Ad Hoc Legislative Committee on Judicial Appointments Recommendations

Full-Time Judges: Michael Acuna Paula M. Rosales Aldana Julie Clancy Shereen R. Eldomeiri Kathryn Hoang William Marple Tony Martin Jay E. Robinson Preston W. Robinson, Jr. Daniel L. Ryan Daniel Solis

Part-Time Judges: Roland C. Anderson Melodee Armstrong Winifred E. Cannon Marilyn Y. Davis Frieda J. Fiske Tonya L. Goffney Esther A. Grossman Carl Hays Thaddeus Iwuji J. Oliver Lee, Jr. Daniel E. McDonald, Jr. Cadoc Tim A. Menchu Kristine Primrose Monica M. Purdy Anthony D. Randall Deanna Jefferson Smith E. A. (Elizabeth) Srere

Administrative Judge: Daniel F. Solis

ADHOCLEGISLATIVECOMMITTEEFORJUDICIALAPPOINTMENTS SUMMARYEVALUATIONSHEETFORJUDICIALCANDIDATES
Thisdocumentwasusedaspartofthecommittee'sevaluationprocessandispresentedtoprovidetheCouncilwithadditionalinformationonthecandidates.Thissummaryincludestherankingofthe candidatebytheJudicialNominatingCommission.Othercolumnsshowthescoreof1(lowest)to5(highest)giventosittingjudgesbytheAdministrativeJudge,Prosecutors,andtheDefenseAttorneyBar Association.Inaddition,thereiscommentaryfromProsecutorsandDefenseAttorneysevaluatingsittingjudges. CouncilmembersAngelaHuntandDeliaJasso CoChairs,AdHocLegislativeCommitteeforJudicialAppointments

NAME

JNC RANKING 1

JayE.Robinson*

ADM JUDGE SCORE 4

PROSEC SCORE 3.22

DEFENSE SCORE 4.85

PROSECUTIONCOMMENTS

DEFENSECOMMENTS

Fairandprofessional.

Heisalwayswillingtohelpwithoffdocketissues.Herunsan efficientcourtandisveryknowledgeable.Heisveryconsistent andknowledgeable.Heisalwaysaccessibleandwillingtowork JudgeRobinsonshowssympathytowardsdefendantsin regardstofines.Hisguiltyfinestypicallyrangefrom$0to$50. throughoffdocketmatters.Heisfairandimpartial,even tempered;helooksintoissuesandlooksuptheapplicablelaw. Heisveryefficient,amazingjudge.Heisconscientiousand knowledgeable.

*SittingFullTimeJudge **SittingPartTime(Associate)Judge

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ADHOCLEGISLATIVECOMMITTEEFORJUDICIALAPPOINTMENTS SUMMARYEVALUATIONSHEETFORJUDICIALCANDIDATES
NAME JNC RANKING 2 ADM JUDGE SCORE 3.96 PROSEC SCORE 1.8 DEFENSE SCORE 4.65 PROSECUTIONCOMMENTS DEFENSECOMMENTS

CarrieL.Chavez*

Shelikestodoherownthinginthecourtroom,whichmeans sheregularlyignoresstateandcitylaws.Forexample,inall criminalcases,theStateisthepartywhobringsacaseagainst aparticularindividual,butinoneinstance,JudgeChavez changedthenameofthedefendantandreplaceditwiththe nameofthedefendantsspouse,whowasneverchargedby theState.Shetalkstodefenseattorneysabouttheircases withouttheprosecutorpresent,anotherviolationofethics rules.Shewillalsocallacasetotrialeveniftheprosecutor wantstodismissthecasebecausethejudgewantstoprevent theprosecutorfromfilingthecaseagain(doublejeopardy wouldpreventrefiling).JudgeChavezseemstobeanice person.However,shefallsshortonfollowingthelawand adheringtotheethicalstandardsexpectedofajudge. Shehasonmanyoccasionsbypassedtheprosecutortoreset cases,grantcommunityservicewithoutanyevidenceof hardshiponthedefendant,andisthebiggestsupporterofthe openpleasystem. Shefrequentlyhasexpartecommunicationswithdefense attorneysaboutcasesonthedocketwithoutthepresenceof thecityattorney.

Bestjudgeonthebench,anabsoluteassettoDallasMunicipal Court.Sheispatient,kind,veryknowledgeable,andalways accessible.Sheisanawesomejudge.Weareluckytohave her.Sheisafantasticjudge.Sheunderstandsthecourtsystem andhowthingsworkbetterthananyone.Sheisvery thorough,courteoustocitizensandattorneysandvery efficient.BestjudgeatDallasMunicipalCourt.Thecityislucky tohaveJudgeChavezonthebenchbecausesheisasgoodasit gets.

