Life at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center

After a lengthy hiatus due to numerous factors (including the City Elections), Reasonable Doubt  returns tonight at 8 p.m. with me and Todd Dupont.  Our guest tonight will be HCCLA President Elect Carmen Roe. As always, you can catch us live streaming by clicking here.

Coach Detoto wants everyone to know today's charity softball game is ON.  The field is in good shape, and he looks forward to seeing everyone there at 12:00 p.m. for a softball game rematch. The game will be at Memorial Park -- Field # 1, which is the large stadium field by the park's pool. There will be barbecue provided by the Smoken Bandit Kookers, as well as a DJ and a keg of beer. The best part of the game is that five generous contributors have agreed to donate $100 per run (the total combined score) to the Harris County Drug Court in honor of Mike Anderson.

Everyone is invited to a fundraiser and reception for the CJC's newest judge, Catherine Evans. The event is being held tomorrow at the Cyclone Anayas at 1710 Durham Drive, Houston, Texas 77007 and is being hosted by Chip Lewis and Paul Doyle.  The event is scheduled to run from 5:30 - 7:30. Please join us and welcome Judge Evans to the bench and help support her as she gets ready for the 2014 election.

Players from the Defense Bar and the Harris County District Attorney's Office are taking the field again this Saturday, October 19th at 12:00 p.m. for a softball game rematch. This time, the game will be at Memorial Park -- Field # 1, which is the large stadium field by the park's pool. There will be barbecue provided by the Smoken Bandit Kookers, as well as a DJ and a keg of beer. The best part of the game is that five generous contributors have agreed to donate $100 per run (the total combined score) to the Harris County Drug Court in honor of Mike Anderson. The last game was a blast and had a great turnout.  The Defense Bar won that game and we're already talking smack about winning this one too.  So, come on out and have a great time with friends for a great cause.

Congratulations to my friend Catherine Evans on her appointment to the 180th District Court Bench to replace Judge Marc Brown. I've had the pleasure of knowing and working with Catherine since she first started at the Harris County District Attorney's Office.  She has always held an excellent reputation as a hard working, honest, and fair prosecutor.  Over the past several years, she has been the head of the Vehicular Assault Team, investigating auto fatality cases, particularly focusing on offenses involving alcohol. Governor Perry seems to be on a hot streak with his selections in the Harris County Criminal Justice World, lately, and I know that Catherine is going to be an outstanding judge.

As you guys know, earlier this year, I had the fantastic opportunity of working on the filming of TNT's Cold Justice with Kelly Siegler and Yolanda McClary. Tonight's episode is probably the most gripping case we worked on all season and it deals with the murder of a young mother in Thatcher, Arizona in 1995.  It is one of the scariest cases I've ever worked on. If you only watch one episode this season, this is the one to catch.  Tonight at 9 p.m. on TNT.

I just received word that 180th District Court Judge Marc Brown has been appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the 14th Court of Appeals. It is an outstanding choice by the Governor, but it is bittersweet for those of us around the Harris County Criminal Justice Center who have gotten to practice in front of Judge Brown.  Although only having been on the Bench for the past few years, he quickly became one of the most highly respected judges in the building. Most members of the Defense Bar are dubious when a prosecutor leaves the District Attorney's Office and immediately takes a Bench, but Judge Brown had an excellent reputation coming out of prosecution that helped him win a tough election in 2010.  Since taking the Bench, he has been one of the favorites of both prosecutors and defense attorneys with his even-handed demeanor, courtesy and knowledge of the law.  Time and again, Judge Brown has shown that he was not "a prosecutor in a black robe" as he followed the lett

All are invited tonight to a fundraiser for my friend and attorney for the Public Defenders' Office, Jani Jo (Maselli) Wood . Jani is running for Place Four on the Court of Criminal Appeals, and would be an outstanding addition to the Court. The event is at Addix , located at 33 Waugh, Houston, TX 77007 and begins at 5:30 p.m.

I learned today that Jim Leitner is going to work full time at the Harris County Sheriff's Office. I haven't heard any of the details other than that. Talk amongst yourselves.