Welcome Judge Michael Garner

The Baytown Municipal Court officially has a new judge. 

Michael Garner was sworn in Thursday morning during a ceremony at the Baytown Municipal Court. In a fitting moment for the court, retiring Judge Julie Escalante administered the oath of office after serving the City for 28 years.

Judge Garner’s family joined City leadership and staff for the occasion. City Manager Jason Reynolds and District 4 Councilman James Franco thanked Judge Escalante for her decades of service and welcomed Garner back to Baytown.

Before taking the bench, Judge Garner served as City Attorney in Conroe. He also previously served Baytown as Assistant City Attorney, where he played a key role in the transition of Baytown’s Municipal Court to a Court of Record, bringing him back to a court and community he already knows well.

Judge Garner begins work immediately and will soon be presiding over cases.