Harris Co. judge runs her courtroom a little differently

Erica Hughes is an Army daughter who followed in her father's footsteps.

She has served active duty for four years as a JAG officer, and today is part of the Texas National Guard.

Hughes says her parents had an idea of what profession she might pursue as early as the age of five, although they each described her differently.

"I was a talkative kid, and very assertive," Hughes recalls. "My parents would say 'bossy' or 'a leader' is what my mom called it, my dad would say 'You're bossy.'"

First, an attorney and now a judge in Harris County Criminal Court at Law #3. She was sworn in last month as one of the 17 new African-American judges elected in Harris County in November.

Hughes says she is passionate about teaching what she has learned along the way, and is a professor in the paralegal program at San Jacinto Community College.

Criminal courts and judges are still displaced from Hurricane Harvey, but Hughes says this is all she's known.

"The good thing is you are the judge or queen of your court, and you can change the things to what you want them to be," Hughes said.

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