*SittingFullTimeJudge **SittingPartTime(Associate)Judge

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ADHOCLEGISLATIVECOMMITTEEFORJUDICIALAPPOINTMENTS SUMMARYEVALUATIONSHEETFORJUDICIALCANDIDATES
NAME JNC RANKING 3 ADM JUDGE SCORE 4 PROSEC SCORE 3.3 DEFENSE SCORE 4.28 PROSECUTIONCOMMENTS DEFENSECOMMENTS

MichaelAcuna*

Heisanawesomejudge.Heknowsmoreaboutthelawthan Generallyfaironthecasesbutoftencriticizesotherjudges, departments,staffmembersandattorneyswhileonthebench anyoneinthecourthouse.TheAJlookstoAcunaforlaw.Heis inopencourtand,particularly,inthecorridorbetweencourts. veryfairandcourteous,veryefficient.Heisanexcellentjudge, JudgeAcunaissometimesinconsistentinapplyingtheLocal ateamplayerandhardworking,topJudgeAcunatreats Rules;hetreatssomedefenseattorneysdistinctfromothers attorneysdifferentlyandplacesspecialrequirementsonsome. undersimilarcircumstanceswithmotionsforcontinuance,etc. Iamrequiredtopresentlettersofauthorizationtocovercases forotherattorneys;hehasissuedrulingswhichare Almosttoafault,hetreatseveryonethatisinfrontofhimthe inconsistentregardingmotionsforcontinuanceunderthe sameway,nomatteriftheyareprosecutors,defensecounsel exactsamecircumstances. orprosedefendants.Heappliesthelawthesamewaytoeach defendantandeachcase. JudgeAcunafollowsthelocalrulesstringently.Herequiresa writtenmotionforcontinuancesandappliesthisstandardto bothprosecutorsanddefenseattorneys. InconsistentwithapplicationofLocalRules.Someinconsistent treatmentofattorneysaswell.

*SittingFullTimeJudge **SittingPartTime(Associate)Judge

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ADHOCLEGISLATIVECOMMITTEEFORJUDICIALAPPOINTMENTS SUMMARYEVALUATIONSHEETFORJUDICIALCANDIDATES
NAME JNC RANKING 4 ADM JUDGE SCORE NA PROSEC SCORE 3.25 DEFENSE SCORE 4.22 PROSECUTIONCOMMENTS DEFENSECOMMENTS

C.VictorLander*

AlthoughJudgeLanderhashadsomesuccessasAdministrative Hehashadmanypositiveaccomplishmentssincehehasbeen Judge,hehasfailedtofixnumerousadministrativeproblemsin administrativejudge.Heisveryprofessional.Hedoesnt understandhowtoapplyapplicablelawbecausehesnotused thecourts.Forexample,theoffdocketsystempromotes toatrialcourt. judgestalkingtodefenseattorneyswithoutprosecutors present(aviolationofethicsrules)andthedocketcallprocess, whichisinefficientandunfairtotheState(bytheJudgesown admission).AsAdministrativeJudge,JudgeLanderhasdirect supervisionovertheHearingOfficerinDallasMunicipalCourt. HearingOfficerAaronKaufmanhasreceivednumerous complaintsforhisperformanceandlaxenforcementofourcity housingcodes.However,JudgeLanderhasnotactedonthese complaints.Asatrialjudge,JudgeLanderisfairandimpartial.

CherylD.Williams*

3.96

3.65

Shedoesagoodjobofcomplyingwiththelaw,particularlythe Sheisoftenrudebutisgoodathandlingthejuveniledocket. specializedjuveniledocket.Shewouldbebetterifshetoned Sheisnotaccessibleforoffdocketmatters,andisoftenrude. downheryellinghabitandcontrolledtheactionsofherbailiff. Sheisgreatatdoingthejuveniledocket,butisnotofagood temperamentfornormaladults.Sheisnotaccommodatingon offdocketproblems.Sheispoorastoaccessibility,except whenonthebench.

*SittingFullTimeJudge **SittingPartTime(Associate)Judge

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ADHOCLEGISLATIVECOMMITTEEFORJUDICIALAPPOINTMENTS SUMMARYEVALUATIONSHEETFORJUDICIALCANDIDATES
NAME JNC RANKING 6 ADM JUDGE SCORE 3.96 PROSEC SCORE 3.8 DEFENSE SCORE 4.52 PROSECUTIONCOMMENTS DEFENSECOMMENTS

DanielF.Solis*

Heisprofessionalandrespectfultoallparties.Heunderstands theTexasRulesofEvidence,TexasCriminalCourtProcedures andtheLocalRulesandfollowsthem.Heissometimeslateto thebenchanddoesfavorsomedefenseattorneys.

