Policies

Policy Priorities

Thomas Just believes the courtroom should be a place of fairness, dignity, and accountability. As judge, he will use the tools available from the bench to improve how justice is delivered, while also working with county leaders to advocate for the systemic changes our community urgently needs.

Create a Diversion Court for 18–24 year-olds.

Young adults should be held accountable, but also given opportunities to change course. A specialized diversion court will recognize the unique developmental stage of this age group and focus on rehabilitation, leaving costly incarceration as a last resort.

Establish a Mental Health Diversion Court for Juveniles.

Kids struggling with mental health challenges need treatment, not a cycle of arrests and detention. This court will be modeled after the existing adult mental health diversion court and adapted to connect Texans under 18 with resources to address root causes and break the cycle early.

Provide access to an in-person Spanish translator at every court proceeding.

Access to justice requires understanding the process. A dedicated on-demand Spanish translator present in the courtroom is necessary to ensure every participant can meaningfully engage in their case.

Fully fund the Public Defender’s Office.

The right to counsel is meaningless if defenders are underfunded and overworked. A fully staffed, resourced, and scaled public defender’s office is crucial to ensure fairness and efficiency in every case.

Modernize and expand the Veterans Treatment Court.

Many Hays County veterans do not have access to a robust court diversion program built on evidence-based best practices that address the unique challenges of reintegrating after military service. A modern and expanded program, administered by a veteran who has marched in the same boots and experienced the same challenges, will more effectively connect and help these veterans adapt, overcome, and achieve their goals, ultimately saving Hays County money.

Move fine and fee collections to the County Treasurer’s Office.

Currently, a private collection firm adds a 30% surcharge to defendants’ obligations. Shifting collections to the County Treasurer’s Office will save defendants money and eliminate a profit motive from our justice system.

Transparency in Sentencing and Court Data.

Make our courts more transparent by pushing to publish clear, easy-to-read reports on how our justice system is working while also protecting privacy. These reports will include data such as sentencing outcomes, case backlogs, clearance rates, and Court costs, fines, and fees.

Fully Staff Our Courts.

Justice delayed is justice denied. Right now, Hays County Courts and Pretrial Services are severely understaffed, creating undue stress on an already overworked and underpaid staff of dedicated civil servants. There needs to be a significant investment in increased staffing, so cases move faster, jail costs drop, our courts work as they should, and we can create new diversion courts. This investment in our county’s infrastructure will pay dividends in the future for Hays County residents.