David Fleischer (judge)
{{Short description|American judge}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = David Fleischer
| image =
| caption =
| honorific-suffix =
| office = Judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 5
| term_start = January 2019
| term_end =
| appointer =
| predecessor = Margaret Harris
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|12|6}}
| birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| residence =
| party = Democratic
| alma_mater = {{plainlist|
}}
}}
David Marcel Fleischer (born December 6, 1974) is an American judge of the Harris County Criminal Court in Texas.{{Cite web |last1=Barajas |first1=Michael |last2=Ewing |first2=Maura |date=2022-02-25 |title=Judicial Elections Test Profound "Cultural Shift" in Houston |url=https://boltsmag.org/judicial-elections-test-houston-reforms/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Bolts |language=en}} He was first elected to the position in 2018, running as a Democrat, and won reelection in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Judicial Q&A: David Fleischer {{!}} Off the Kuff |url=http://www.offthekuff.com/wp/?p=84505 |access-date=2024-10-12 |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last1=Harab |first1=Matt |title=Alexandra Mealer, Harris County Judge candidate, among Republicans contesting election results |url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/elections/2023/01/06/440649/republican-harris-county-judge-candidate-contesting-mid-term-election-defeat/ |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=Houston Public Media |date=January 6, 2023}} Fleischer is popular online for his unique style of holding defendants accountable while offering guidance.{{cite news |title=Texas judge becomes internet hit |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/video/texas-judge-internet-hit-116577452 |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=ABC News |date=December 8, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Wilburn |first1=Caroline |title=Houston Judge Fleischer wants to help those who enter his courtroom. Some argue his viral videos are harmful. |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/houston-judge-fleischer-viral-youtube-19978121.php |access-date=25 December 2024 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=December 22, 2024}}{{Peacock inline|date=June 2025}}
Biography
Fleischer was born on December 6, 1974, in Houston, Texas. He is a first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Santiago, Chile, to Houston in 1973.{{cite news |last1=Tallet |first1=Olivia P. |title=Q&A: David M. Fleischer |url=https://www.chron.com/politics/election/article/Q-A-David-M-Fleischer-12726024.php |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=Chron |date=March 3, 2018}}{{Cite web |title=All rise … The Honorable Judge Hill presiding |url=https://jhvonline.com/all-rise-the-honorable-judge-hill-presiding-p25245-314.htm |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=jhvonline.com}} He graduated from the University of Houston and Cooley Law School. Fleischer has been a lawyer in Texas since 2004 and was a criminal defense attorney before running for public office.
In 2018, Fleischer ran for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 5 after incumbent Margaret Harris declined to run for reelection.{{cite news |title=For County Criminal Court No. 5: Xavier Alfaro |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/recommendations/article/Criminal-Court-5-Xavier-Alfaro-David-Fleischer-13312685.php |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=October 16, 2018 |quote="Judge Margaret Harris isn't running for reelection and voters have a choice between two well-qualified challengers for this open seat."}} He focused his campaign on reforming the court and ensuring that all defendants are treated fairly and equally. In the Democratic primary, he faced two challengers and received 50% of the vote, moving on to the general election.{{cite web |title=Democratic Party Cumulative Report |url=https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/HISTORY/20180306/cumulative/Dem/cumulative.pdf |publisher=Harris County |access-date=21 December 2024 |date=March 14, 2018}} In the general election, Fleischer defeated Republican Xavier Alfaro 55.13% to 44.87%.{{cite web |title=Cumulative Report — Official |url=https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/HISTORY/20181106/cumulative/cumulative.pdf |publisher=Harris County |access-date=21 December 2024 |date=November 14, 2018}}
Once in office, Fleischer worked with other reform judges to settle lawsuits that ruled the bail practices in Harris County were unconstitutional. Under the enacted bail reform, there was a significant reduction of people denied a bond for misdemeanor offenses as well as defendants not being jailed for being late to court or testing positive for marijuana.
Fleischer ran for re-election in 2022 and faced two District Attorney challengers, a Democrat and a Republican. In the March primary election, Fleischer defeated challenger Carlos Aguayo 53.48% to 46.52%.{{cite web |title=Cumulative Results Report |url=https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/HISTORY/20220301/Official%20DEM%20Cumulative%20Results.pdf |publisher=Harris County |access-date=21 December 2024 |date=March 10, 2022}} In the general election, he faced Elizabeth Buss who had criticized the county's progressive judges for the increase in violence. Fleischer defended the county's bail reform, saying, "We put in a lot of work [to show] that any fear that someone might have had about bail reform is just nonsensical in the misdemeanor arena."{{cite news |last1=Carlton |first1=Rachel |title=Harris County misdemeanor bail reform in spotlight as judicial elections loom |url=https://communityimpact.com/houston/bay-area/city-county/2022/09/28/harris-county-misdemeanor-bail-reform-in-spotlight-as-judicial-elections-loom/ |access-date=21 December 2024 |work=Community Impact |date=September 29, 2022}} In the November election, Fleischer narrowly defeated Buss, 50.15% to 49.85%.{{cite web |title=Cumulative Results Report |url=https://files.harrisvotes.com/harrisvotes/prd/Reports/November%208%20General%20and%20Special%20Elections%20-%20Official%20Cumulative%20Results.pdf |publisher=Harris County |access-date=21 December 2024 |date=November 19, 2022}}
In 2024, Fleischer received national attention for his viral videos for his blunt commentary while ruling on cases, while also providing guidance and compassion for defendants.{{Cite web |title=Texas Judge unexpected response to man's marijuana arrest - Upworthy |url=https://www.upworthy.com/texas-judge-marijuana-case |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=www.upworthy.com |language=en}} He has also received praise for his stance on racial justice and for dismissing cases involving potential racial profiling by law enforcement.{{Cite web |last=F |first=Yasmeen |date=2024-06-14 |title='What's He Doing Wrong?': Headstrong Texas Judge Condemns Cops for Racial Profiling Black Man Arrested While Walking In a Park with Epic Response |url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2024/06/14/texas-judge-goes-viral-for-calling-out-racial-profiling-of-black-man/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Atlanta Black Star |language=en-US}} Some defense attorneys have criticized Fleischer for "playing to the camera" when live streaming his cases.
Personal life
Fleischer is married and has three children with his wife. His mother is Jewish.{{Cite web |last=Hardy |first=Jen |date=August 22, 2024 |title=Judge David Fleischer Interview, (Harris County Texas) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vz0l59dChI |archive-date= |website=YouTube}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://ballotpedia.org/David_Fleischer Ballotpedia]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fleischer, David}}
Category:Texas state court judges
Category:21st-century American judges
Category:21st-century American lawyers
Category:American people of Chilean descent
Category:University of Houston alumni
Category:Western Michigan University Cooley Law School alumni