Judge Joseph L. Guillory II
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2
Greetings Friends,
I am Judge Joseph L. Guillory II, and I am honored to serve as your Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2 in Jefferson County. Serving in this role is not just a duty—it is a deep and abiding calling to uphold justice, equity, and service on behalf of the people I have the privilege to represent.
As a lifelong resident of Port Arthur and a proud graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School, Class of 1986 , I am committed to the well-being of our community. My experience as a former law enforcement officer, businessman, minister, and family man has shaped me into the leader I am today—grounded in faith, driven by compassion, and focused on service
I stand on the shoulders of distinguished colleagues whose leadership continues to inspire my own work. Judge Naomi Doyle, elected in 2020 as the first African American female Justice of the Peace in Jefferson County , ushered in a new era of innovation and empowerment. Her programs—such as the Precinct One Day of Service , the Judicial Academy Internship and Mentorship Program, and the Resilience Summit—reflect a deep investment in our youth and our future.
Judge Brad Burnett, the longest-serving elected official in Jefferson County and the presiding judge of the county’s highest-volume court (Precinct 7), is another pillar of judicial excellence. His nationally recognized truancy reduction program, celebrated at the National Association of Counties Convention in Pittsburgh, has brought pride and progress to Jefferson County. His leadership in improving fine collections and tackling absenteeism has set a national standard—one I seek to model in my own court.
These judges have set the bar for visionary leadership, administrative innovation, and community-centered justice . I am proud to serve alongside them and to draw from their example as I lead Precinct 2 forward.
When you elected me on March 1, 2022, you entrusted me with the responsibility of ensuring accountability, fiscal integrity, and genuine representation. I did not seek this office for a job—I sought it to fulfill a mission. I have lived a life of service, and today, my mission is to serve you—our citizens—with transparency, honor, and respect.
In my courtroom, justice is blind, impartial, and rooted in law. Every decision I make is based on evidence and guided by integrity. My goal is to ensure that every person who enters receives fair and equitable treatment, regardless of background or circumstance.
As we face the challenges ahead, I remain committed to building a legacy of hope,progress, and opportunity —one that invests in our youth, protects our families, and secures a brighter future for generations to come.
Please continue to stay prayerful, engaged, and connected as we work together to transform our community— one life, one decision, and one act of justice at a time .
With gratitude and determination,
Judge Joseph L. Guillory II
Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2
Jefferson County, Texas
Below are several sources of information for persons who do not
have a lawyer.
The information is not legal advice and does not take the
place of an attorney.
Justice Court is a judicial forum to hear and decide civil cases involving claims in the amounts of $20,000.00 or less. The person filing the suit is known as the Plaintiff. The person being sued is called the Defendant. The Plaintiff will fill out a sworn petition and pay a filing fee and service fee called the "court costs" when filing the case. The Plaintiff will need to provide the correct name of the Defendant, he/she is filing against, a physical address where the Defendant can be served their petition and citation, the amount of money filed for, and the reason for the suit. The Plaintiff will also have to determine which case type to file.
The filing fee in a Civil suit is $54.00 and for Evictions, filing fee is $54.00 The service fee is $75.00 in a Civil suit for serving one defendant in Jefferson County, each additional Defendant will be $75.00 more to serve.(If they live in another county, the service fee could be different.) In an Eviction suit, the service fee is $75.00 for each defendant.
The clerk prepares a Citation and sends it to the proper Constable for service. It takes about 6-8 weeks to serve the defendant, (sometimes a little longer, if it is going to an out of county constable). As soon as the Constable returns the citation to the court, the clerk will call the Plaintiff and inform them of the court date. Prior to the Court notifying you, it is your responsibility to keep in touch with the court regarding your case (you should provide a case number or the names of the parties as filed-called the "Style" of the Case.
If the Defendant chooses not to appear, a Default Judgment may be granted against them. If Judgment is found for the Plaintiff, the Judgment will include the Court Costs paid to file the case. Please do not include the amount of costs in the amount you are filing for.
In the State of Texas, there is no guarantee that you will collect the Judgment from your Defendant.
If the Defendant has not satisfied the Judgment with the Plaintiff, the Plaintiff may file for an 'Abstract of Judgment' 21 days after Judgment, at the cost of $8.00 payable to the court, which puts a lien against any real property (such as their house or any land the Defendant may own) for 10 years and is renewable every 10 years. The Plaintiff will file the Abstract of Judgment with the County Clerk's office. You should call the County Clerk's office for the filing fee. This abstract may be filed in as many counties as the Defendant owns property in. Once the Judgment has been satisfied, the Plaintiff should remove the Abstract by filing a 'Release of Judgment' with the County Clerks office.
A defendant who is convicted of a criminal offense punishable by fine only is entitled to alternative methods of satisfying the judgment against them if they are unable to pay the fine or costs, in whole or in part.
Those alternative methods include: