02/19/2022
Most of you know that there is a contested race at hand for the Judge of the Burnet County Court at Law. Cody Henson and I are seeking this judgeship. Cody Henson is presently posting videos stating that it is a conflict of interest and unethical that our local lawyers are supporting me in becoming the next Judge. He has also disputed my statement that this Court hears more family law cases than other types of cases. For those of you who have an interest in this election, you will probably be interested in hearing what one of our District's most highly respected retired judges, Judge Gil Jones, stated about these issues and the candidates.
Quote from Former Judge Gil Jones:
“I have stayed out of this campaign for the County Court at Law (CCL) because I know and like both candidates. There is a lot of discussion here and I am asked directly about a lot of the matters discussed here. So I'm going to address a few factual matters. Bear with me:
-- I know and like both Cody and Angela
-- I trust the integrity of both of them. I have known Angela (probably for around 20 years) and Cody in various situations to prove their integrity to me.
-- I have witnessed Cody as a receiver in a highly complex case (I was the arbitrator) and he did a fine job. He and his firm have had me mediate real estate and property cases where I found Cody and his partners to be prepared and professional.
-- My familiarity with Angela is a lawyer appearing before my bench in family and criminal cases on many occasions and in a number of mediations in family law cases. She was always prepared and professional.
-- As to the matter of lawyers supporting judges, I have to disagree with Cody's point in that regard. Who better to know the candidate best for the bench? I was elected four times in multiple counties, with lawyer support each time. So were the current district judges. In fact, a person cannot, as a practical matter, even get nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court without being vetted by the American Bar Association -- the national association of attorneys. So I simply have to disagree with you, Cody.
-- I saw the comment about pending criminal cases in the CCL. It's a non-point. About 98% of criminal cases in courts across the state are disposed of by plea-bargain. In the Burnet County CCL I would not be surprised if the rate was 99%. What's the point? It's that the judge has nothing to do with the disposition of the case and there is no opportunity for a lawyer -- Eddie Shell or otherwise -- to exercise any meaningful influence. Any neither of these candidates would be influenced anyway.
-- Where does the judge spend time in the CCL? Although the criminal docket has more cases, it is the family law docket that requires the judges' time, attention, and expertise. It's the family docket where the judge makes the tough decisions -- the ones that directly affect the lives of families and their children. . . ."
