Rachel Palmer turned in her two-weeks notice to the District Attorney's Office. It is my understanding that she is going to work for a civil law firm.
It is a move that is probably best for all involved.
Although there are probably many who would like to use this opportunity to dredge up the events of the past, I don't see much point in doing that from this end.
I wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.
52 comments:
Where is the like button?
Reasons an employee could be terminated for cause include, but are not limited to, stealing, lying, falsifying records, insubordination, deliberately violating company policy or rules e.g. Brady, taking the 5th, and other serious misconduct related to your employment.
Notwithstanding, an employee's resignation keeps the boss from having to deal with such trivia…..
Just Sayin'
Rachal Palmer,
is no longer;
What a relief,
to end the grief.
The boss was too tired,
or she'd have been fired;
An unmistakeable blooper,
what to do with a Hooper?
RP laughed, "I'll take the 5th",
Patsy hissed and was miffed;
Experts called it a political scandal,
Patsy just wanted back her J. Daniels.
The Firm: Lykos, Leitner and Palmer,
doesn't that make you feel calmer?
We don't have a Lloyd Oliver fooling,
Devon might just get her a schooling.
Twilight Zoned
And Hooper shows yet again how crass and trashy he and his wife really are in his latest post on his own blog (funny how no one but him ever seems to post comments there...just sayin!). If Rachel had as much to hang over the DAO as his delusional little brain thinks she does, she never would have left (or would have waited until closer election time). She would have stayed the course to cash in her chips when it would benefit her. The truth is likely that she finally realized she is nothing, had nothing and was going nowhere. And despite Hooper's delusions, she didn't stay because she believed in the job... none of that are that dumb. Good bye, good riddins. You will not be missed.
I always considered her a friend,loyal employee at the HCDA,and she would have been a great judge. I will miss her at the HCDA office.
Adios. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. No loss for HCDA.
Dear Just Sayin,
Hypothetically could an employee be fired for having a subordinate dismiss the employee's boyfriends's road rage case?
Will Don Pooper troll the halls of this law office with a camera and make nasty comments about his wife's boss online? Will RP finally be earning enough to buy Don that Hooked on Phonics CD he has wanted for so long? Will working long hours interfere with the quality time that Don doesn't spend with his kids who hate him? So many questions, so few answers.
Gosh Murray you "seem fit."
At some point, one would hope that Hooper would come to realize that 90% of the animosity that people feel toward Rachel is really misdirected anger that is meant for him. Unfortunately, he would have to shut up for a moment and think about it, so I'm not optimistic.
He remains a blow-hard and a crass bully with no honor. I hope that Rachel's future employers are as patient with his rants as the D.A.'s Office inexplicably was.
Anon 10:35,
Exactly. The RP issue highlights a gross lack of leadership and cojones at the helm of the HCDAO.
"Anderson Light" is in real trouble come November.
Just Sayin'
"At some point, one would hope that Hooper would come to realize that 90% of the animosity that people feel toward Rachel is really misdirected anger that is meant for him."
i respectfully disagree, Murray. my complete disregard for rachel as a person - hell, as a HUMAN - is squarely, rightfully, and completely on her. she's an awful thing.
-she vowed to make amanda culbertson pay for testifying adversely to the state (i heard her ranting, pissed, in the middle of someone's trial against tyler flood).
- she punished people for exercising their Constitutional rights (such as the 1st Amendment), but invoked hers when she knew she'd committed a crime in the course of her duties as a prosecutor.
- she made up rules in her "management" of misdemeanor prosecutors, and then violated every single one of them.
- she regularly told prosecutors law that was flat out wrong, and encouraged them to apply that wrongful standard in their handling of cases (thank god they didn't).
- she selectively pulled prosecutors' files, and started "keeping books" on employees so she could invoke scare tactics in her management of people in this office.
- she lied. to anyone and everyone, as served her purpose. i've actually busted her in the middle of lies she was attempting to use as a scare tactic. the people she lied about were not amused.
i'm sure there's more, but that's what i can remember right now. and that's just *my* personal knowledge of her activities.
the best part of all of this is that she knows that she did wrong, and what she did wrong. you can tell because she did the walk of shame every morning on her way to court: she took the stairs from her 4th floor office to her felony court because she didn't want to be seen. she knows she is awful. she takes back doors, side doors, anything to avoid her "colleagues" because she knew she brought shame to the profession.
don's awful in his own way, apart from rachel. but make no mistake: they're equally awful people. they deserve each other. no one is as low as the poopers.
Devon Anderson and Kim Ogg combined are not half the prosecutor Belinda Hill is.
