The 315th District Court handles delinquency and dependency dockets, hearing cases in which children are charged with criminal offenses and CPS lawsuits alleging abuse and neglect of children.

When it comes to dependency matters, within months of taking the bench, Judge Shapiro ended indiscriminate shackling of detained youth appearing in the 315th District Court. She continues to advocate to end shackling of youth by working with the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission on Restraints in Juvenile Court. The 315th District Court works diligently to reduce pre-adjudication detention. Daily, the court evaluates detained youth for release and supports a return home by ordering appropriate services for the youth and family. Judge Shapiro and Associate Judge Fisher remain involved post-adjudication by attending graduations, participating in youth programming and events at the local Harris County probation placements, and making appearances in the community. For example, the Judges had the honor of supporting locally placed youth in their spoken-word performances at a slam poetry competition at the Alley Theatre.

Judge Shapiro and Judge Dena Fisher, Associate Judge of the 315th, have worked hard to bring more children in CPS cases to court, so that they can have a voice in their own cases. In addition, pre-COVID they have made themselves available to do in-chamber visits with children to offer them a more private and comfortable environment to speak directly to the judge presiding over their case. Both judges make themselves available during off hours to accommodate the children’s school and pro-social activities.

The 315th has two specialty courts and a specialty docket to address the specific needs of vulnerable populations in order to improve their engagement with the system and ultimate outcomes, C.A.R.E. Court and Court 360.

The C.A.R.E. Court

Judge Shapiro presides over the C.A.R.E. Court: Creating Acceptance Recovery Empowerment Court. The court serves youth identified as being actively engaged in or at risk of becoming involved in commercial sexual exploitation/sex trafficking by offering specialized supervision and therapeutic services. By utilizing a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and strength-based approach, C.A.R.E. Court effectively addresses the underlying trauma associated with each youth’s at-risk behaviors and related delinquent conduct.

Court 360

Judge Dena Fisher, Associate Judge of the 315th, presides over Court 360, which is a mental health specialty court. Court 360 focuses on helping young people with diagnoses and their families in identifying and addressing youths’ underlying mental health concerns associated with their at-risk and delinquent behaviors by providing intensive supervision and individualized case planning. Through advocacy, collaboration, and mentorship, youth are connected to services in their communities that address their mental health needs, enhance family functioning issues, and promote academic achievement, vocational attainment, and positive community engagement

Dual Status Docket

Both Judges also preside over the Dual Status Docket. Dual Status works with youth involved in both the delinquency and dependency systems, some of the most vulnerable populations involved in the court system. The court collaborates with Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Department of Child and Protective Services, and the University of Houston Law School’s Juvenile & Children’s Advocacy Project (JCAP)service providers to address the specific needs of dually involved youth, address trauma, and eliminate duplication.

Judge Shapiro presides over the C.A.R.E. Court: Creating Acceptance Recovery Empowerment Court. The court serves youth identified as being actively engaged in or at risk of becoming involved in commercial sexual exploitation/sex trafficking by offering specialized supervision and therapeutic services. By utilizing a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and strength-based approach, C.A.R.E. Court effectively addresses the underlying trauma associated with each youth’s at-risk behaviors and related delinquent conduct.

Education and Community Building Around Juvenile Sex Trafficking

Judge Shapiro aims to better systems and education beyond the matters appearing in the 315th District Court. As a member of the Houston Area Child Sex Trafficking Team Advisory Council, she works to improve collaboration and transparency, eliminate the additional victimization caused by detention in the criminal justice system, and ensure that every Houston-area child sex trafficking victim receives the most coordinated, effective, and trauma-informed response possible. She recently joined the Supreme Court of Texas Children’s Commission Human Trafficking Judicial Workgroup with members of the judiciary throughout the state to update the Children’s Commission’s Human Trafficking Bench Book and bench card. Recently, Judge Shapiro was honored to be invited to the Children’s Justice Act Statewide Multidisciplinary Task Force. She, along with stakeholders from across the state, are taking on the task to eliminate child sex abuse.

Court Operations and Representation

Locally, Judge Shapiro sits, for the second time, as the Harris County Juvenile Board Vice Chair, Secretary. As a member of the Harris County Juvenile Board, Judge Shapiro sponsored the amendment to require bias education for attorneys seeking court appointments to represent indigent clients. Judge Shapiro is a member of the Harris County Judicial Working Group and Jury Committee, where she, along with other judges, coordinated jury plans, crafted policies and procedures with local authorities, assisted with compliance coordination, and addressed the needs of the county and district courts during the pandemic.   

Judge Meredith Carr has served as Associate Judge of 315th District Court since 2023. Judge Carr brings a unique perspective to the bench, having represented litigants on every side of a child welfare case.

She started her legal career as an Assistant County Attorney at the Harris County Attorney's Office, where she represented the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Later, she opened her own private practice representing children and parents involved with DFPS lawsuits. Additionally, Judge Carr is board certified in Child Welfare Law. She is an alumni of the University of Houston Law Center for her JD, University of Texas at Arlington for her MSW, and Texas Christian University for undergrad. Prior to transitioning into a legal career she worked as a Licensed Master Social Worker at various nonprofits in Houston. Although not a Texan by birth, she has grown roots in Houston and fondly calls it home.

The 315th District Court performs marriages and adoptions for all families regardless of sexual orientation. To properly celebrate these moments, the court has a monthly docket dedicated to adoptions and children uniting with their forever family.