tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post6204540722891652451..comments2024-03-28T00:50:16.901-05:00Comments on Life at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center: The Ever Changing Election FieldMurray Newmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00662196272138109874noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-63831257829126365012011-08-09T20:51:58.586-05:002011-08-09T20:51:58.586-05:00Anon 11:31, Harris County Democrats should pull th...Anon 11:31, Harris County Democrats should pull their head out. Fine told his staff he ain't running.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-32379715876159933972011-08-09T11:31:17.028-05:002011-08-09T11:31:17.028-05:00Judge Fine not running for reelection would be new...Judge Fine not running for reelection would be news to county democrats.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-40123054751040942052011-08-04T14:26:05.440-05:002011-08-04T14:26:05.440-05:00Kevin Fine NOT seeking reelection!Kevin Fine NOT seeking reelection!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-70362265982795752252011-08-01T16:58:18.153-05:002011-08-01T16:58:18.153-05:00Many of us were elected or appointed on our merits...<i>Many of us were elected or appointed on our merits.</i><br /><br />Yeah, people who were appointed or elected all like to say that, but the truth us that in Harris County the party has always been what determined the winner, as a general rule. Republicans who had been there for years were protected because they had an (R) by their name, not because they were good. <br /><br />The Democrats will lose this round because they had a (D) by their name, not because they were bad. And many of them are very, very bad. I'm praying for an (R) upset in the civil courthouse.<br /><br />RageAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-16729183114342041612011-08-01T06:25:28.099-05:002011-08-01T06:25:28.099-05:00Regarding the current crop of R's running, at ...Regarding the current crop of R's running, at least they all have practiced in and tried cases in the criminal district courts. Except for Lana, I guess. In 2010, the D's ran some people who had little to no criminal law experience. In 2008, Maria Jackson was a muni judge who practiced probate law or something before that. Another parallel with Lana? Anyway, regading the number of years: Bond, Magee and Hart have been down there for well over 10 years each. Magee and Hart have death penalty experience. Guiney and Vinas have almost, if not right at, 10 years experience. All those have at least some Capital experience. Patrick is the least experienced of the bunch but he has tried every kind of case except maybe a Capital I bet. I think all the above have pretty good reputations for being good people who are fair and open minded. Not sure about the trial experience Summerlin has but at least was a district court prosecutor at some level before going to the civil world for several years. Overall, it looks like a good group of candidates. If the voters make the right calls in the contested primaries, the R's should have a strong slate of judicial candidates. That is more than can be said of the D's lately. Then, as we all know, it will be up to the straight ticket voters in the fall.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-3910847307687506772011-07-31T13:52:05.340-05:002011-07-31T13:52:05.340-05:00Answer to Anon.July 30, 2011 11:27 AM:
Why not co...Answer to Anon.July 30, 2011 11:27 AM:<br /><br />Why not come "home": No amount of money in the world could cause me to go through that sausage making process. Many of us were elected or appointed on our merits. Then - just like years past - (Poe & McSpadden almost didn't make it in the 80's due to the political tide turning) but no one remembers that.<br /><br />Plus today the Internet, 24/7 news cycle, and top of the ticket especially - have much more effect on any election outcome. More power to Brock and no disrespect to the bunch running now on the R side. I DO think it's fair to say that lack of death penalty trial experience doesn't seem to matter anymore. For that matter - being an experienced prosecutor 10 plus years doesn't seem to matter as well. In any case, good luck to all who enter the ring D or R and remember - whether you win or lose the ELECTION - P or G. Should be no reflection on YOU as as a person. Politics has always and always will be dirty and the best trial lawyer man or woman doesn't always win. God Bless<br /><br />PS: Having to deal with the local party alone in any "Joint Judicial Campaign" venture is reason enough to stay here in Bora Bora!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-44577746199878179172011-07-30T11:27:57.208-05:002011-07-30T11:27:57.208-05:00Hmm, interesting. What ever happened to the expres...Hmm, interesting. What ever happened to the expression "you can't go home again?" While the current judge of the 338th is one of the worst in the CJC if you choose to believe (and I do) the most recent judicial evaluation poll, I was looking forward to some new blood on that bench. Too bad Vinas switched to the 174th. But I am certain he will be a better judge than the current one in that court. <br /><br />Why don't the other Republican judges who were defeated in 2008 (and still around) run again for their former benches as well? I am sure they would win them back. But there is something to be said for moving on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-51458497065413045322011-07-29T19:38:35.318-05:002011-07-29T19:38:35.318-05:00I want to hear about Bill Hawkins, is there anyone...I want to hear about Bill Hawkins, is there anyone good left in that division?