Monday, February 1, 2010

The Race for County Court at Law # 12 (Democrat)

There are two attorneys running in the Democratic primary to face off against incumbent Judge Robin Brown for Court 12 in November. Robert Cardenas and Cheryl Harris-Diggs both practice criminal law, but I'm only familiar with Robert. Neither candidate appears to have an available website for their campaigns that I could find.

I recognize Ms. Diggs' name, but I don't believe that we've ever dealt with each other on a case. Maybe one of the commenters will be able to provide some information on her.

Robert and I tried a case against each other back when I was a Baby Prosecutor, and I recall him as being a very ethical and pleasant person to try a case against. He was fairly quiet, but he was thorough in his defense. We tried a DWI case against each other and I do remember that he cultivated a defense indicating his client had diabetes. Although the defense ultimately did not work, Robert had done a thorough job of presenting the case and establishing his defense.

He was above-board throughout the trial and I never knew of anyone ever having a problem with the way he handles his business.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Robin Brown is the fairest judge in Harris County. She can hammer a defendant and hold the State to its burden.

Court 12 is also a little calmer & quieter w/o Brenda & Matzig. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. Just different.

Anonymous said...

I like Judge Brown. Why didn't you endorse her? Anything I need to know?

Murray Newman said...

I like Judge Brown too, but for the primaries, she's uncontested. I'll do my endorsements for the November elections in the Fall.

Right now, it's all I can do to keep up with just the primaries!

Anonymous said...

Murray, I started at the DA's office at the same time you did and worked a lot with Cheryl on the misd. level and a little on the felony level. She was always professional and very ethical. She speaks fluent Spanish and so she got a lot of appointments. She also practiced family law on occasion, specializing in adoptions. She has spoken at HBA CLEs on that topic. But I think she did more criminal law than family law.

I think Judge Brown is okay, not great, not bad, but okay. And I usually vote Republican. But I think very highly of Cheryl and when I found out she was running, I thought "I'd vote for her in a heartbeat" no matter who she was running against or which court she was running in. She's humble, she is compassionate, she is smart, and that's who I want as a Judge --I would be shocked if she got "black robe disease." In sum, she's good people. I know most of you would recognize her if you saw her.

Anonymous said...

There must be more than one Robert Cardenas in the CJC. The one I frequently encounter is condesending to his clients and rude to court staff. Judicial temperment? I don't think so!

Anonymous said...

I've known Robert since elementary school and while I rarely vote for Dems; I've never known him to be rude or condescending.

Anonymous said...

I just looked at Cheryl Diggs' website and all its about is family law. She is running for a criminal bench but I've never seen her in a trial or doing a motion to suppress or anything. I think I once saw her in a Skelton seminar and remember seeing her speaking Spanish in the holdover. I remember she'd plea her people out and then leave the courthouse. Once, I was behind her and saw her walking and then entering the family courthouse.
If she lectured on adoptions I think that's good, but it just shows me she's really into family law.
I guess the big issue is that it's criminal court #12 and not family court #12.

Anonymous said...

Robert represented a member of the family and he did an excellent job-He is very professional,and knowledgeable.
Robert has my vote and that of my family.

Anonymous said...

http://www.facebook.com/search/?ref=search&q=cheryl%20harris&init=quick#!/pages/Cheryl-Harris-Diggs-for-Judge/243091467338

Episode Seven: The Voters Awaken - A One Act -Sci-Fi Play

SCENE:  The Death Star orbits over Downtown Houston. [INTERIOR] The Imperial Council Chambers. EMPRESS OGG sits at the head of a long table ...