Bringing Justice to Precinct 3: An Interview with Judge Sonia Rash

On a bright spring morning in Fort Bend County, Texas, I joined Judge Sonia Rash in her Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace courtroom. Born and raised in this very community by parents who emigrated from South Asia in the 1970s, Judge Rash carried with her the lessons of service and responsibility they had instilled. After completing a political science degree and working in local nonprofits, she pursued law at the University of Houston. In private practice she specialized in family and landlord-tenant matters, but it was the call to serve that led her, in 2018, to the bench.

Her days begin before dawn with a review of the docket alongside her court coordinator and clerk, followed by magistration sessions and small-claims hearings. By afternoon, she presides over landlord-tenant disputes or truancy matters, always making time for community outreach—whether that means speaking at a school assembly or meeting with a neighborhood association. Though her docket was clear on this particular morning, Judge Rash remains ready for whatever new filings may arrive.

In her courtroom, she handles Class C misdemeanors such as minor traffic offenses, municipal code violations, and small claims disputes up to $20,000. Unattended-death inquests and magistration for arrested individuals also fall under her purview. To ensure efficiency and fairness, her office recently introduced an online check-in system, cutting wait times dramatically. “Every person who walks in here deserves respect and clarity,” she told me, explaining how she and her staff provide bilingual resources in English and Spanish so that legal procedures are accessible to all.

For Judge Rash, justice is not merely about enforcing rules; it is about access, accountability, and education. She believes in making processes transparent, holding everyone equally to the law, and using her courtroom as a platform to inform the public about their rights. Through quarterly “Court in the Community” events at local libraries and twice-monthly free legal clinics run in partnership with aid organizations, she brings the justice system directly to residents, answering questions, assisting with filings, and even staging mock trials with students.

One story in particular stays with her: a single mother facing a traffic citation she could not afford. Instead of imposing a fine, Judge Rash offered a community-service alternative. The mother completed her hours while receiving job training and childcare support, ultimately landing stable employment. “Watching her leave hopeful,” Judge Rash reflected, “reminded me that justice can transform lives, not just punish.”