Commissioners approve creation of additional criminal court

ELLIS COUNTY – A resolution passed unanimously to support the creation of an additional district court in Ellis County.

Ellis County was recently named the eighth fastest growing county in the United States, with a projected population in 2025 at 240,000 residents – and by 2050, an estimated half-a-million.

The county currently handles thousands of court cases per year, and the current judicial system is close to reaching maximum capacity.

The request in the resolution is that elected state politicians representing Ellis County; Senator Brian Birdwell, Senator Bob Hall and State Representative Brian Harrison sponsor legislation during the 89th session, which began in January, to establish and create an additional judicial district court for Ellis County. 

This court  would focus on felony criminal cases with a target operational date of Jan. 1, 2026 or another date per Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

Ellis County Judge Todd Little also said the six Ellis County judicial judges had signed a letter in support.

District 443rd Judge Grace Pandithurai, who took the bench last month and manages criminal cases in Ellis County, spoke and said  since Ellis County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States – that also means an increase in crime.

“Not because it is not a safe place to live, but just because of the sheer number of people,” Pandithurai explained.

She said there are currently 1,735 active felonies pending in Ellis County and 1,119 cases that are pending with active warrants.

Since 2021, the 443rd Court has been the only court that hears felony cases in Ellis County. There is a visiting judge program too, which allows for more jury trials, as necessary. 

Pandithurai said she is excited about the possibility of an additional court and added, “If you can’t get to trial there is no reason for anyone to accept a plea offer.”