JUDICIAL CANDIDATES UPHOLDING the CONSTITUTION

Courts of all jurisdiction have a tremendous responsibility in upholding the US Constitution, the Texas Constitution and Texas laws passed by the legislature.  Most of the time voters bypass judicial candidates because they do not understand what their duties are, as if they were surrounded by a mystic veil.  The truth is judges on the bench must follow the laws already in the books.  Regrettably, today so many judges interpret the law to suit their personal plan or the agenda of their political party, making it very confusing for the average citizen.  Our courts are begging for qualified and experienced judges who can adhere to the constitution without prejudice. 

The following are three individuals campaigning for judicial benches that we have chosen to endorse for the coming March 4, primary.  Even though Steve Hilbig does not have a primary opponent I thought it very important to introduce him.  Republicans did not fare well in the 2012 Bexar County judicial races.   Straight party ticket voting was one reason and voter ignorance another.   

KEVIN YEARY

http://www.yearyforjudge.com/

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals – Place 4

Kevin Yeary is running for the Court of Criminal Appeals.  In Texas, we have two ‘supreme courts’. The Texas Supreme Court is our highest court for civil appeals, and the Court of Criminal Appeals is our highest court for criminal cases. There are nine judges on the court, and through their written decisions on cases appealed to the court, they set the rules that all law enforcement and trial courts must follow in criminal investigations and trials. This court also has the final say in whether to grant a writ of habeas corpus – a post conviction proceeding where the defendant attempts to get his conviction overturned after the appellate courts have denied the defendant’s appeal.

“I am very passionate about the idea that judges in our system need to know their role and stay within the bounds of their role in our system.  It’s very important because the judges’ role in our system is not to write the law but to settle disputes that arise within the law and to settle them according to the law that is written by our legislature.  Otherwise, if that doesn’t’ happen than what we have is really  judges that become more like tyrants and impose their personal will on the people and really it’s the legislature that speaks for the people.  They write the laws and again what the judges’ role is to settle the disputes that arise within the law, according to the law as written by the legislature who are the people’s representatives.” Kevin Yeary

BILL HARRIS endorsement:  I have known Kevin Yeary for a number of years and know him to be a person of high moral standards and superior legal acumen.  He has a well-rounded legal background that qualifies him for the judiciary.  I know of no one that is more qualified for the Court of Criminal Appeals than Kevin Yeary.

STEVE HILBIG

http://hilbigforjudge.com/aboutsteve/

187 District Court – Bexar County

Steve Hilbig is running for the 187th District Court and its jurisdiction includes all of Bexar County. District Courts are the main trial courts in Texas. In the rural areas of our state, a district court might cover more than one county and handles civil and criminal cases. In the urban counties, the district courts usually specialize in handling either civil or criminal cases. By statute, the 187th District Court hears mostly criminal felony cases, such as murder, robberies, sexual assaults, narcotics, and death penalty cases. District judges also make initial recommendations whether to grant or deny a writ of habeas corpus.

People sometimes get confused by the ‘district’ number assigned to each district court. The ‘district’ number has nothing to do with the geographical jurisdiction of the court. The ‘district’ number simply indicates the number of district courts in Texas when created by the Texas Legislature. For instance, the 187th District Court was the one hundred eighty-seventh district court in Texas when it was created in 1969. Similarly, the 433rd District Court located in Comal County was the four hundred thirty-third district court created by our legislature.

“I believe in personal responsibility and accountability. The purpose of the criminal justice system should be to make sure, through proper punishment and opportunities for rehabilitation that a person who chooses to commit his first crime, will not choose to commit another.”

BILL HARRIS endorsement:  I would whole-heartedly endorse Steve Hilbig for Judge of the 187^th District Court in Bexar County.  He has extensive trial experience in both the state and federal court systems.  The fact that he has been the elected Criminal District Attorney and an intermediate appellate judge uniquely qualifies Steve Hilbig for the district bench.

ALLISON LANTY

https://www.facebook.com/allisonlanty4countycourt15

County Court-at-Law 15 – Bexar County

Allison Lanty is running for Bexar County Court-at-Law Number 15. A county court-at-law has jurisdiction over smaller civil cases and misdemeanor offenses such as driving while intoxicated, assaults and possession of smaller amounts of marijuana. A county court-at-law has countywide jurisdiction and all the county’s voters will help choose the judge of the court. As with district courts, the number simply indicates when the court was created – that is, County Court-at-Law Number 15 was the fifteenth county court created in Bexar County.

“I am the only candidate for County Court 15 who is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I have been working in the field of criminal law for 23 years; 17 years as a prosecutor and 6 years in private practice. Honestly, I never thought that I would run for political office. I believe judges should follow the law and follow the constitution without exception. A judge should be fair, honest, and just to both sides without wavering. I believe this so strongly that I made it my campaign slogan on my political push cards and signs: Fair, Honest, Just. I could not merely complain about the criminal justice system and its bias and prejudice any longer. I had to get up off the couch and run for judge in order to fix the current court system. This is my first time to run for political office. I feel led or called to be in this race for judge of County Court 15.” Allison Lanty

BILL HARRIS endorsement:  Allison Lanty has an impeccable reputation as a criminal defense lawyer here in Comal County.  Last year, I had the privilege of working with her on a criminal case.  I found her to be very knowledgeable of the law and very professional in her approach to the case.   Given her prior experience as a prosecutor, I believe Allison Lanty would be an excellent county court-at-law judge.

RED SONJA2014©

Pray, Fight, Never Give Up!

Posted 2 days ago by Red Sonja