HAYS COUNTY, Texas — Hays County has had a backlog of trials for years, and now the county is working to fix it.
Hays County reported that in March 2023, 25 defendants had been waiting for their day in court for more than 1,000 days. In July, the number dropped to 14. As of September, the number sits at one.
On Tuesday, District Judge Tanner Neidhardt presided over a case that was tried earlier this year. However, the offense dates back to September 2019, which the judge notes is "too long to wait."
Neidhardt, who stepped into his position in January 2023, said he was alarmed by the number of defendants awaiting trial back in March 2023. He noted the district attorney's office, other judges, the commissioner's court and other colleagues banded together to reduce that number.
"When we wait too long, I think that justice gets compromised," Neidhardt said. "We're pushing through these cases now so that everyone gets their fair trial."
Neidhardt pointed to a Texas court system study that 98% of cases should be completed within a year. When years pass, the downfall is memories not being fresh in witnesses' minds, the commitment to the case and people who end up leaving the state unwilling to come back.
"It's not fair to the jurors. It's not fair to the defendant who had the wait, and it's not fair to the victims," Neidhardt said.
Sam Benavides, an advocate with Mano Amiga, has worked with countless defendants in criminal cases. She explained that although the county is making progress, more resources and initiatives should be provided in an effort to reduce crime.
"How do we address the root causes of crime and make sure that people's basic needs are met so that there is an actual reduction in crime?" Benavides asked. "We don't need to resort to arrest in the legal system to address it."
Neidhardt said the delays won't disappear, but with the work underway, his hope is to keep the number of people waiting down.
"There's a long way to go, and we just have to keep working," Neidhardt said.