I'M GLAD we vote for our judges in Texas, but let's face it: Harris County has too many judicial races to keep up with. Few of us have the time or resources to do our own research.
Enter Stephen G. Tipps, an attorney at Baker Botts. He studies the races closely and write the best recommendations I know. With his permission, I am linking to his recommendations for the May GOP and Democratic judicial primaries.
As always, I forward these recommendations for your consideration in the event you have not been able to obtain adequate information . . . on your own. It is not my intention to influence your vote in races in which you have already chosen a candidate.
Republicans bear a special responsibility. In November, if recent history is a guide, GOP nominees are likely to win every contested race. That's because straight-ticket voters have selected most of our local judges, and November is shaping up as a big year for the GOP in Harris County.
Politically, this will be payback for 2008. That year all Harris County Republican judges on the ballot were swept from office, a straight-ticket footnote to the Obama phenomenon.
Notice that not one local candidate in the GOP primary is listed as an incumbent. That's why. Judges have four-year terms, and four years ago every Republican judge---good, bad, or indifferent---was sent back to the private sector.
This year, all local incumbents are Democrats. That's why there's only one contested local race in the Democratic primary. Serious judicial candidates rarely challenge incumbent judges in their own party primary.
Mr. Tipps mentions two Texas Supreme Court candidates for whom he has special regard: Don Willett and David Medina in the Republican primary. "Both . . . are distinguished jurists who are deserving of re-election to their current positions. In my judgment, each is far better qualified to serve than his opponents."
Mr. Tipps also provides his email address for those who wish to receive his recommendations directly. You should send him your address. Unca D won't be around forever.
Finally, this post may sound suspiciously like Unca D's post of October 15, 2008. So what? He's promised not to sue me for plagarism.
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