Mike Anderson held a press conference today announcing who would be filling the positions in his Leadership Team starting on January 1st. I know that most of you have already heard them, but in case you haven't, here they are.
Judge Belinda Hill -- First Assistant
Bert Graham -- Of Counsel
Dick Bax -- General Counsel
Connie Spence -- Chief of Special Crimes Bureau
Roe Wilson -- Chief of the Legal Services Bureau
Karen Morris -- Chief of the Public Service Bureau
Maria McAnulty -- Chief of the Trial Bureau
Jane Waters -- Chief of the Special Victims Bureau (NOTE: This seems to be a new Bureau that will incorporate both Family Violence, Child Abuse, and Child Pornography)
Richard Holland -- Chief Investigator
Julian Ramirez -- Division Chief of the Civil Rights Division
Terese Buess -- Division Chief of the Public Integrity Division
There are still some things that need to be ironed out, most notably who the individual Trial Bureau Division Chiefs are, as well as the ones over Misdemeanor and Juvenile. I understand that is still in the works.
51 comments:
wow, lots of estrogen.
So who is not returning?
they're firing people right now...
We are hearing Vic is going to handle misdemeanor.
E-mails went out today for contract renewals?
So who all is out? I know there will be some surprises and some not-so-surprises. I'd just hate to run into one of them and not know it.
How do Lana and Rachel keep their jobs? BULLSH!T!!!!!!
I believe that Rachel did get called to the 6th floor. Didn't hear anything about Lana.
Ain't.no way those two stil work there!
Rachel stays? This is going to be a problem. Every person fired contributed more to this office than she did. She plead the 5th in front of a grand jury when asked about her acts in her capacity as an ADA. I am shocked. Especially after Mike said on tv that he would fire her.
Ditto Anon 6:24 PM. And I guess it helps to go hunting with Mike. This is a fail.
Lana has applied with the Governor to be appointed to Belinda Hill's bench.
At this point, I say we trust the people we elected.
This is just the start. Let's hold off on the "arm-chair quarter backing" until it all shakes out.
"I don't know how you can gain the public trust or regain the image you want to have in the public if you have someone in the office that the public believes committed a crime and just won't testify about it," Anderson said.
From a Channel 13 interview on May 30, 2012
Apparently he is a politician after all.
Surely our Gov wouldn't appoint someone that was so soundly trounced in their primary race?
Lana is out--have confirmed this with leadership team
Re:RP. You readers are mostly lawyers. Knowing that, please take a step back and think about the effect if firing RP. There would be a retaliation or wrongful termination lawsuit and the ugly drama of a year ago and the primary would be rehashed again and again distracting from the positive changes and good work that will occur with the new administration. RPs file was out thru the exact sane process as everyone else. She has a good personnel file (no shocker there). The county would have a very difficult time defending the firing. Be patient. She will be put in a position where she will sink or swim just like everyone else. Or she will see that her presence in the office is not wanted and does not benefit the office and will leave. Give it time, dear readers. Good things are happening.
Her file was put thru the same process... Sorry for the typos
Anon 2:31, clealy you are part of the transition team and probably someone who has been out of the office for years. You have no true concept of the RP issues. The stance taken gives Palmer a blank check. She gets a bad eval in the future she sues. She gets a cold shoulder at work she sues for a hostile work environment. She gets an assignment she doesn't like she sues.
RP is now in a position of strength and the office weakened.
So the new administration comes in not with a bang but a whimper. Yippie kye yay!
Anon 2:31 and 2:23 - I liked your typo. I prefer to think that Rachel's file was put through a "sane" check considering her history of look good, god is great and and owner of the other blog. That being said - I am going to enjoy her sink or swim once she gets her assignment as she swims upstream in a rip tide!
The new administration was free to renew or not renew whoever's contract they wanted. Remember, they are employees at will. And Mike made it pretty clear after the primary that, given her blatant lack of integrity and professionalism when called in front of the GJ, there would be no place for RP in the HCDAO if he was the DA come 2013. And there aren't too many people who know her and her antics that would disagree with him. Good riddins!
Several of us heard yesterday RP's contract was not renewed. In a right to work state, Anderson can clearly decide who he doesn't want working for him. Can someone please confirm one way or another. Thank you.
My understanding is that Rachel will have a job available to her under the new Administration. There are several reasons for that -- none of which have anything to do with her being respected in her job as a prosecutor.
The mere fact that RP would agree to work in the new administration says volumes about her character. For one whose husband, and by extension, herself, pilloried Mike Anderson as being unqualified to hold the office, yet now would agree to work there, personifies hypocrisy.
