The Justice of the Peace
The Justice of the Peace is the people’s court — often the first and only interaction many community members have with the legal system. In Precinct 1, this role touches everyday life in powerful ways: officiating weddings, resolving small claims, mediating landlord-tenant disputes, and deciding eviction cases.
In a rapidly growing and increasingly unequal Austin, the Justice of the Peace holds real power to impact housing stability, financial justice, and community dignity. Rising costs are pushing long-established families out of their homes, schools, and neighborhoods. This displacement — driven by corporate landlords, unchecked development, and weak tenant protections — hits hardest in Black, Latine, and working-class communities.
Images courtesy of Austin DSA
“The courtroom should be a place of care, not punishment. Justice starts with recognizing each person’s full humanity and responding with compassion.”
Austin’s status quo has neglected its Black and Brown communities for years and it’s time to take action.
While evictions are a critical part of the court’s docket, the role goes far beyond that. The Justice of the Peace can be a frontline advocate for fairness — ensuring small claims are resolved with compassion, renters know their rights, and all people are treated with respect, regardless of background or income.
The pandemic may have amplified these issues, but they are rooted in Austin’s deeper legacy of racial and economic inequality. In this moment of transformation, Precinct 1 deserves a Justice of the Peace who will serve not just as a judge, but as a neighbor — someone who listens, understands, and works for a more just future.