Houston's Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has stepped into the spotlight yet again, although this time it's about her personal life, as she has announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend David James, an attorney specializing in personal injury and civil rights. The 32-year-old politician, known for her governance rather than her romantic inclinations, revealed the news on social media platforms including Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter), expressing her joy and marking a new chapter with her partner of nine years, as reported by The Houston Chronicle.
🎉💍 Exciting news! Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is thrilled to announce her engagement to her longtime partner. Congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple! pic.twitter.com/BWxe0fYQGg
— Office of Judge Lina Hidalgo (@HarrisCoJudge) January 30, 2024
Hidalgo conveyed her elation in a post saying, "Thrilled to share some personal news with all of you! David and I are overjoyed to announce our engagement! We met 9 years ago and through all these years and all kinds of challenges, he’s been at the center of my world," no wedding date has yet been disclosed but the county judge's followers are teeming with excitement and curiosity about the upcoming nuptials. In a statement given to KHOU, her message was echoed largely reflecting the essence of her announcement without an additional hint as to when they might tie the knot, here's the link to the aforementioned announcement.
James, 35, who is employed with the Austin-based Edwards Law firm, has built a notable legal career by representing plaintiffs in state and federal courts and holds a license to practice across all federal courts in Texas along with the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals; before this, he served his fellowship with the Texas Civil Rights Project, where he supervised staff and handled civil rights cases.
The couple, who've been together nearly a decade, have been through a fair share of trials, including Hidalgo's battle with depression for which James had been a pillar, paying for most of the treatment that included medication, group therapy, and one-on-one sessions to the tune of about $88,000 Hidalgo disclosed the financial strain that the treatment inflicted and the support she received from James in an interview with The Houston Chronicle back in October.
As Harris County awaits more details, what is clear is that Judge Hidalgo, a figure typically enmeshed in the ebb and flow of public policy and civic engagement, finds herself at the heart of a far more personal story, one of love, commitment, and partnership that kindles a different sort of intrigue amongst her constituents and admirers alike.