It is disgusting how politics has trumped ability since JBH retired.
So long, farewell
Auf Weidersehen, goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
OMG Murray you should have come to the going away party! All the Hooper's friends were there.
Wonder why the place was empty?
Took a visit to Hooper blog. What a whining, sniveling, juvemile, malcontent. The immaturity displayed is of epic proportions.
This would close a sad chapter in the history of the Harris County District Attorney's Office except Don Hopper will continue his absurd blog.
From Chron:
Devon Anderson, who was appointed district attorney after Mike Anderson died of cancer last summer, will be fulfilling her husband's campaign promise to personally prosecute accused cop killers. Pat Lykos, who was the DA for four years before Mike Anderson was elected in 2012, did not personally try any cases during her tenure.
Speaks for itself don't you think
Anon 9:14,
It sure does but not in the way you think……"Anderson Lite" is definitely not up to task.
Anon 8:32 aka "Hooper Generic", are you implying that Milwaukee's Best, aka Lykos could get it done?
I am pretty sure that 9:14's point was that Pat never tried a case while DA. (Which was not a bad thing for the citizens of Harris County.)
Anon 9:41,
I take umbrage to your comparing me to a Hooper. Shame on you!
How many cases has "Anderson Lite" tried since her appointment to the office of DA?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it true that Mike Anderson campaigned heavily on restoring ethics to the HCDAO? How's that campaign promise working out for you? Perhaps Belinda Hill can shed some light on the topic.
There are many other ethical transgressions attributable to Team Anderson but Murray does not feel it appropriate to post them and it's his blog so I must respect that.
When you live in a glass house it's best not to throw stones at your neighbor.
As District Attorney, Devon is currently prosecuting a death penalty capital where a Bellaire police officer and a civilian were killed. Prior to becoming judge of the 177th, she was lead prosecutor on Rafael Resendez Ramirez.
Devon is an awesome trial lawyer. I'm sure her opponents can find something to criticize about her, but trial ability ain't it.
Mr. Newman, Sir:
The railroad serial killer was not only a slam dunk but also predated her current appointment. If your judgement is predicated on trial acumen prior to sitting on the throne, I'm afraid she ain't the top dog of senior prosecutors, past or present.
I'm glad, however, to see she's finally prosecuting her first case as the appointed DA.
Manning the harpoons does not make someone an "awesome prosecutor". We both know Devon was supposed to win the whales she tried--we all are.
How about the tough cases? How about being prepared and going to trial on those, win or lose, that is what makes an "awesome prosecutor".
Not shying away from risk is what leads to greatness. Belinda Hill, not "Devon Lite" is an awesome prosecutor.
What is your take on how Belinda Hill was treated by Mike and Devon?
What is your take on the secrecy and total lack of transparency coming out of the Anderson camp?
If it waddles like a duck, quacks and lays duck eggs we don't need to perform DNA testing to conclude that the duck is in fact a duck.
What Goes Around,
While it is true that Resendez may have been the poster child for the death penalty, that doesn't diminish Devon's skill as a trial lawyer. I watched the majority of that trial and she was awesome. I'm thinking you are bending over backwards to attack her in an area that isn't her weakness.
You can be pro-Kim Ogg and I can respect that. I've stated here that I like Kim and think she is a good candidate. However, I'm not a fan of the bullshit that comes with campaigns and pretending that Devon Anderson isn't a trial lawyer falls under that category.
Kim Ogg is a legit candidate and should act like one. Quoting an idiot like Don Hooper on her website and making alliances with that group undermines her credibility.
Mr. Newman, Sir:
"Devon Lite" is an adequate trial attorney. However, she is far from being an "awesome prosecutor"--we'll just agree to disagree on that point.
I am also not a fan of the bullshit that comes with campaign pretense. Pat Lykos was a master at it and it seems blatantly obvious that so are the Andersons. Kim Ogg's affiliation with Donald Hooper, as disgusting as it may be, does not excuse the Andersons' fraud on the voting electorate.
We both know if I offer specifics on the Andersons' election fraud you won't publish the comment so I'll refrain.
Hey "What goes around", You are clearly not Hooper but you are very Hooperesque. You can spell. Were you a Lykos pet who was promoted beyond your ability and then brought back to earth when Mike won? Are you one of those people who thinks everyone gets a trophy? Has your life been unfair?
Mike was DA for 9 months. When was he supposed to try a case? Devon has been DA for 9 months and is trying a case. Did you want her to try a no test DWI? The DA does not do that sorry. The DA's name is on the letterhead. The DA gets to pick her cases.
