DEBATE SPEECH

Good evening, and thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight.

I’m Judge Travis Kitchens, and I’ve served as the presiding judge of the 258th District Court for the past seven years. It’s been an honor to serve the people of San Jacinto County, Trinity County, and Polk County — and I do not take that responsibility lightly.

Let me start by saying this: I understand frustration with the court system. I hear it. I respect it. And I work on it every day.

But I also believe something else is just as important: we owe this community the truth about what a judge can — and cannot — do.

Because the district courtroom is not a campaign stage. It is not a place for political talking points. AND it is certainly not a place for promises and guarantees.

The courtroom is where people come when something serious has happened: a victim seeking justice, a family facing crisis, a citizen trying to resolve a legal dispute, or a defendant whose constitutional rights still matter.

And every person who walks into that courtroom deserves a judge who is fair, steady, and respectful — not a politician trying to win an argument.

A prosecutor advocates. A defense attorney advocates. But a judge must be neutral.

That means a judge listens, stays restrained, and decides cases based only on the law and the evidence — not on pressure, not on anger, and not on applause lines.

That is what judicial temperament looks like.

So when you hear someone say the court is “broken,” or claim that everything can be fixed by making louder promises, I want you to remember this:

A judge doesn’t get to guarantee outcomes. A judge doesn’t get to pick winners and losers ahead of time. A judge doesn’t get to make decisions before hearing both sides.

And anyone who tells you otherwise is not describing judging — they’re describing politics.

Here’s the truth about this court:

The 258th District Court serves three counties — San Jacinto, Trinity, and Polk — and it handles criminal cases, civil disputes, and family matters across this entire district. Many of these cases are complex, and the law requires due process. It requires notice. It requires fairness. It requires that both sides be heard before decisions are made.

Yes — we work to move cases forward. Yes — we work to reduce delay. But speed has a limit, because the Constitution has a purpose.

And I want to be very clear: I will not tear down the court I am sworn to uphold.

I will not undermine public confidence in the justice system for political gain. I will not make promises I cannot ethically keep. And I will not confuse advocacy with judging.

On January 1st of 2019, I took an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and the laws of this state. And I have honored that oath with steady leadership — day after day, case after case, across this district.

And I want to remind you of something important: you have already trusted me with this responsibility — twice.

You elected me because you wanted a court that is fair, stable, and guided by the law — not by rhetoric.

And that is what I have provided.

So tonight, I’m not here to stir people up. I’m here to stand up for what the court is supposed to be: a place where people are treated with dignity, where rules apply equally, and where decisions are made carefully, lawfully, and without politics.