Derek Lawless has been serving the city of Levelland for 16 years now. It started with him in the Hockley County Sheriff's Office, where he served for a decade starting in 2010. Now, Lawless is an elected Justice of the Peace, and he has been for six years.
He’s built a family here, a community, and a commitment to make Hockley County the best it can be.
“This is my home,” Lawless said. “I want to make Levelland and Hockley County a better place for me, my family, and for the people we’re leaving it to.”
Lawless’s commitment extends beyond the words said. He serves as the first point of contact for those who have questions about the legal system. Whether it's small claims or disputes over large cases, misdemeanors, or civil cases.
There are many opportunities for people to come in and get help from a Justice of the Peace.
“People don’t realize the breadth of what a JP does,” Lawless said. “ From landlord-tenant issues to magistration, death inquests, and issuing warrants. Tenants have legal avenues to resolve unlivable living conditions, but many don’t know they can come to the JP’s office to make those filings.”
An important note Lawless made is that he wants people to come in without feeling nervous or the need to hold back. Especially with problems people may not know how to fix.
“Justice court is a place where it’s mostly selfrepresented litigants. That’s kind of where the title ‘the People’s Court’ came from,” Lawless said. “It’s meant to be a place where you can come, represent yourself, and be able to do it successfully without feeling overwhelmed by the process.”
Lawless believes that people aren’t always going to trust the government, because of that, he makes it a priority to listen and understand those coming to him, rather than just talking at them.
The idea is for people to know that they can come up and voice their concerns and feel heard. Even if the outcome isn’t what they hoped for, Lawless ensures their voices are heard and their perspectives matter.
“Sometimes the biggest changes happen in the smallest conversations,” Lawless said.
For him, the biggest goal for Hockley County is continuous improvement, making tomorrow better than today. It’s about building a community and building connections with one another. He believes that everyone's voice matters, and it's important to get involved.
“I would stress the importance of getting out to the polls and voting,” Lawless said. “You need to be involved in who is running your community.”
To Lawless, it’s important to know firsthand that local elections shape the daily lives of residents, from the way cases are handled in court to how offices interact with the public.
That understanding matches his approach to leadership, one of honesty and accountability.
“If you want someone to get into this office who will promise you that they'll never make a mistake, and they'll always do the job perfectly, then you shouldn't vote for me,” Lawless said. “Because I will make mistakes.”
Lawless emphasizes that making mistakes doesn’t mean failing the community. For him, being a public servant is about showing up, listening, and working in good faith. His focus isn’t perfection, but dedication, accountability, and building trust with the people he serves.
“I am a servant,” Lawless said. If I'm in the middle of my job, my duties, and someone calls, and they need help. If I have the ability to, I'm gonna stop what I'm doing. I'm gonna go help someone.
Learning from each experience and striving to do better is a key part of Lawless’s approach. Whether the public sees it or not, he continues to serve the people of Hockley County to the best of his ability.