As for transparency: The Lykos years were so Nixonian it is not funny. How many DA's have you worked for? Do you believe in Santa?
Trust me if Belinda Hill felt slighted or betrayed she would leave.
If things are so bad leave!. Things are so much better than they were from 2009-2012.
Anon 9:30,
1. I thought my comment made it unequivocally clear that Pat Lykos is a POS.
2. I made it crystal clear that Kim Ogg aligning herself with Donald Hooper was disgusting.
The point that you and Mr. Newman are not appreciating is that bad behavior is bad behavior. It really is that simple. If Mike and Devon Anderson have committed election fraud it is not relevant that Pat Lykos is evil or that Donald Hooper is a dimwit.
You mentioned promotions. What an interesting topic. Do you really think the top tier girls' club (excepting Belinda Hill) currently running the show are the best and the brightest the HCDAO has to offer? ROTFLMAO!
We are so quick to condemn Pat Lykos and Don Hooper who, for the record, I deem to be despicable people, However, we are just as quick to put blinders on when it comes to holding the Andersons accountable for their bad behavior.
As for my dear friend, Belinda Hill, she actually has the best interest of the HCDAO and not her ego closest to her heart. What a class act she is. I am hoping that after the election she tells the DA, "what goes around, comes around" I'm outta here. Belinda would be a great visiting judge.
Election fraud? I think that 9:30 is wrong. That sure sounds like Hooper.
Damn you, hanging chad. Damn you.
When I worked the polls for Mike Anderson, I was asked many times why I was working for Mike Anderson. I always started with Mike's qualifications and ended with Lykos' lack of qualifications. I was able to articulate with specificity Lykos' lack of qualifications as well as poor administration. I would never expect someone to reject Lykos simply because I stated she had engaged in bad conduct. That would be akin to asking someone to decide their vote based on what was written on a bathroom wall. Both have no value.
Anon 9:19,
It's so easy to call me a Hooper if you don't like what I have to say. However, if the support for my "allegations" is censored, well then that makes you uninformed at best.
Anon 11:25,
Excellent point.
However, how would you feel about a candidate who intentionally misrepresented material facts knowing that these facts, if revealed, would crush his candidacy?
I trust this is vague enough to pass censorship scrutiny.
anon 11:25,
Substantiated allegations of wrong doing are not remotely the same as scribble on a bathroom wall. After all, you prosecute defendants whose conduct you can prove is bad and no judge would consider bathroom scribble to be admissible-----well maybe Judge Pat would allow it.
What WGACA wants to refer to is the allegation that Mike Anderson knew of his illness when running against Lykos and failed to disclose it. I understand his issue but here is why I'm not going into details on it here:
1. Having had my own brush with it and having lost several friends and loved ones to it in the past year, I'm much more familiar with cancer than I used to be. As I told a friend this morning, cancer is like fire. It is unpredictable, even when you may believe you have it contained. A person may very well believe that they are in remission only to find out cancer has spread worse than doctors had ever predicted.
I'm in full remission right now and I'm expected to stay that way. If you think that I won't be nervous when I go for my follow up blood tests in the Fall, you would be wrong.
2. Cancer is a very private issue.
3. Although I agree that there are some things the electorate is entitled to know, I don't believe that entitlement is limitless.
4. With as unethical and remorseless as Pat Lykos and her minions were in their campaigning, I cannot fathom a worse group of people to know my personal medical history. One only needs to look at Don Hooper's celebration over Mike's death to know that this point cannot be argued.
The bottom line is that Mike Anderson was my friend. Devon Anderson is my friend. They have young children. I'm not going to debate or entertain the speculation of "who was diagnosed and who knew what and when" here. Period.
If you don't like it, I'm sure Hooper will be glad to talk about it all you want.
And by the way, WGACA has been a long time poster here. Just changed names recently.
I think the old one was Bubba Joe Sixpack.
Great Scott! You mean that WGACA is ... (gasp)... Sgt. Pepper?
Or perhaps Mrs. Pepper.
Now that makes sense and explains why his posts don't make sense.
Actually, I agree with WGACA regarding the mistreatment of Belinda Hill. She was an excellent Prosecutor and Judge who gave up her bench to return to the DA's office at the request of Mike Anderson. She basically ran the office for months while Mike endured his illness. However when it came time for someone to be appointed DA, politics definitely came into play and Belinda got the short end of the stick. While the entire process left a very bad taste in my mouth, I do admire Belinda for putting aside her ego and remaining dedicated to the office and to the prosecutors that she supervised. Her future is bright if she chooses to leave the office and if she does leave, it will be a great loss for that office.
