Judge Chap Cain talks experience and caseload ahead of March 2026 primary

For nearly three decades, Judge Chap Cain has taken a seat behind the bench knowing that the decisions made there will change lives.

On this week’s episode of Bluebonnet News’ Headlines and Heartlines podcast, the 253rd State District Court judge speaks candidly about the responsibility that comes with presiding over one of the busiest courts in Southeast Texas as he seeks reelection in the March 3, 2026, Republican primary.

The 253rd State District Court is unique in that it serves two counties.

“Most district courts only sit in one county. This court sits in two counties — Liberty and Chambers,” he explained.

That structure means longer days, constant travel, and a docket that reflects the rapid growth of both communities.

“The district court in Texas is the highest-level trial court that there is,” Cain said. “If you’re involved in a felony criminal matter, then you’re going to end up in a district court.”

Along with serious criminal cases, the 253rd also handles major civil disputes, including divorces, business litigation, and condemnation cases tied to public projects and expanding infrastructure.

Cain said growth has reshaped the courtroom just as much as it has reshaped the counties themselves.

“With that growth comes increased crime, increased construction, and increased business,” he said. “And that means more traffic in our court system.”

In Chambers County, large petrochemical and energy industries often bring complex, high-dollar civil cases before the court.

The numbers are staggering.

“My court serves both Liberty and Chambers counties, and last year we disposed of about 3,200 cases,” Cain said, including approximately 1,549 felony criminal cases. The workload, he noted, exceeds that of courts serving each county individually, not because others aren’t working, but because the demands are relentless.

Managing that pace, Cain said, comes down to experience and discipline.

“Experience matters. It really does. I know how to get my docket taken care of,” he said, adding that the work often stretches past normal hours. “We generally work through lunch here because I don’t have the time.”

Despite the volume, Cain said progress is being made.

“For every criminal case that comes into my court, I dispose of about one and a half cases,” he explained. “So I am eating away at the backlog.”

He said timely resolutions matter not just for defendants, but for taxpayers, particularly as counties struggle with jail overcrowding and the high cost of housing inmates elsewhere.

Cain was quick to point out that the work does not happen alone.

“I have a great staff, and they are a large part of my success,” he said.

From coordinators to bailiffs and court reporters, Cain described a team that keeps the courtroom moving and the process orderly, even on the busiest days.

Fairness, he said, begins with making sure every person who appears before him is heard and properly represented.

“Everybody in a criminal case is entitled to counsel, especially if they’re too poor to hire counsel,” Cain said, noting that most defendants in Liberty County rely on court-appointed attorneys. He said he is careful about who he appoints, because representation is a constitutional right, not a formality.

When it comes to rulings, Cain said the law — not personal opinion — guides every decision.

“Precedent is really the law. You have to follow the law,” he said. “There is a floor below which we cannot fall, and that’s the Constitution.”

He emphasized that constitutional protections shape every case, regardless of public pressure or emotion.

Cain also addressed frustration he often hears from the public about sentencing.

“The judge does not decide parole,” he said. “That’s up to the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the governor.”

While judges have discretion, Cain said juries play a critical role, adding, “Liberty County juries are tough,” something he sees as a reflection of community standards.

Some cases, Cain admitted, never truly fade.

“There are cases that stay with you,” he said, recalling violent crimes involving children. “I can still see an eight-year-old boy who was shot and killed. Totally innocent. Completely senseless.”

Those memories, he said, are part of the burden that comes with the job.

As he seeks another term, Cain said the weight of that responsibility is never lost on him.

“The people give you this ability to sit as a judge, and they can take it away,” he said. “I really appreciate that everybody has given me the opportunity to have this wonderful job.”

Whether voters choose to return him to the bench, he said, is ultimately their decision.

To hear the full conversation with Judge Chap Cain, click HERE to listen on YouTube, HERE to listen on Spotify, or tune in to KILE FM 94.9 Radio on Tuesday, Dec. 30, and Jan. 2, 10 a.m. on both days.

Be sure to check out all the Headlines and Heartlines episodes on YouTube and Spotify. Bluebonnet News plans to have podcast interviews with all candidates seeking local office before the election in March 2026.