Voters rejected Ramona Franklin as judge in 2024. She could come back

Two years after losing her re-election bid, the former district court judge is poised to return to the Harris County criminal courthouse.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Two years after voters booted district court Judge Ramona Franklin from the bench, she could return to the Harris County criminal courthouse despite years of complaints from lawyers who worked in her court. Franklin left the 338th District Court in December 2024 following a failed re-election bid, but has now filed for office once more and won the Democratic primary, putting her in line to face off against the Republican incumbent in the general election.

Why it matters

Franklin's potential return to the bench raises concerns among lawyers who previously worked in her court, as she faced criticism for high caseloads, bail decisions, and ties to a suspicious phone campaign. Her primary victory also highlights the challenges of low-information voters in down-ballot judicial races, where name recognition and demographics can often outweigh a candidate's actual record and qualifications.

The details

During her second term, which coincided with the pandemic, Franklin racked up more pending cases and kept more people jailed than any other court in Harris County. She also went 15 months without presiding over a trial as authorities warned of a rising jail population and crippling backlog of criminal cases. After losing her re-election bid in 2024, Franklin has now filed for office once more and won the Democratic primary, putting her in line to face off against the Republican incumbent, Dan Simons, in the November general election.

  • Franklin left the 338th District Court in December 2024 following a failed re-election bid.
  • Franklin filed for office once more in December 2025, placing her in an under-the-radar judicial contest.

The players

Ramona Franklin

A former district court judge in Harris County, Texas who was voted out of office in 2024 but is now poised to return to the bench after winning the Democratic primary.

Dan Simons

The Republican judge in the 496th District Court, who is set to face off against Franklin in the November general election.

Michael Abner

A Harris County prosecutor who ran against Franklin in the Democratic primary but lost, garnering 39% of the vote.

Joe Vinas

A criminal defense attorney who received one of the suspicious phone calls made on Franklin's behalf, claiming she was poised to become a federal judge.

Nancy Sims

A University of Houston politics lecturer who commented on the challenges of low-information voters in down-ballot judicial races.

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What they’re saying

“How short are people's memories? They paid attention in 2024, voted her out in the primary just to return her two years later. What has she done to redeem herself in these past 18 months?”

— Joe Vinas, Criminal defense attorney (Houston Chronicle)

“The turnout was so extraordinarily high that I don't think (voters) were as adept in judicial races as they should have been. They're going to default to the woman on the bottom of the ballot. That has been proven time and time again.”

— Nancy Sims, University of Houston politics lecturer (Houston Chronicle)

“Voting on people by pure name can create havoc in the court system. You're dealing with individuals who will make life-altering decisions.”

— Nancy Sims, University of Houston politics lecturer (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.