As the March 3, 2026, Republican primary approaches, Headlines and Heartlines continues its candidate interview series with an episode featuring Michelle Merendino, a candidate for the 75th State District Court.
During the episode, she talks openly about her background, her approach to judging, and why the role of a district court judge is often misunderstood by the public.
Merendino has practiced law for 23 years and was appointed to finish the unexpired term of former 75th State District Judge Mark Morefield by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. In the interview, she discussed stepping into a court that had relied on visiting judges for more than a year and the work required to move cases forward.
“I’ve just worked really diligently to implement new procedures in the court to clear the backlog, but not at the expense of individualized justice,” Merendino said.
According to Merendino, her legal experience spans a wide range of practice areas, including probate, Child Protective Services cases, trust litigation, complex civil cases, and felony criminal defense. She said that broad background has helped her understand the different perspectives that come before the court.
“All of that varied experience lends itself very well to the administration of justice in this court,” she said.
Merendino also spoke about how much of a judge’s work happens outside the courtroom. Reviewing lengthy case files, researching the law, and preparing rulings often take far more time than the public realizes.
“I don’t think people really understand the number of hours a week it takes to adequately study the law, study the facts, and do the job properly,” she said.
A lifelong Liberty County resident, Merendino shared that she grew up between Hull-Daisetta and Livingston and now lives in Liberty with her husband, Jared, a longtime local mathematics teacher. She said growing up across different parts of the county gave her a deep connection to the community she now serves.
“This entire county, which is a big county, has kind of been my community for most of my life,” she said.
One theme that surfaced repeatedly during the conversation was the importance of how people are treated in the courtroom. Merendino said judges hold significant authority, but that power should be exercised with humility and care.
“It should be a person who really wants to hear the story and make the parties know that they’re going to be heard and not belittled,” she said. “No matter whether they prevail or they don’t, that they know that they were listened to, that they were treated fairly, and that the system was properly administered.”
She also addressed the pressures facing Liberty County’s court system as the area continues to grow. Rising population numbers have brought sharp increases in both civil and felony filings, creating challenges for courts tasked with moving cases efficiently while protecting due process.
“We really are looking at these numbers, and everyone is doing their best to make sure our community’s matters are handled promptly,” Merendino said.
When asked what qualities matter most in a district judge, Merendino paused before answering. She cited “graciousness, temperance, diligence, and a passion for the inherent fairness that is built into our system of justice.”
“It’s not ultimately about you as the judge,” she said. “It’s about the people that you’re serving.”
This week’s episode offers listeners a deeper look at Merendino. The full Headlines and Heartlines episode is available through Bluebonnet News’ YouTube page by clicking HERE and Spotify by clicking HERE. The episode will also air on KILE FM 94.9 radio on Tuesday and Friday, Jan. 6 and 9. Both radio shows will air at 10 a.m.
Headlines and Heartlines schedule for future shows: Jan. 8 – Terry Thain, Republican candidate for U.S. Congressional District 9; Jan. 12 – Zack Zbranek, Republican candidate for the 75th State District Court; and Jan. 19, J.D. Chandler, Republican candidate for the 75th State District Court.