As Fort Bend County continues its rapid rise as one of the most diverse and dynamic counties in America, the role of County Clerk has never been more important—or more demanding. From safeguarding life’s most essential records to modernizing public access in a fast-growing community, this office requires steady leadership, deep experience, and a servant’s heart. Few candidates embody that combination more completely than Judge Maria T. Jackson.

With more than 18 years on the bench and over 18,000 cases presided over, Judge Jackson brings to this race a proven record of fairness, discipline, and respect for the rule of law. Her campaign for Fort Bend County Clerk is not about learning on the job—it’s about elevating the job with experience earned the hard way: case by case, decision by decision, community by community.

A Judge Who Earned Trust Across the Spectrum

During her judicial career, Judge Jackson earned respect from every corner of the courtroom—victims and defendants, law enforcement and defense counsel, Democrats and Republicans alike. That reputation for balance and meticulous attention to detail led to broad support from organizations as discerning as the Houston Police Officers Union (HPOU), Combined Law Enforcement of Texas (CLEAT), and the Houston Regional Business Coalition (HRBC).

“The role of County Clerk is about managing the official records that mark the most important moments in people’s lives—from birth certificates to military records to death certificates,” Jackson explains. “After presiding over thousands of cases, I understand how critical accuracy, transparency, and professionalism are. That experience directly translates to managing this office with excellence.”

Rooted in Service, Grounded in Community

Judge Jackson’s story is deeply Texas—and unmistakably Houston. She attended Will Rogers Elementary School, Sidney Johnston Junior High School, graduated from the University of Texas, and earned her law degree from Texas A&M University. Her commitment to service was shaped early by her parents: a father who was a Texas Southern University graduate and U.S. Air Force fighter pilot in Vietnam, and a mother who served Harris County through a career in healthcare.

“From my parents, I learned that service comes before self,” Jackson says. “That principle has guided every chapter of my public life.”

First appointed as a Houston Municipal Judge by Mayor Lee P. Brown and later reappointed by Mayor Bill White, Jackson went on to win election as a Texas State District Judge in 2008, 2012, and 2016 before retiring in 2020. Along the way, she was named Best Criminal Court Judge by the Houston Press and received the Outstanding Public Service Award from the Mexican American Bar Association—honors that reflect both professional excellence and community trust.

Ready for a County on the Move

As a mother who raised her two sons in Fort Bend County, Judge Jackson understands the county’s remarkable diversity and accelerating growth. With the population on track to exceed one million residents, the demands on the County Clerk’s office—from technology upgrades to customer service expectations—are only increasing.

“Fort Bend County is one of the most racially and ethnically balanced counties in the nation,” Jackson notes. “That diversity is a strength, and it requires a clerk’s office that is reliable, respectful, responsive, and technologically prepared to serve everyone.”

Her vision emphasizes modernization without losing the human touch—efficient systems paired with compassionate service, and innovation guided by integrity.

A Steady Hand for a Critical Office

As early voting approaches, voters in Fort Bend County face a clear choice. Judge Maria T. Jackson offers not just qualifications, but confidence—confidence that the County Clerk’s office will be managed with precision, transparency, and care. Her lifelong commitment to public service, combined with decades of judicial leadership, positions her as a steady and trustworthy steward of one of the county’s most essential offices.

In a time when experience matters and integrity counts, Judge Maria T. Jackson stands ready to serve Fort Bend County—again, and at a moment when it matters most.