Conroe forms committee for court tech and efficiency

**Conroe Forms Committee to Overhaul Aging Municipal Court System**

**Conroe, TX – August 29, 2023** – The Conroe City Council unanimously approved the establishment of a Municipal Court Study Committee on August 24, a crucial step in modernizing the city’s overburdened and technologically outdated court system. The move follows extensive discussions initiated during budget workshops in April, signaling a concerted effort to address long-standing operational challenges.

The newly formed committee is tasked with a comprehensive review of the Conroe Municipal Court’s operations, with a primary focus on critical technology upgrades, improving overall efficiency, and evaluating current staffing and budgetary requirements. The initiative seeks to bring the court into the 21st century, addressing issues that have become increasingly pressing for the rapidly growing city.

City Councilman Harry Hardman will chair the committee. He will be joined by Councilwoman Marsha Porter, City Administrator Gary Scott, City Attorney Chris Seider, and the presiding Municipal Judge, Susan Stovall. Also serving on the committee are Court Administrator Laura Littlejohn and Montgomery County Attorney B. D. “Buster” Coker. Two citizen appointees are also expected to be named within 30 days of the August 24th approval, one chosen for their legal background and the other for expertise in business and technology, ensuring a broad range of perspectives.

A significant catalyst for the committee’s formation is the court’s nearly 30-year-old software system. Officials describe the current system as “obsolete,” citing its inability to keep pace with a substantial caseload — approximately 20,000 cases were processed in 2022 alone. This aging infrastructure severely hampers data sharing with other local and state entities and presents considerable challenges in complying with modern state reporting standards. The court handles a wide array of cases, including traffic violations, city ordinance infractions, and certain misdemeanor offenses, making its efficient operation vital to local justice.

Adding urgency to the situation are previous audits by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, an independent agency responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and disability. While specific findings were not detailed, such audits typically highlight areas where court operations may fall short of best practices or state mandates.

“Our municipal court is a cornerstone of local justice, and it’s imperative that it operates with the efficiency and transparency our citizens expect and deserve,” Councilman Hardman stated, underscoring the committee’s importance. “The current technological limitations are a bottleneck that affects everything from data accuracy to public access and staff productivity.”

The committee is slated to hold its inaugural meeting in late September or early October 2023. Its mandate includes researching potential software solutions, which officials acknowledge could necessitate a substantial financial investment, potentially reaching into the millions of dollars and requiring a multi-year budget plan. The committee is expected to submit its comprehensive recommendations back to the Conroe City Council by March 2024.

This proactive measure by the City Council aims to not only streamline court operations but also enhance public access to information, improve inter-agency cooperation within the justice system, and ensure the Conroe Municipal Court is equipped to serve the community effectively for decades to come.