Amanda Calvert (left), currently the Administrative Felony Lead Supervisor in the Hays County District Attorney’s office, faces a run-off against J.R. Mendoza (right) for the seat of Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2, Place 2 – a position to which Mendoza was appointed by Commissioners Court in October.

May 28 is a big day for Hays County: The Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Place 2 (JP 2-2) is a new office, and Kyle-area voters have the opportunity to decide who will be the first person elected to the position. 

JP races don’t get a lot of attention, but these courts decide important issues that affect the most vulnerable among us. JP courts handle eviction hearings, debt claim cases,  truancy issues, and decide small claims cases (of $20,000 or less), and minor Class C misdemeanor cases.

For many people, the JP court is their only interaction with the legal system. You don’t need to be an attorney to serve as Justice of the Peace, and the JP court is not a court of record, which practically means it’s more difficult to hold them accountable for their decisions than it is for higher courts.

Given the general lack of knowledge about what a JP does, and the lack of transparency inherent in JP courts, it’s important to have someone in this position who is fair and utilizes their powers with grace.

In the May runoff, Hays County voters will get to decide between two candidates:

Amanda Calvert, a longtime employee of the Hays County District Attorney’s office currently in the position of Administrative Felony Lead Supervisor. Calvert’s website lists that she’s volunteered in a program that mentors students in local schools who have a parent who is incarcerated.

J.R. Mendoza, the current appointed JP 2-2,  a former employee of the San Marcos Police Department and City Marshal’s Office who worked as a school resource officer (read: police officer at local public schools). Until the Examiner drew attention to its inaccuracy in February, the Facebook page for Mendoza’s campaign claimed he was “seeking re-election” – in reality he was appointed by the Commissioners Court in October 2023 when this JP office was created. 

Both candidates received the following questionnaire:

Since a JP court often deals with more minor criminal and civil issues, it is often referred to as “the people’s court.” Do you support efforts to educate the community about your office’s services with interested community partners?  What will you do to strengthen community access to the court? 

Calvert: The court system can be such a mystery. When I go anywhere, I want to know what I should expect and what is the parking situation. I want to offer that information to the public and create videos of “What to Expect” when you come into the JP 2-2 Office.

Mendoza: I believe information and education is vital to community involvement. I have recently mentioned to Hays County Officials that I want to introduce bi-lingual civics classes. I would provide information on the duties of a JP, what a JP court does and where information is available for Self-Represented Litigants.   

Do you believe this court has a responsibility to ensure debt collectors aren’t taking advantage of people in your court? What will you do to ensure debtors aren’t being taken advantage of?

Mendoza: I believe courts should be involved in the selection process of the debt collectors. As part of the bid process for selecting debt collectors, courts should review prior collection history and request a detailed list of steps, reflecting the measures used to collect debts. The review should focus on professionalism to the debtors, opportunities for payment plans and no exorbitant collection fees.

Calvert: I believe the number one way  people get taken advantage of is that predators prey on ignorance.  If I am elected, I will ensure I am knowledgeable and up to date on law. A ruling must be legitimate for both sides and in order to do that, the Court must have a high level of knowledge to see past false legal citing and know all relevant updates of the law.  

Do you think the JP Office can do more to protect the rights of tenants? What will you do to minimize the gap between corporate landlords (who come to JP court with legal counsel) and working-class people facing eviction (who often do not have attorneys)?

Calvert: A Justice of the Peace should have thorough knowledge of things such as the Fair Housing Act, Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, among other laws when presiding over a court. Failure to have an in-depth knowledge of these things not only puts tenants at risk of being taken advantage of, but reduces the legitimacy of the court. I will have this knowledge if I am elected. 

Mendoza: As a Judge, I treat both the plaintiff and the defendant equally. I review all documents and ask questions to both sides, to ensure I have a complete understanding of the case before me. I also ensure that the plaintiff has properly followed the eviction process. Many times, I have ruled in favor of the defendant as I determined the plaintiff did not properly issue a notice to vacate or follow the correct process.   

Do you agree truancy plays a role in the school-to-prison pipeline? What will you do to ensure the students who face truancy issues in your court are pushed toward success and away from criminalization?

Mendoza: I believe truancy affects a proper education and one’s ability to obtain a well-paying job to keep them out of poverty. During truancy hearings, I try to determine the root cause of the student being truant. Depending on the cause, I refer students to a respective resource.  In a recent case, I determined that the truancy was likely an emotional issue caused by his parents separating, thus I referred the student to counseling.

Calvert: I believe boredom and disconnect lead to truancy which can lead to legal trouble at any age. The goal should be to get youth connected to their community. We need to stop underestimating them, and show them their value. I think targeted community service and rehabilitation that gets them involved and building up our community will make them more invested in our home and driven to achieve more in their lives.

BY KAREN MUÑOZ TREVIÑO