At 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2025, Harris County District Attorney-elect Sean Teare will officially be sworn into office during a brief ceremony at the Criminal Justice Center. The event marks the beginning of Teare’s tenure, where he plans to immediately implement one of his key campaign promises: overhauling the Harris County District Attorney’s Office (HCDAO) Intake Division.
Teare will begin his tenure by swearing in Denise Nichols, a veteran prosecutor with decades of experience, as the new Bureau Chief of Intake. Nichols’ appointment is seen as a crucial step in strengthening the division, which plays a pivotal role in ensuring public safety and justice across the county. The Intake Division works closely with police officers and investigators, evaluating evidence to determine whether there is enough grounds to pursue prosecution.
Teare emphasized his commitment to reducing the court backlog and ensuring that crime survivors receive the justice they deserve. Under Nichols’ leadership, the division will focus on swiftly identifying strong cases that should move forward, while also preventing the clogging of the system with cases lacking sufficient probable cause.
“We have a lot of work to do in the coming years to improve the criminal justice system,” said Teare. “I have been building a plan during this transitional period that ensures we have experienced prosecutors on hand to swiftly identify the difference between a good case we should pursue in the name of justice and a case not supported by probable cause that will clog up our system and divert valuable resources from our mission of keeping our community safe.”
