Lela Lawrence Mays

Recruited volunteer lawyers and worked with Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas and the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program to run free legal clinics. The lawyers helped probationers and other low-income residents resolve traffic cases and restore driver's licenses or state identification. Dozens of cases had succeeded by October 2021.

October 26, 2021Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: texasdisasterlegalhelp.org

Issued court procedures that recommended bond review for every jailed defendant formally charged by a grand jury during the pandemic. The procedures allowed remote hearings and private meetings with lawyers before pleas. They still required defendants to appear in person for hearings that would decide their cases.

August 30, 2020Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties

Source: dallascounty.org

Started Helping Others Progressively Evolve in 2023, a special court programme for people on probation, according to her biography published by a professional court association. It aimed to reduce repeat offending and the cancellation of probation. No measured results were reported in the biography.

October 15, 2026

Source: mytaca.org

Formally supported approval of a three-year opioid treatment contract as a North Texas Behavioral Health Authority board member. The board approved about $5.6 million for medication, counseling and recovery services with capacity for 619 people. This increased funding by about $172,000 and capacity by 19 compared with the previous agreement.

September 9, 2026

Source: ntbha.org

Formally supported a motion for a North Texas Behavioral Health Authority grant extension for mental health services for people involved in the justice system. The board approved about $11.36 million in state funding with an equal local match through 2029. The services include jail outreach and treatment to help defendants become able to participate in court proceedings.

June 10, 2026

Source: ntbha.org

Supported a youth crisis outreach grant in 2025 and formally supported its expansion in 2026 as a North Texas Behavioral Health Authority board member. The amendment added about $8.77 million, bringing the grant to about $12.27 million through 2028. The programme provides in-person crisis response and follow-up support for young people and their families.

April 8, 2026

Source: ntbha.org

Ordered Benjamin Spencer's release on bond in March 2021 after 34 years in prison and recommended setting aside his 1988 aggravated-robbery conviction. Prosecutors and defense lawyers jointly supported relief after false testimony and withheld evidence emerged. The appeals court set aside the conviction in May 2024. Mays signed the dismissal and innocence order on August 29, 2024.

August 29, 2024

Source: fox4news.com

Held the first hearing in a new state prison video-hearing programme in her 283rd District Court. The defendant stayed in prison and spoke privately with his lawyer before a plea. The programme sought to reduce prisoner transport costs; technical problems delayed parts of the hearing.

November 30, 2023

Source: fox4news.com

Signed orders clearing eligible criminal records for participants in Dallas County's sixth Expunction Expo. She was one of six judges who signed orders. The programme reported 455 expunctions overall, including 121 people whose entire criminal histories were cleared.

January 21, 2023

Source: dallascounty.org

Presided over Austin Shuffield's assault trial. After the jury convicted him of assault and felony obstruction, but acquitted him of aggravated assault, she approved the parties' agreement for jail and probation. She added outpatient alcohol treatment, a recovery programme and testing.

December 5, 2022

Source: nbcdfw.com

Sentenced Matthew Gerth to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault for setting his girlfriend on fire. The appeals court found no reversible error in 2020. It corrected the judgment's sentencing date and offence name, then affirmed the sentence.

September 13, 2019

Source: cases.justia.com

Led Dallas County's Successful Treatment of Addiction through Collaboration court as a magistrate. It offered repeat felony offenders intensive treatment and supervision as an alternative to prison. By May 2015, the programme had more than 1,500 graduates.

May 29, 2015

Source: dallasnews.com

Set an execution date for Randy Halprin in 2019, then recommended a new trial over the original judge's anti-Jewish bias. An appeals court required a live hearing before her December 2022 findings. In 2024, it declined to adopt her findings, saying they were often unsupported and exceeded its remand orders. It independently found bias and granted a new trial. She later ordered evidence sharing and refused to remove a defense lawyer over an alleged conflict.

November 6, 2024Favorable on Impartiality

Source: search.txcourts.gov

Set an execution date for Randy Halprin in 2019, then recommended a new trial over the original judge's anti-Jewish bias. An appeals court required a live hearing before her December 2022 findings. In 2024, it declined to adopt her findings, saying they were often unsupported and exceeded its remand orders. It independently found bias and granted a new trial. She later ordered evidence sharing and refused to remove a defense lawyer over an alleged conflict.

November 6, 2024Unfavorable on Legal Competence

Source: search.txcourts.gov