Republican William Knight and Democrat MarQuetta “MarQ” Clayton face off in the race for judge of Tarrant County’s Criminal District Court No. 2 in November. The court is one of 11 criminal district courts that handles adult felony cases for the county. Incumbent Judge Wayne Salvant’s term ends Dec. 31.
Knight, a prosecutor with the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office , has served in their Intimate Partner Violence Unit and Special Victims Unit . He previously worked as a staff attorney at the Texas Department of Public Safety, and is board certified in criminal law.
Clayton, a criminal defense attorney in Fort Worth, is the founder of the Clayton Law Firm . She also chairs the Tarrant County Expunction Clinic and is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Girl2Girl Foundation . Clayton has been admitted into the Texas Bar College .
The candidate’s responses to our questionnaire are presented as they were answered. They have not been altered or edited in any way.
William Knight
Political party: Republican
Age (as of Nov. 5, 2024): 39
Campaign website: knightforjudge.com
Best way for voters to reach you: Email: william@knightforjudge.com
Occupation: Prosecutor
Education: All Saints’ Episcopal School; Southern Methodist University- BBA; St. Mary’s University- JD/MBA
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years): 371st District Court- Republican Primary March 2022
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism: DA Phil Sorrells said publicly that I am the hardest working prosecutor at the DA’s Office. In 2019, I was voted Child Abuse Prosecutor of the Year by my law enforcement peers. This award was presented to me at second base at the Ballpark in Arlington. In 2023, I put five murderers in prison and two of them were back-to-back life sentences from Tarrant County juries. My favorite moment from my legal career is when I received a hug from a ten-year-old boy after a trial. He hugged me when he knew he was never going to be sexually abused by his mom’s boyfriend again because the jury put him in prison for the rest of his life. When he hugged me, he really did not understand the legal proceeding and what had taken place. He just knew I got the job done for him. Hire me and I will get the job done for you on the bench.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: No.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?: Rusty Reid, Stephen Gilchrist, Pamela Gilchrist
Why are you seeking this office?: The reason I have always wanted to be a judge is because of what happened when my dad was threatened in court. My dad was a prosecutor and was at the DA’s Office until his death. As my dad walked by a man in court, the man mentioned me and my mother by name- this was intended to be a threat. For someone to know our names before the internet took serious effort, and it terrified my dad. As a result, I was never allowed to go anywhere at school by myself. When I was older, I asked my dad why we had that rule, and I can still remember how angry I was that someone threatened my mom. I asked my dad how it was resolved, and he explained it by saying, “The judge kept us safe.” Ever since then I have wanted to be a judge to help keep people safe.
What are your top 3 policy priorities?:
(1) To be a judge with sound judicial temperament that enforces the law with well-reasoned, thoughtful decisions while treating the litigants with fairness and respect.
(2) Better docket management to more effectively keep our citizens safe.
(3) Pray for the wisdom to know what is right and for the courage to follow through with it.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?: I am the only candidate in the race endorsed by law enforcement, which says a lot for a criminal bench, and I am the only candidate who is Board Certified in Criminal Law. I’m honored to be endorsed by the Arlington Police Association, the Tarrant County Law Enforcement Association, three elected Constables and many others. I am the only career prosecutor in my race- that matters. I’ve spent my career holding murderers and child molesters accountable for their actions. I’ve served in two special prosecution units and have experience supervising attorneys. My Special Victims Unit and Intimate Partner Violence Unit experience makes me the ideal candidate to enforce the laws as written. Victims deserve to be heard, and defendants deserve due process. It takes a judge with the right kind of temperament and experience to make sure those things happen at the same time. Hire me as the next judge of CDC2 and that is exactly what you’ll get.
MarQuetta ‘MarQ’ Clayton
Political party: Democrat
Age (as of Nov. 5, 2024): 40
Campaign website: MarQClaytonforJudge.com
Best way for voters to reach you: Email: MarQforJudge@gmail.com
Occupation: Criminal Defense Attorney
Education: Texas A&M University School of Law , Fort Worth, Texas Juris Doctorate., December 2015 – Licensed May 2016. University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, Pre-Medical Studies, July 2006.
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years): 2022 Election cycle - Tarrant County Criminal Court 7
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism: Executive Board Member - L. Clifford Davis Legal Association. Tarrant County Expunction Clinic Chair. Co-founded Tarrant County Lawyers Against Injustice, provided pro bono legal services to 2020 protestors. 4Tarrant Civic 101 educational forums.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: Yes, child custody.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?: Aunt LaRissa Clayton, Northeast Tarrant Democrats, and myself.
Why are you seeking this office?: I am running for judge of Tarrant County Criminal District Court 2 because it is imperative that we have representation in our judiciary. Our justice system needs real change. I’m committed to reforming our rehabilitation programs to include career readiness resources, so it enhances lives not just punish them. I’ll ensure to follow the law and uphold our Constitution. I will do my part to keep our jails safe by running efficient dockets, protect our juvenile resources, and ensure your tax dollars are not wasted.
What are your top 3 policy priorities?: My top 3 priorities are to reduce jail population, conditions of bonds, and reduce clogged dockets. I have a strategic plan to effectively reduce case backlog and implement processes that would ensure no case pends longer than 3 years. This would in turn assist with reducing the jail population. Lastly, I believe it is imperative that we are actually looking at the case circumstances to determine what, if any, bond conditions are necessary and which conditions would be appropriate.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)?: I have proved to possess the skills necessary to successfully carry out the duties of Judge for Tarrant County Criminal District Court 2. I have the most diverse experience for this role. I have litigated cases as a criminal defense attorney, prosecutor, and family law attorney. This varied experience allows me to keep an open mind when hearing cases. I am a business owner and have held multiple financial roles giving me experience managing budgets, employees, and performing data analysis. I have proven leadership experience through service on several executive board. As a mother, I have learned the true meaning of patience, compassion, and determination. I have a strong desire to serve and help others. I am humanity-driven, fair, and trustworthy. I will apply these same principals to my commitment on the bench.
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