Montgomery County approves 4 courts 4-1
Montgomery County voted 4-1 to authorize four new judicial courts by 2029, costing $5.7M annually, to address rapid population growth and case backlog.
CONROE, Texas — In a move intended to address the mounting pressure of rapid population growth, the Montgomery County Commissioners Court voted 4-1 on June 12, 2026, to authorize the creation of four new judicial courts over the next three years.
The decision follows months of deliberation regarding the county’s judicial capacity. As the population continues to surge in suburban hubs like The Woodlands and Conroe, the current court system has faced an unprecedented backlog of cases. County officials argued that the expansion is essential to prevent delays in litigation and to maintain the constitutional mandate of timely justice.
The phased rollout begins January 1, 2027, with the activation of a new Justice of the Peace Court for Precinct 5 and the establishment of County Court at Law No. 6. Two years later, on January 1, 2029, the county will add the 480th and 481st District Courts to its judicial roster.
The financial scope of the expansion is significant. According to budget estimates presented during the meeting, the annual operational costs for the four courts will total approximately $5.7 million once fully functional. The Justice of the Peace Court is projected to cost $600,000 annually, while County Court at Law No. 6 carries an estimated price tag of $1.5 million. The two additional District Courts are expected to require $1.8 million each to operate annually. These figures account for judicial salaries, bailiffs, court reporters, clerks, and ongoing administrative overhead.
Commissioner James Noack, who cast the lone dissenting vote, voiced concerns regarding the speed of the expansion. During the meeting, Noack suggested that the county should conduct a deeper analysis into administrative efficiencies and technological upgrades within the existing court system before committing to long-term multi-million dollar budget increases.
"We have to be responsible stewards of taxpayer money," Noack noted. "Adding new courts is a permanent increase to the base budget, and I believe we owe it to our residents to ensure that we have exhausted every option to improve the throughput of our existing courts before building new ones."
Supporters of the measure, however, maintained that the sheer volume of new filings has already outpaced what can be achieved through internal procedural changes. They noted that the county’s recent growth figures—some of the highest in the nation—have created a "clog" in the system that only additional personnel can resolve.
The addition of these courts will require the county to coordinate with the Texas Legislature, as the creation of District Courts in Texas requires state-level statutory authorization. Montgomery County Judge and the Commissioners Court are expected to lobby for the necessary legislative support in the upcoming session to ensure the 480th and 481st District Courts are formally codified.
As the county prepares for the 2027 launch, the focus will now shift to identifying physical space for the new courtrooms. Officials indicated that the ongoing county facility master plan will need to be updated to accommodate the additional infrastructure requirements.
Residents interested in tracking the budget process or reviewing the meeting minutes can visit the official Montgomery County portal at www.mctx.org.