Please provide us the reason why Anderson would keep her on? If it relates to her personnel file, why were individuals who came in with Patsy not renewed? I know their files smelt like roses.
I'm very disappointed in Anderson and his first real test of being a manager.
I'll address the reasons later. Got other stuff on my mind at the moment.
However, there were several members of Lykos' staff who did not ask to be considered for a contract under the new Administration. Rachel, as always, was the exception. And not in a good way.
I highly doubt that Rachel has any desire to work for the Anderson Administration. It is my opinion that she only listed herself as seeking contract renewal so that she could potential sue if that contract was not renewed.
Screen capture that, Don.
I am upset that RP would have a position offered to her. Her lack of integrity alone should be just cause for not renewing her contract. However, I am sure that Mr. Anderson has a reason, I will trust that he knows exactly what he is doing.
Sue
As I read these blogs it is my opinion (apparently others as well) that it appears this new administration, which I wholeheartedly supported, might be starting out with some very bad legal advice. Since I am not part of the equation, however, I will defer to those that seemingly believe that they have undertaken the best legal course. Once put out to pasture, it seems appropriate for me to stay there and I will.
Calvin A. Hartmann
Programming Note: I'm not publishing the names of anyone who did not get their contracts renewed at this time. The names will come out on their own accord later on. I went through this same thing four years ago and my heart goes out to those who lost their jobs. I'm not going to make it worse for them.
It is my understanding that RP did not respond to the email that went out from the transition team asking each current employee to respond whether they wanted to be considered for employment starting January 1. The email specifically said that if you did not respond, the administration would interpret that as a "no" and your contract would not be renewed.
A very astute observation regarding legal advice Mr. Hartman.
If the administration has gotten counsel that firing Palmer would expose the county to any modicum of liability, then that advise is rotten. Absent some manifest discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender, age, religious affiliation, etc. employees can be fired at anytime for any reason. There is no state law claim for wrongful termination. The single exception to that is a whistleblower action wherein the employer fires the employee for otherwise refusing to do something illegal. The only other possible claim she could have is harassment generated through a hostile work environment. But since she won't to begin working for this administration until Jan. 1, it is legally impossible for her to have experienced a hostile work environment. Of course, if she is allowed to stay, over time she could certainly attempt to manufacture a hostile work environment claim. Which is precisely why it would be astoundingly poor judgement to allow her to stay for one single minute. This is all Texas employment law 101.
The same reason that Palmer wouldn't have any legitimate claim is the same reason Murray and the others fired by Lykos had no legal recourse when they were fired. It's the law.
Just to further clarify my comment of 7:51 P.M., please remember that Lykos' seeming reign of terror does not end until midnight at the start of 2013, that is Mike Anderson technically or legally has no authority to hire a transition team, a leadership team, (as assistant district attorneys) or for that matter any assistant district attorneys until he is formally sworn in on January 1, 2013, the day his term of office begins as District Attorney. I assume that Mike's "transition team", if paid by the county, is part of the Lykos administration. In any event putative "pink slips", (no job offer), and job offers in reality can not effectively take place until January 1, 2013 when he is District Attorney.
Calvin A. Hartmann
Fear of a lawsuit by the County attorney seems to be a poor reason for renewing her. A promise was made to the electorate that she wouldn't be renewed during the primary because an Assistant District attorney,whose primary responsibility is seeking truth and justice, hid that truth from a grand Jury. That's a character flaw that's unacceptable and those of us who have walked the walk and we all know it. I guess the county attorney, who never has walked the walk, doesn't have the confidence that he could convince a jury that integrity matters to us. That's a shame.
I really wonder how much of an award a jury would give her, if she were to somehow prevail. Could it be more than a years salary? Got me, but the price paid by failing to keep the promise is probably higher.
I will bet Roger is kicking himself now that he realizes he would still have a job if he had just asked to be renewed. I am sure his evaluations were excellent.
I had to put on Beethoven's Ninth, I have lost faith and I am searching for hope.
In most instances where a civil lawsuit goes to trial, the County Attorney usually has the good sense to hire outside counsel. Otherwise they roll over and cough up a little money.
Maybe you should put on Schubert's Unfinished Symphony for guidance......
This isn't over.
Has everyone forgotten that Mike Anderson took on and crushed the incumbent candidate for District Attorney? He is no push-over. I trust Mike and I am sure he is making many decisions based on information we are not privy to on this blog.
I also do not believe Mike is afraid of Rachel as I am sure she and Hooper would like to believe. Rachel Palmer had better remember that Mike Anderson will be in no less a position on Jan. 1 and at anytime he chooses thereafter to rid himself of her than he was last Friday when several people were informed their contracts will not be renewed. For purposes of wrongful termination litigation, failing to renew a contract is the same thing as firing a person. I don't know when or if he will choose to do that, but if I were Rachel, I might consider not unpacking my boxes in my newly assigned office.
