Harris County District Clerk's Office

Help us Stand for Justice. Over the past 5 years, Harris County’s jury appearance rate has wavered at a disappointing 20%. If you receive a jury summons from the District Clerk’s Office, please answer your call to serve. With your help, we can increase appearance rates, increase diverse perspectives, and increase the quality of our justice system. We need your voice at the table.

Today, Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess presented at the Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association 45th annual Full-Day CLE Event at the Norris Center in Houston, Texas. District Clerk Burgess gave an overview of the work of the DCO, as well as recent updates in the office. She also gave updates on legislation passed by the last session of the Texas Legislature that directly impacts the work of the DCO and, by extension, the work of attorneys and paralegals. Thank you to HMPA for hosting this event and inviting the Harris County District Clerk's Office!

Exciting day in our Passport Department! ???? Today, 25 seniors from Stephen F. Austin Senior High School's Maritime Studies Program are applying for passports as they prepare for an incredible journey. These 17 and 18-year-olds will be heading to Cozumel, Mexico, for a Carnival Cruiseship instructional voyage, where they’ll learn from ship officers, engineers, and other professionals aboard. This hands-on experience marks the culmination of four years of maritime studies, giving these students the opportunity to see the industry in action! Bon voyage, future maritime leaders! ? #MaritimeStudies #PassportDay #SeniorClass #futureleaders

The Harris County District Clerk's Office mourns the passing of Sylvester Turner, a dedicated public servant who made a profound impact on our community. His leadership and unwavering commitment to service will always be remembered. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who were touched by his work.

This week, our office hosted our Black History Month Event, which has become a tradition for the DCO. District Clerk Marilyn Burgess delivered the opening remarks and underlined the importance of acknowledging and celebrating the powerful stories of Harris County's African American community. Traci A. Gibson, President of the Houston Lawyers Association also delivered remarks about the history of the Houston Lawyers Association, which was founded in 1955 to address the needs of Black lawyers and the legal needs of the Black community in general. We had a marvelous program that included presentations by DCO team members about four historic cases that were litigated in Harris County, greatly impacting the life of African Americans at the time. Our DCO Choir also delivered a fabulous performance. The event was also complemented with poetry, literature, and a dancing performance. Mr. Ernie Henderson delivered a powerful recital of the poems "I, Too, Am America" and "If We Must Die", while Mr. Brett Bland delighted the audience with a moving reading of a monologue by the legendary African American Historian Carter G. Woodson. The Texas Southern University Sensations wowed the audience with an electric performance too. This year's event was dedicated in loving memory of DCO friend and colleague, Chris Dilworth. Numerous DCO team members attended the event, along with Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Annette Ramirez, Harris County Treasurer Dr. Carla L. Wyatt, and representatives from the office of Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones.

This week, Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess attended an event to honor Susan Christian, as she retired from the City of Houston after nearly 40 years of public service. Ms. Christian started working for the City’s Parks Department in 1985. In 1992, during the administration of Houston Mayor Bob Lanier, she was tasked with creating the Office of Special Events. Ms. Christian is the only person who has ever directed the office over the course of six mayoral administrations, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. Houston Mayor John Whitmire, City Controller Chris Hollins, Texas State Rep. Ann Johnson, Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin, former Houston City Council Member Brenda Stardig, and Laura Murillo, CEO and President of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, were in attendance, among others.

This week, the Harris County District Clerk's Office is participating in the winter conference of the County and District Clerks' Association of Texas (CDCAT), held in Denton, TX. District Clerk Marilyn Burgess –along with Chief Deputies Wes McCoy and Judith Snively, and I.T. Administrator Tracy Hopper– are attending the conference, which includes multiple sessions and workshops focused on ethics, fees, and legislative updates of relevance for the daily work of district clerks and county clerks across the Lone Star State. The registered attendance is in the range of 400 people. As always, CDCAT has organized an exemplary event that is informative and useful for the clerk profession. #CDCAT #denton #tx #lonestarstate

Today, KPRC-NBC Ch. 2 investigative reporter Joel Eisenbaum interviewed District Clerk Marilyn Burgess about the new debit card Harris County use to pay for jury service. The interview also covered the historic jury pay increase that went in effect last year and the critical need to diversify juries in Harris County, along with the importance of fulfilling this crucial civic duty if you are summoned. This enlightening conversation also highlighted key changes designed to improve the jury experience with the leadership of District Clerk Burgess. A big thank you to Joel Eisenbaum and KPRC-NBC Ch. 2 for bringing this important discussion to our community! #YouCompleteJustice #JuryService #JuryDuty #HarrisCounty?#JuryPay #DiversityMatters

Harris County District Clerk Marilyn Burgess participated today in a panel discussion organized by the Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association (HMPA). Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and Justice Julie Countiss, of the Texas First Court of Appeals, also participated in the panel. District Clerk Burgess gave an overview of the work the District Clerk's Office (DCO) oftentimes as a behind-the-scenes actor but, yet, indispensable for the wheels of justice to keep turning. Some of the topics District Clerk Burgess covered during her participation in the panel were the courtesy notifications attorneys and paralegals can sign up for with the DCO, as well as common reasons why filings can be rejected. With customer service and transparency being paramount for the Burgess administration, she also emphasized all DCO employees are instructed to assist customers –in this case attorneys and paralegals– promptly and professionally. Lastly, District Clerk Burgess reminded the audience the DCO holds periodic focus groups that are very informative for the professionals of the legal community. Thank you to HMPA for hosting this event and for inviting the Harris County District Clerk's Office to participate.

Last night, we had the pleasure of participating in Constable Precinct 6's National Night Out 2024, and it was blast! The event drew over 2,200 attendees, and it was truly delightful to connect with so many community members. We extend our gratitude to all the volunteers and the Precinct 6 staff for their dedication and effort. This year's festivities featured an abundance of complimentary food, beverages, entertainment, door prizes, and an outstanding giveaway of 700 backpacks filled with essential school supplies! It was also a privilege to visit with Constable Silvia Trevino, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia, and Acting Chief of Police Larry Satterwhite. Witnessing the community and its dedicated service members come together is always such a rewarding experience.