Charles B. "Chuck" Meyer is running as an independent for Montgomery County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, in the Nov. 3 general election. He faces Republican Brittany Gable-hale.

Asked why he is running, Meyer said in our questionnaire: "I decided to run when I learned our current seat had been filled by appointment over the Christmas holidays, without ever being opened to the public. I'm running as an Independent because I believe judges shouldn't campaign as partisans. Anyone who walks into a courtroom should never have to wonder whose team the judge is on."

Candidate information

Party affiliation: Meyer said in our questionnaire: "Independent. I petitioned onto the ballot and gave up my vote in the primary to run without a party label. As far as anyone at the county can recall, I'm the first independent candidate for a local judicial office in Montgomery County."

Family: Meyer said: "My wife, Monika Voigt Meyer, and I have been married for 43 years and have called The Woodlands home since 1995. We raised three daughters: Kathryn, who lives and works in Washington, D.C.; Laura, who lives and works in London; and Emily, whom we lost in 2024 to Juvenile Batten Disease. Today we share our home with two rescue dogs, Churchill and Cashew."

Education: Meyer said: "B.S., Systems Engineering, University of Virginia (1983) … M.S., Operations Research, The George Washington University (1985) … J.D., American University Washington College of Law (1989) … B.C.L. (graduate law degree), University of Oxford (2005) … Certificate, Generative AI for Business Applications, University of Texas McCombs School of Business (2025)"

Family in politics or government: "No," Meyer said.

Experience and public service

Occupation and work history: Meyer said: "Attorney, arbitrator, and mediator; owner of the Law Firm of Chuck Meyer, PLLC, in The Woodlands. I also work as an expert reviewer evaluating the legal accuracy of AI-generated content."

Meyer listed his prior positions in our questionnaire: "Judicial law clerk to Judge David A. Ezra, U.S. District Court, Honolulu … Judicial law clerk to Justice J. Craig Wright, Supreme Court of Ohio … Chief Legal Officer, Research In Motion (BlackBerry), and later head of its European operations … Visiting assistant professor of law, University of Houston and University of Pittsburgh … Contract assistant district attorney handling criminal appeals, Hardin County … Volunteer mediator, Montgomery County Dispute Resolution Center"

Previous office: Meyer said: "I have not held elected public office." He listed his appointed and civic positions as "Vice Chair, Advisory Board, Montgomery County Memorial Library System (county appointment; current)" and "Vice President, Panther Creek Village Association."

On the issues

Accomplishments as evidence for the job: Meyer said: "As a federal patent examiner for four years, I served in a quasi-judicial role, deciding whether applications met the law's requirements. As a federal law clerk, I drafted opinions in civil and criminal cases and served as a hearing officer on employment matters for the court's staff. … For several years I handled every criminal appeal and writ for the Hardin County District Attorney's Office. … As Chief Legal Officer of BlackBerry's parent company, I built a legal department and later led its European operations with more than 100 staff."

Differences from other candidates: Meyer said: "Independence. I'm running without a party label and owe nothing to any party or political group. Everyone in my courtroom will get the same hearing, whatever their politics or connections. … No conflicts. No member of my family works in law enforcement or the courts, so no one appearing before me will have reason to question my impartiality."

Best advice: Meyer said: "My mother always told me, 'Everything in moderation.' … Over time I came to see it as advice about judgment: avoid extremes, weigh both sides, and don't let any one impulse, interest, or passion take over."