I also don't think Mike is as eaten up with Hooper's blog contents as some are. Unlike his predecessor, Mike actually has thick skin and isn't easily dragged into a pissing match with a no-count illiterate nut.
He wasn't afraid of taking on Pat Lykos, I certain he can handle the likes of Rachel Palmer. Is the State ready, Rachel? (lol)
-Spunk
As I sit and read the responses a thought has come to mind that most people just need a little drama or they get pissy.
I am sure that Mike will hire, promote, appoint those individuals who will work for the people of Harris County and the State. Those who seek justice and those who care only about the victims.
So its the Holiday season and we should just sit back and enjoy our families and each other while we can and let the course of history to come travel its own path.
A couple pointers for your return to trial bureau and actually doing work:
In district court, you get 10 peremptory strikes. .
Lie detectors have been deemed unreliable and, thus, inadmissible. Also, any mentIon of them is a no-no.
Victims are the people who have suffered some crime and need a voice to speak for them in a court at law.
Secretaries pulling the next day's docket would appreciate you not keeping office door closed all day.
If I, or one of my family members, happen to be a victim of a crime over the next few months, I pray "God is good" enough for it not to land in whatever court you are assigned.
I still have a copy of your offense report wherein your husband flashed your badge. Please sue. I'd be happy to file an original answer on behalf of our taxpayers. . Please know that Exhibit A to my Original Answer will be a Notice to take your deposition, along with the longest duces tecum your ass has ever seen - and that, my dear, is saying something.
Anon 8:34 PM -
On the topic of Texas Employment 101 and the notion that "since she won't to begin working for this administration until Jan. 1, it is legally impossible for her to have experienced a hostile work environment," I won't insult the word asinine by using it here. Rachel doesn't work for Lykos and wouldn't be working for Anderson if she stayed around. She works under the DA in the DA's office; who is in the driver's seat at any given moment doesn't preclude filing a claim alleging a hostile work environment, even if it means filing a claim during Anderson's tenure for events that occurred under Lykos' reign.
Hobbes:
Since she pretty much ran the show under the Lykos administration, I'm sure the reasonable assumption is that she would not complain of a hostile work environment relating to her tenure under the Lykos administration. She is obviously not a friend of Anderson and Co. So the point is that it is more dangerous to let her stay than to show her the door. She does not have a viable wrongful termination claim and there isn't a jury in Texas who would say otherwise.
Murray,
We are hearing the Tammy Thomas will take over for Steve in Major Offenders. Wonder where he goes....
Also hearing that Hawkins was never doing anything for Mike, and that was just Hawkins imagination at work.
In fact if she were to make a claim it would not survive summary judgment unless she could show she was terminated for refusing to commit an illegal act. That seems not to be the case or the 5th would not have been invoked with the Grand Jury.
People quit whining!
Mike won. Mike gets to do what he wants to do. It is not a democracy. It was never a democracy under previous DA's. It was never even a benevolent dictatorship. We elected Mike because we wanted a new DA. We got that. Nothing else was promised. If you expected some paradise, you should go see Santa. Maybe he can help you out.
My my my, the crowd is indeed fickle.
And y'all should leave the employment law to the employment lawyers.
Rage
WWJD-
What would Johnny do?
It's good to hear them good ol' names. Just can't believe that Judge Hill is off the bench. I really thought she did an awesome job as a judge. The list is looking so so but what are they going to do with Lykos and her slag of team of liars??? Hopefully, they will charge them and force them to talk once and for all or get them sent to prision! don't forget to throw away the keys...
I am really happy to see Lykos leaving. She's a walking calamity and mean to boot. Lykos and her clique were anything but honorable.
I see names like Belinda Hill, Bert Graham, Jane Waters and Julian Ramirez and I am encouraged that integrity will be restored to the DAs Office.
I am your adversary in court, but I am also a citizen. The people of Harris County deserve an honorable DAs Office.
Lincoln said if you want to test a man's character, give him power. Lykos flunked that test. I believe Mike Anderson will pass the test. Our community deserves an honorable DA. It's been a while since we had one.
Robb Fickman
Amen Robb! Lykos had lots of opportunity to redeem her reputation of being a poor manager and a difficult boss when she was a District Judge. Instead, due to her character flaws, she reverted to her old self only much worse. Her legacy is that she has been the worst DA in history. Se is also the only DA that never tried a single case while in office. She has earned every bit of the disdain in which she is held.
That is a big promotion for Karen. Couldn't have happened to a nicer lady.
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