Former Dallas County Commissioner J.J. Koch has been appointed Judge of the Dallas County District Court.

DALLAS – From leadership to judging, former Dallas County Commissioner J.J. Koch has been given a new role and mantle after the governor appointed him as a judge in the Dallas County District Court.

Koch accused some district judges of not doing enough work. Now he is there and says he expects the same level of responsibility.

On the bench in the 2nd Criminal Court is a man who previously sat on the Dallas County District Court: JJ Koch.

“It was an amazing opportunity,” he said. “I am very grateful to the governor for giving me the opportunity to continue to serve.”

Koch was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to complete the remaining two years of Judge Nancy Kennedy’s term.

Dallas County Commissioner John Wylie Price is not a fan of the governor, but he likes Koch’s nomination.

“A blind pig finds an acorn from time to time,” Price said.

Kennedy is now Judge Kennedy on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Records show that she was one of the top judges during her time in Dallas County.

“She was on the bench and she performed. So he needs to fill big shoes, but he also understands the other side of the equation,” Price said. “It’s not just about judges. It’s about the victims. It’s about people. We are talking about people, even those in custody. They have a right to their day in court.”

As commissioner, Koch complained about pending court cases and the workload of the judges. He said at the time that he wanted to withhold the county portion of the county judges’ pay until the backlog was reduced.

“I think there are a number of things that are very difficult in this job,” he said.

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Some of these things, according to Koch, referees cannot control. But what they can control, he says, they must control, adding what they will.

“So being on that bench is one of the things that you have complete control over. So, at least from this point of view, there will be no shortage,” he said. “So I’ll be on the bench putting in the effort. And everything else, things that are out of my control, I will just accept as they are.

For the trials, which begin next week through April, Koch entered into a series of plea agreements. This is how most cases are resolved.

Koch says he doesn’t know what his plans are for the future, but the governor expects him to run for judge at some level in two years.