I am amused at Hooper's comment complaining that "Belinda Hill was the only person in the DA's office that ever stopped by to talk to Rachel, wish her well and thank her for her service." Yes - it shows what a class act Belinda is, but equally shows why many people have a problem with Rachel. Why was Rachel sitting in her office waiting for management to come to her? Did Rachel reach out to Devon or anyone else by whom she felt slighted?
When you leave a company, a true professional does it with grace and etiquette. Following your resignation you should show gratitude toward the most influential people remaining. You should stop by their office and verbally thank them or write a personal note that focuses on the positive and wish them the best. It is a small industry and Rachel will find out that Devon and her team will re-appear in her future somehow / someway. Based on my experience, they will be more influential on her future career than anything her husband thinks he can do to negatively influence their career(s)!!
Ha knew there wasn't a party!
Almost all "big" law firms require new hires to sign a contract whete the employee agrees not to have a blog and limit social media broadcasts. What does this mean if you own a dba that has a blog?
Uh oh looks like 4:34 struck a nerve.
Maybe RP can have her clients plead the fifth. Worked for her.
On a serious note it, appears that there is discontent, once again rearing it's ugly head. I guess you can't please everyone. Seems part of you folks are in Belinda's camp some are in Devon's.(Is Belinda and Devon aware there are two camps here) Just remember how it was with the wicked witch in charge. Be grateful that you have someone at the top that does not act out of spite. She does back the prosecutors and I dare say that she treats everyone with respect. Murray you commented that 90% of the animosity felt for RP was because of The Pooper. This is not so for me. I lost any respect for her the moment she pled the fifth. I hope she encounters just as much "FUN" in her new job as she gave to the employees at the HCDA. Just saying!
Anon 8:01,
The real question is why in the Hell was RP NOT fired the day Mike Anderson was sworn in?
Having the ADAs' backs ought not include condoning bad prosecutorial behavior………that, combined with cronyism, sets a bad example and is the foundation for there being 2 camps at the HCDAO.
Just Sayin'
Regardless of why Palmer was not terminated upon the exit of the Gang who couldn't shoot straight, the fact is that she has now left the building. We need to move on. The longer we dwell on her the more we look like Hooper.
"Regardless of why Palmer was not terminated upon the exit of the Gang who couldn't shoot straight, the fact is that she has now left the building. We need to move on. The longer we dwell on her the more we look like Hooper.
July 23, 2014 at 3:10 PM"
A leader who chooses to consistently dodge, deflect and dance around issues that don't suit her demonstrates a lack of leadership.
How is it Hooperesque to ask why an employee who should have been fired for cause wasn't?
It is ludicrous to suggest that simply because
Lykos was a worthless POS that Devon shall therefore not be held accountable for any leadership lapses.
Just Sayin'
4:26 If you disapprove of Devon's leadership and you still work at HCDA, leave. If you do not work there please exercise your right to vote against her in November.
Quite honestly she had other bigger problems to deal with as fouled up as Lykos left the office. If her strategy was to wait Palmer out it worked.
Other than annoy you and the rest of us, how did Palmer's continued HCDA status hurt you
personally?
Maybe 3:10 has a point about being Hooperesque at this point.
Anon 7:33,
My earlier rebuttal to your insults and political deflection were apparently censored.
"You can fool some of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people any of the time".
I voted for Mike in '12 and as you suggest will be voting for Kim in November.
Just Sayin'
9:54, Yawn...
Revisionist History -
Rachel Palmer Hooper focuses on civil and complex commercial litigation, with experience handling multifaceted investigations, appellate matters, and state and federal constitutional and statutory questions. Throughout her tenure at the Harris County District Attorney's Office, she learned how to investigate a case, formulate a plan of action, and execute the established strategy. Rachel believes in hard work, dedication, and communication, placing high value on her ability to explain complicated matters to jurors in a manner that brings forth the desired result. Additionally, Rachel has lectured on theft prevention, juvenile justice, and crime avoidance.
It looks like most comments are from lawyers. I'm not a lawyer. But I have a couple of questions for any who are:
1) Did the person who asked the question to which DA Palmer took the fifth regret having asked it, boxing her into a corner and depriving us all of her experience and her capacity to change for the better?
2) How does someone make it through fifth grade, much less law school and surrounded by licensed attornies and figure that the oath to do the best to do your job allows you to do something else then take the fifth, in effect admitting to an appearance of impropriety, and expect to continue in public service?
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