El Paso Matters – Meet the Democratic candidates for judge of County Criminal Court at Law No. 1

Linda Noelle Estrada: A county court serves the community best when it is run efficiently and is mindful of the community’s resources and time. I plan to expand on the use of paperless processes and utilize Zoom for hearings on uncontested matters. I will also be respectful of potential jurors’ time by excusing panels when not needed and limit the time they are sacrificing while serving their civic duty.

Linda Perez: I am fortunate to have inherited a court that ran an efficient docket. I will continue to work hard to run an efficient docket in order to ensure that justice is dispensed fairly and efficiently.

Linda Noelle Estrada: After I was licensed in 2012, I worked as a criminal defense attorney representing individuals charged with offenses from Class C misdemeanors to murder. In 2018, I was appointed as a part-time magistrate and worked evenings, weekends and holidays while maintaining a law practice. In 2020, a full-time position opened up and, with my experience, I felt that I could contribute to the court in a meaningful way.

Linda Perez: I’ve always wanted to serve the El Paso community as a judge. I have tailored my legal career with the goal of preparing me to one day serve as a judge. That opportunity to serve culminated on December 18, 2023, when I was sworn in as your Judge of County Criminal Court at Law Number 1. I will diligently discharge the duties of this office in dispensing justice fairly and efficiently and promise to be fair, respectful and compassionate to all who come before the court. 

Linda Noelle Estrada: I will propose a specialty court that focuses on gang intervention due to the recent influx of gang affiliated violence and the use of firearms in our community. The program would provide monitoring and resources such as substance abuse treatment, tattoo removal, a mentoring program, education and job assistance. Participants who successfully graduate from the program would not have a conviction on their record and would leave with the resources to become productive members of our community.

Linda Perez: Having served as a prosecutor and a criminal defense attorney, I have seen the role substance abuse, mental health and homelessness play in our criminal justice system. I would work to establish a court administered treatment program for misdemeanor offenders in order to provide more comprehensive services that provide for future success and reduce the rate of recidivism.

Linda Noelle Estrada: I have confidence in the democratic process as it exists now and believe that the decision of who will preside should be left to the voters. I am running now because I believe that I can run an efficient docket while treating all participants involved with fairness, patience and respect. If there came a time when I did not believe that I could continue to do this, I would not seek re-election.

Linda Perez: I will serve as long as the El Paso Community will allow me to serve.

Linda Noelle Estrada: I am the only candidate whose entire career has been focused on criminal law. I was a defense attorney for eight years and have five years of judicial experience. Through this combined experience, I have had the opportunity to work closely with all departments involved with the criminal justice process, have supervised court staff and managed an efficient docket.

Linda Perez: I was unanimously appointed by El Paso County Commissioners Court to serve as judge of this court.  I am the most experienced candidate with over 14 years of experience. Before taking the bench, I had the opportunity to see our justice system through four different lenses: as an Assistant Attorney General, an Assistant County Attorney, an Assistant District Attorney and a Deputy Public Defender. My experience gives me a unique and well-rounded perspective on the meaning of justice.