Re-Election Campaign 2018

 

The votes have been counted and have confirmed that the residents of Williamson County re-elected Judge Edna Staudt to continue serving them as Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2. Hundreds of citizens invested their time, talent and treasure to make new residents and new voters aware of Judge Staudt’s service to our community which responded by awarding her 53% of the vote.

Judge Staudt is truly grateful for the vote of confidence and will continue to work diligently serving the people of Williamson County.

“I’m thankful to God, all my volunteers, and the voters. It is an honorable position in which I’m honored and blessed to serve all the people of Williamson County,” said Staudt.

Keep current on Judge Staudt’s community activities, opportunities for citizen involvement, and local events by following her Facebook page and the Williamson County website.

 

Get Involved
Here are just a few of the ways Judge Staudt serves the community. Click on each title to read about them.
JUSTICE COURT PCT 2 MENTORING PROGRAM
“When young people appeared before me in court on truancy charges, I saw their truancy as a symptom of something deeper.  Students were dealing with depression, anxiety, anger, and rejection.  Truancy was a response to their issues.  They needed compassion, a listening ear, encouragement, someone to show them their value and potential.”  

Judge Staudt created the Justice Court Precinct 2 Mentoring Program.  The program assigns a trained volunteer to meet with a student for the duration of the student’s probation.   Judge Staudt conducts regular training sessions.  Numerous professionals have assisted in educating the mentors on drugs, law, autism, listening skills, and role modeling.  Her training manual has been a model for other courts.  Students responded with a change in attitude towards themselves and others.  They realized their potential, their value, set goals, and succeed in moving forward with their life.  Families are reconciled.  Staudt says “It is heartwarming to witness a young person grasp their personal value and realize their potential. “.

Judge Staudt assigned her first mentor in 1995.  Hundreds of students have successfully changed their attitudes and exchanged bad choices for good ones.  Today mentors are still being assigned and student’s lives are changed forever.  As stated in the training materials, “it will not matter what car I drove, the house I lived in, or how much money I had, but it will matter that I made a difference in the life of a child”.   

Mentors at the 2016 Justice Court Mentoring Banquet

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Community service hours are required in some juvenile cases and community service hours may be performed in lieu of paying a fine.   Every minor alcohol offense requires a minimum of 8 hours to be performed .  A defendant can earn $100 for every 8 hours served.

Judge Staudt maintains an active relationship with non-profits and governmental entities to ensure community service hours are available.  She is quoted “I will not order something unless I know the defendant is capable of doing so and has the opportunity to comply”.

“We greatly appreciate the workers Judge Staudt sends here for their community service hours.  Several have come back voluntarily after realizing how serving makes them feel good about doing something for others”.  Doris Ahr, volunteer with LHCOC.

PARENT WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS

Parenting can be a tremendous challenge.  Even loving and caring parents can find themselves living with a rebellious child.  As Judge Staudt observed the juvenile cases in her court proceedings, she realized parents needed to be “re-empowered”.  By that she means, “Parents had lost control and felt helpless to be the parents they needed to be”.  She sought the assistance of parent educator, Stacey Jeannett. 

Judge Staudt explained that she orders the workshop for parents to learn how to re-capture their child’s heart, hear about their legal responsibilities, and receive support and encouragement.  The workshop is ordered when parents are struggling with their teen(s).  Stacey explains, “We teach parents that they essentially have zero ‘control’ with their teens!  But through mutual respect and encouraging communication they may gain 100% ‘influence’ over their teen’s choices!”  Parents find the workshop extremely beneficial.

“This workshop encouraged me…” and showed my son “…his actions and words were hurting me”. Parent

THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY/YMCA TEEN COURT
This Justice Court is usually the first time a young person will experience the criminal justice system.  It is important an offender learns a lesson at this stage in their life so that they don’t re-offend.   A Teen Court Program gives the offender the opportunity to be sentenced by their peers, experience court with their peers, and serve to sentence other offenders.  Throughout the process the offender realizes the severity of breaking the law and the consequences. Percentages show students assigned to Teen Court do not re-offend.  

Judge Staudt partnered with the YMCA to create the first Teen Court in Williamson County that was open to all students, regardless of where they went to school or where they lived.  Students have benefited from having their offense dismissed by completing the requirements of Teen Court.  This program assigns a teen defense attorney to the offender.  The entire court is made up of trained teenagers in the roles of the judiciary.  The program has been in existence since 1996.   Judge Staudt serves tirelessly, holding training sessions and court sessions twice each month throughout the school year.

DEATH INQUESTS
A Justice of the Peace serves as a coroner in a county that does not have a medical examiner.  Williamson County does not have a medical examiner due to the high costs of the facility, personnel, and equipment.  Judge Staudt is on call for unexpected deaths.  She and the other JP’s of the county agree to share the responsibilities on weekends.  Therefore, she is on call from 8 am Monday to 5 pm Friday and one weekend out of every four.  She has personally attended thousands of death scenes.  Her responsibility is to certify the death as to the cause and manner.  
“Death is a part of life, it is inevitable, but the death scenes I am called to are “unexpected and unexplained”.  Death Inquest has taught me to never hold a grudge, nor live with regrets.  Someone you love could die unexpectedly and you are left with the impossibility of resolving any relationship.  I grieve with those left behind and pray for them.  I’m grateful to minister to those who are left behind to experience their first Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, or Thanksgiving without their loved one. “
It is my desire to continue to serve the people of Williamson County and the great State of Texas.  There are many challenges as Justice of the Peace; however, I look at challenges as opportunities.  Many organizations, individuals, and churches have joined me in meeting those challenges.   A great staff, family, and friends have supported me and I am grateful.  I am blessed.

Thank you for visiting, and come back again!

Judge Edna Staudt

Edna Staudt Re-election Campaign

P O Box 148 Leander 78641

www.ednastaudt.com

Testimonials

Kickoff Photo Gallery

A great kick-off event! Thanks to all who came out to encourage  my bid for re-election in 2018. It is an honor to serve and I am humbled by the support!