Heisagreatjudge,veryhelpful,alwayswillingtohelpwithoff docketmattersoranyquestions.Heboardcertified;heruns anefficientcourt;heispatientandalwayswillingtoteach.I appreciatethat.Heisagreatjudgewhoknowsalotand understandsapplicablelaw.Hetakeseachtrialveryseriously. Hetendstofollowprosecutorrecommendationsonfinesand Heisgreatathandlingfamilyviolencedocket.Heisverycaring seemsfairacrosstheboard. andhardworking.

Knowsthelawwell;complieswiththelocalrules;fairtoboth sides. MonicaM.Purdy** 7 3.95 3.78 3.73 Fairtobothsidesbutdoesnotfollowthelawongranting communityserviceand/ortimeservedtodefendants. Judgeisveryprofessionalandtreatsattorneysandprose defendantsfairlyandimpartially. Sheisnewandnotknowledgeable,althoughwellspokenand nice.Sheneedstolearnalot.

*SittingFullTimeJudge **SittingPartTime(Associate)Judge

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ADHOCLEGISLATIVECOMMITTEEFORJUDICIALAPPOINTMENTS SUMMARYEVALUATIONSHEETFORJUDICIALCANDIDATES
NAME JNC RANKING 8 ADM JUDGE SCORE 4 PROSEC SCORE 2.22 DEFENSE SCORE 4.85 PROSECUTIONCOMMENTS DEFENSECOMMENTS

RuthCatherineLogan*

Extremelypartialtothedefense;JudgeLogansignsand approvesmostanydefensemotionforanyreasonandis unfazedbyethicalboundaries,suchasdiscussingacasewitha defenseattorneywithoutgettingtheprosecutorsinput,which isaviolationofethicsrulesandpreventstheprosecutorfrom beingheardonitsowncase. JudgeLogangenerallyfollowsthelocalrulesandgivesthe prosecutoranddefendantequalopportunitytobeheard. However,Judgeismorelikelytograntacontinuancetothe defendantthantotheState.Judgealsograntscommunity serviceortimeservedincasesthatareincapiasstatusand wherethecourthas(long)lostitsjurisdiction. JudgeLoganhandsoutcommunityserviceandtimeserved religiously.Shedoesnotknowthelaw.Resetsareallowed withoutcashbondsforlatedefendants.

Thecityisluckytohaveher.Sheisveryfairandrunsan efficientcourt.Sherunsaverysmoothcourtanditisalwaysa pleasuretoseeherandpracticebeforeher.Sheisverytactful andcourteousandisdoinggreatforthefirsttimeasafulltime trialcourtjudge.Shewantstolearn.Sheisagreatadditionto theDallasjudiciary.

PrestonW.Robinson,Jr.**

3.916

3.53

4.78

Professionalandpleasanttoworkwithbutsometimeshears Hewouldbeanexcellentfulltimejudge.Heisvery caseswithoutbothsidespresent,whichisaviolationofethical professional,agreatjudge,runsagreatcourt.Heisanassetto rules. theDallasMunicipalCourt.Heisanexcellentjudge.Iwould lovetoseehimonthebenchmore.Weareluckytohavehim. JudgeisefficientandfairtotheStateanddefendants Iwouldlovetoseehimfulltime.Heisagoodcandidatefor regardlessiftheyareproseorrepresentedbyanattorney. fulltimebench. Judgedoesnottrytogetoutoftrials,andheseemstostickby theCCP(CodeofCriminalProcedure)andlocalrules. JudgeRobinsonwillresetcaseswithoutcashbonds.