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-84318280319835778212011-07-29T10:38:18.795-05:002011-07-29T10:38:18.795-05:00The republicans are about to fall into the same tr...The republicans are about to fall into the same trap as the democrats if they elect some of these yahoos. I think its quite telling when both prosecutors and defense lawyers share the same nagative view of some.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-56792942837424713452011-07-28T22:45:33.177-05:002011-07-28T22:45:33.177-05:00Re: Anon: July 28, 2011 1:14 PM
? Is this a tepi...Re: Anon: July 28, 2011 1:14 PM<br /><br />? Is this a tepid way of indicating a certain candidate is really tough on crime and will scare all the really bad felons in Harris County to flee to another county? Not even talking about any particular person here....just the comment made is so...."Captain America" bull shit. At least the other commentators are sticking to specifics of qualifications or lack thereof. Is that you Robert? If so relax. Bottom line for everyone: You lose control of the election after the Primary. Out of your hands.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-67484435352833830312011-07-28T21:19:03.969-05:002011-07-28T21:19:03.969-05:00Joe Vinas only has about a year less experience as...Joe Vinas only has about a year less experience as Guiney. Also, Joe has been a felony chief--and he earned it--for several years. In fact, Joe was one of the last chiefs to make chief off the old "chief's poll". In addition to being a career prosecutor--and he's tried just about every kind of case imaginable--Joe has been with the DAs Office since he was in college. In college, Joe worked as an intake secretary...he knows pleadings like nobody else. In law school, he worked there as an intern. And then after graduating from law school, he became an ADA. Joe is a heck of a trial lawyer. He's also a great teacher...probably one of the best at the office at teaching young prosecutors how to focus on not only working hard and being prepared, but also how to focus on doing the right thing--doing justice. Joe is respected by prosecutors, judges, and the defense bar. I don't know anything about the other guy, but I know Joe would be a great judge.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-26143347456929352302011-07-28T13:14:57.242-05:002011-07-28T13:14:57.242-05:00If Robert Summerlin becomes a judge in Harris Coun...If Robert Summerlin becomes a judge in Harris County, I'll move to Sugar Land and commit all my felonies out there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-35626621837098748012011-07-28T12:14:32.175-05:002011-07-28T12:14:32.175-05:00What does Lykos do all day long?What does Lykos do all day long?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-69866972961352675792011-07-28T11:43:02.830-05:002011-07-28T11:43:02.830-05:00Stop the presses! Bill Hawkins quits the Harris C...Stop the presses! Bill Hawkins quits the Harris County DA's office!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-2291895510258621802011-07-28T07:14:43.338-05:002011-07-28T07:14:43.338-05:00Hart, Guiney, Magee, Bond - all solid candidates. ...Hart, Guiney, Magee, Bond - all solid candidates. Joe could be a good judge, I'm just a bit curious about whether he could use a bit more experience (although he is infinitely more qualified than many current judges). <br /><br />Bridgwater is a self riteous jerk at the DA's office, but he's certainly better than the current judge in the 178.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-59766124331675811832011-07-28T02:16:37.348-05:002011-07-28T02:16:37.348-05:00Just being factual. Re: Robert Summerlin - though...Just being factual. Re: Robert Summerlin - though his name does not appear anywhere on the firm's WEB Site: The State Bar has him employed by the Harris County Republican Chair's Law Firm " Jared Woodfill:<br /><br />Mr. Robert Earl Summerlin<br />Woodfill & Pressler, LLP<br />Address: <br />4 Houston Center<br />1221 Lamar, Suite 510<br />Houston, TX 77010<br />Phone: 713-751-3080<br /> Bar Card Number: 45006540Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-87599345841871967092011-07-27T14:33:47.597-05:002011-07-27T14:33:47.597-05:00HBA poll
http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archiv...HBA poll <br />http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/2001_3319537/13-of-lawyers-in-bar-rated-judges.htmlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-12816478587243521982011-07-27T14:27:22.035-05:002011-07-27T14:27:22.035-05:00Is this the same Lana Shadwick who had the lowest ...Is this the same Lana Shadwick who had the lowest rating of all 9 Associate Family Judges? And is now trying to become a criminal judge??? Please say no.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-81849685496000690782011-07-27T13:44:42.000-05:002011-07-27T13:44:42.000-05:00Summerlin was a flake as a paralegal at V&E, a...Summerlin was a flake as a paralegal at V&E, and continued with his flakiness in the DA's office. I don't know that he's tried a criminal case in years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com