud that so many folks believe I have the experience, compassion, and integrity to serve effectively on the 313th Juvenile Court Bench. Endorsements from a wide variety of community leaders, including the Democratic precinct chairs below, provide us with a strong foundation, from which we will build an even stronger campaign!

“I met Natalie Oakes at a function where judicial candidates were seeking signatures to qualify for the 2010 Primary. After discussing topics from mental disorders to rehabilitation I was impressed with her knowledge of the wide range of issues facing our Juvenile Courts today. I found her to be a great listener and believe she will be a
fair and discerning Juvenile Court Judge.”

- Dan Feldmann, Precinct 125

See who else supports Natalie!

I hope you also will consider adding your endorsement of my candidacy today. Together, we can restore faith in our courts and ensure exceptional leadership for Harris County.

Wishing you all the best,

Natalie C. Oakes

P.S. Don’t miss our Holiday Celebration at my home – Friday, December 18 from 6-8PM. Please join us!

I’ve practiced juvenile law for my entire legal career, working with children and families of Harris County for over ten years. As a mother and teacher, I believe in the power of rehabilitation.

Learn more about my experience and judicial philosophy

I hope you’ll join me, my friends, family and supporters for a Holiday Celebration at my home. We will be toasting my candidacy for judge and visiting about the campaign ahead.

Friday, December 18th 6pm-8pm
1127 Nantucket Drive, Houston, Texas 77057

More Information

Hope to see you at the celebration!

Wishing you all the best,

Natalie C. Oakes