Thursday, July 13, 2017

Ryan Patrick Named US Attorney

Huge congratulations to former 177th District Court Judge Ryan Patrick on being appointed US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

As readers of this blog know, Judge Patrick is someone who I think very highly of.  When he was elected to the 177th bench, there were some who were worried that he was not old enough and didn't have enough experience for the job.  He was undaunted by the grumblings and quietly went about proving all to all the skeptics that he was a thoughtful, intelligent, and compassionate jurist.  He did a great job.

I have no doubt that he will do the same as U.S. Attorney, and I look forward to him doing great things with the Office.

12 comments:

Tom said...

For what it's worth, the attorney general can appoint him US attorney and he can go to work tomorrow without senate confirmation. It's only the president's nomination that needs confirmation.
That's nuts but it's the law.
And congratulations to Ryan.
Tom

Anonymous said...

More of a political appointment than one based on skills and ability. Like his dad, Ryan is an incompetent buffoon and will blindly support police officers in every situation.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to Ryan. He will be great. I am sure that RPH was the runner up.

On another note, what about this?

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Harris-County-prosecutor-disciplined-for-11294882.php

Shameful! The message to women in the office is clear. No wonder women are quitting in droves. It is also telling that the DA that campaigned on transparency fought tooth and nail to keep this from seeing daylight.

See what you get for $500k!

Anonymous said...

Took them long enough to get this information. I still can't believe they let him keep his job! An online course if his only punishment?! That's so offensive.

Anonymous said...

A senior official in the Harris County District Attorney's Office has been disciplined for making inappropriate comments about the clothes and appearance of at least four female prosecutors under his command, according to records released this week by the office.
Nathan Beedle, chief of the misdemeanor division who supervises more than 45 prosecutors in the county's 16 misdemeanor courts, was reprimanded and ordered to complete two online sexual harassment classes.
"While Nathan's actions and comments do not rise to the level of sexual harassment as defined in the Harris County Personnel Regulations, the comments were inappropriate," Barbara Hartle, bureau chief over human resources, said in a memo outlining her investigation. "Therefore, the assignment of completion of both classes is a just response by the Administration to the complaints filed."
The memo was released in response to an open records request from the Houston Chronicle after the Texas Attorney General's office ruled the information was public. The district attorney's office had initially withheld records detailing the investigation except for a brief summary.
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Additional records that likely would have detailed the specific statements made by Beedle are not public, the attorney general's office ruled.
Beedle declined to comment. He remains in the division chief position, overseeing the handling of misdemeanor cases and when they go to trial, including long-term scheduling involving trial settings and promotions.
In the memo, Hartle said she began investigating on March 23 allegations that Beedle "had made inappropriate comments to female misdemeanor prosecutors regarding their appearance and had also posted the due dates of the pregnant female prosecutors on a white board in his office."
She concluded six days later that Beedle violated the county's non-discrimination policy, which states "actions, words, jokes or comments based on an individual's sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or any other legally protected characteristic is not tolerated."
"I counseled Nathan and told him he needed to stop trying to be a friend to other subordinate employees and to behave like a supervisor and leader," Hartle wrote in the memo dated March 29.
She said she interviewed the prosecutors who had raised concerns.
"The general theme of their interviews was that they wanted Nathan to be made aware that he cannot make comments about their outfits, appearances and pregnancies. They wanted Nathan to learn about appropriateness and boundaries in the workplace," she said in the memo.
Hartle said Monday that her findings were outlined in the memo to District Attorney Kim Ogg.
"At my recommendation, Nathan completed two on-line training courses, and, we took the opportunity for all employees to attend workplace training," she said.

So much for transparency Kimmy baby...this job requires so much more than you are able to give. This job is soooooo over your little(or big) head!!!! Voters you get just what you voted for when you pulled the straight D ticket..Idiots

Anonymous said...

Wow, the hits just keep on coming for Kimbra: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Josue-Flores-case-Murder-charge-dropped-against-11297298.php?ipid=ntk

Anonymous said...

Nathan Beedle should have been fired. Even in the 1950's those comments wouldn't be accepted. If Nathan Beedle wasn't Ogg's pick, he would have been sent home packing once this got out. Instead he stays in his same position, supervising the newest/youngest attorneys, after taking just 2 sexual harassment classes online. I like that he had to take 2... because 1 online course didn't send the right message. A lot more needs to be said about this. One little article by Brian Rogers is not enough. Especially since this is hidden by all the other office screw ups. That place is a train wreck that may never recover.

Anonymous said...

Did Nathan really invite himself to go along to a doctor's visit with a new female hire??? If true, just wow. And he still supervises young females. That office better hope he can control himself. If not, the hostile work environment has already been created. He is a walking lawsuit. And there is a supervisor in the Trial Bureau with some of the same issues in his past.

Anonymous said...

The problem with not releasing the comments that Beedle made to the subordinates is that people can freely embellish. I mean, the things I heard he said would make George Carlin blush. Again so much for transparency.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure it's as bad as we heard. You can guarantee if it was anything like they made it seem, they would have released the comments. So much for Ogg's transparency and ethics. I heard Beedle was bringing back Prima Noctra though in the misdemeanor division.

Anonymous said...

Did Nathan really invite himself to go along to a doctor's visit with a new female hire?

Not quite a doctor's visit, but yes. And even worse, he actually went. The guy is a grade A creep and it's pretty ridiculous that Ogg is letting this happen on her watch. So much for strong female leadership in the office.

Anonymous said...

I would like Ogg to explain how a supervisor commenting on the size of a subordinate's breast is not sexual harassment? Or asking a subordinate to turn around so he can see more of her dress? And making sure that they don't promote anyone who is about to have a baby to felony?

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 ...