*SittingFullTimeJudge **SittingPartTime(Associate)Judge

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ADHOCLEGISLATIVECOMMITTEEFORJUDICIALAPPOINTMENTS SUMMARYEVALUATIONSHEETFORJUDICIALCANDIDATES
NAME JNC RANKING 10 ADM JUDGE SCORE 3.92 PROSEC SCORE 1.67 DEFENSE SCORE 4.66 PROSECUTIONCOMMENTS DEFENSECOMMENTS

TimoteoF.Gonzalez*

Judgeusuallytalksdefendantsoutoftrialandtheywillagree Heisagreatjudge.Herunsanefficientcourtandishelpful topleaorresetthecasetogetanattorney.Itusuallyoccurs withoffdocketmatters.Heisoneofourmostefficientjudges; hegetstotheheartofacasequickly.Herunsanefficient whentheprosecutorleavestopreparefortrial.Whenthe prosecutorreturnstocourttheylearnthattherewillbenotrial courtandmovescasesquickly;hedoesntwastetimehaving thatday.Veryniceguythough. longdrawnouttrials;hegetstotheheartofthematter quickly. Judgeisimpartialinthathetreatsproseandthose representedbyattorneysthesame.However,hedoesnotlike trialsandwilloftenresetacasetoavoidpresidingoveratrial. JudgealsodoesnotfollowtheCCPorthelocalrulesashe quashescomplaintswithoutdefendantbeingpresentand withoutpretrialmotionsfiled.Healsoregularlyresetscases withoutrequiringabondwhenneitherattorneynordefendant showuporwhenthedefendantshowsuplate.Judgeisknown fordrasticallyreducingfines,evenafterthedefendantand Stateenterintoanagreementanddefendantdoesnoteven askforareduction.

E.A.(Elizabeth)Srere**

11

3.966

1.5

4.54

WilliamMarple J.OliverLee,Jr.

12 13

NA NA

NA NA

NA NA

Shedoesnotseemtoknowthelawandisextremelypartialto Sheisveryniceandaccommodating,helpfulwithoffdocket thedefensebar. matters,pleasanttoall.Sherunsaveryefficientcourt.Sheis tryingbutneedstolearnalotmore.Shewouldbefineasfull timejudge.

*SittingFullTimeJudge **SittingPartTime(Associate)Judge

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ADHOCLEGISLATIVECOMMITTEEFORJUDICIALAPPOINTMENTS SUMMARYEVALUATIONSHEETFORJUDICIALCANDIDATES
NAME JNC RANKING 14 ADM JUDGE SCORE 3.96 PROSEC SCORE 2.04 DEFENSE SCORE 4.54 PROSECUTIONCOMMENTS DEFENSECOMMENTS

JulieClancy*

JudgeClancyoftenenterstheStateswitnessroomandspeaks Sheisatoughjudge;veryfair;runsagreatcourt.Sherunsa withtheStateswitnesses(usuallypoliceofficers);thismakesit tightship;movesherdocketveryefficiently;sheisagreat verydifficultfortheprosecutorstointerviewtheirwitnesses judge.Sheisatoughjudge,butunderstandsthelawandhow withoutthejudgehearingthefactsofthecase.Thejudgeis itapplies.Shetrieshard.Itisgreattohaveatoughjudgewho onlysupposedtoconsiderevidencepresentedduringthetrial istoughonbothsides.Sheisbright,decisive,ateamplayer, andshouldnothearaconfidentialconversationbetweenthe hardworking. Stateanditswitnesses.JudgeClancyalsohearsandgrants defenseattorneymotionswithoutprovidingtheprosecutor (Citysattorney)withtheopportunitytobeheard.Thisisa violationofethicsrulesandunfairtotheCitysattorneys,who arebringingthecase.JudgeClancydoesnotadheretothe ethicalstandardsexpectedofajudge. Thisjudgeisveryefficientandexpectsanyonesteppingfoot insidehercourtroomtobethesame,includingprose defendants.Sometimes,Ifeellikesheistoostrictortoo forcefulwiththeprosedefendants.Also,thisjudgehas friendlyrelationshipswithanumberofpoliceofficersand defenseattorneys.This,however,hasneverbeenaproblem formespecifically.Myexperienceinhercourtroomisthat althoughshemaymakeyoufeelalittlerushedattimes,sheis fair.Ihaveneverseenthisjudgeactinamannerwhichwas Hewasformerlythefulltimejudgeforourappearancecourt Heisnotveryhelpfulwithoffdocketmatters.Herefusesto (prooforplea)buthenowpresidesoveratrialcourt,wherehe do/handleoffdocketissuesdespitebeingtheoffdocketjudge; hasdemonstratedacommitmenttofollowthelawandthe fortheweek.Hedoesntunderstandhowtoapplyapplicable localrules.JudgeIndorfhasproventobeaverygoodtrial lawsinceheisnotusedtoatrialcourt. judge.

DanielL.Ryan PaulaM.RosalesAldana DavidC.Indorf*

15 16 17

NA NA 3.96

NA NA 2.1

NA NA 3.18

TonyMartin

18

NA

NA

NA

*SittingFullTimeJudge **SittingPartTime(Associate)Judge

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