SOME HARRIS COUNTY PROSECUTORS CONSIDER BECOMING DEFENSE ATTORNEYS!BY: BRIAN ROGERS - HOUSTON CHRONICLE
The takeover of their office by an outsider at the end of the year has some Harris County prosecutors weighing their options and considering other jobs including taking appointments as defense attorneys.
To be appointed to a felony case in Houston, lawyers must pass a test of laws and procedures common in trials. The annual test is administered in May, and prosecutors are lining up to take the three-hour exam in case they need new jobs when a new district attorney — either Democrat C.O. "Brad" Bradford or Republican Pat Lykos — takes the helm.
Both candidates have said the District Attorney's office is in need of a major shake-up, but said Thursday that no one has been "targeted" for termination.
"I really want to dispel the malicious rumor that I'm going to purge the entire office," Lykos said. "That's just not true."
She said prosecutors who are passionate, ethical and work hard don't have to worry if she is elected.
Bradford also said the rank and file prosecutors need not worry prematurely.
"There are a lot of good, hardworking professional people in the office," Bradford said. "I'm not going to make any decisions before I get into office, look at personnel files and talk to people."
However, some prosecutors who actively worked on Assistant District Attorney Kelly Siegler's failed campaign worry that their jobs putting criminals behind bars are in jeopardy because they backed the wrong candidate.
"It didn't used to be political," said Stephen St. Martin, a Siegler supporter who sometimes spoke for the candidate in her race against Lykos in the Republican primary and runoff.
"In a perfect world you didn't have to worry about politics and campaigning," St. Martin said. A 16-year-veteran of the office, St. Martin said he enjoys being a prosecutor but simply doesn't know what will happen after the November election. The office is now being run by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Magidson, whom Gov. Rick Perry appointed to replace Chuck Rosenthal.
"My decision right now is no decision," St. Martin said. "I have at least seven months to decide — but if I decide to go that route, I need to take this test and it's only offered once a year."
St. Martin said he knows at least six other veteran prosecutors who are scheduled to take the test.
Husband and wife prosecutors Murray Newman and Sylvia Escobedo Newman both said they plan on taking the test.
"We have a family to consider," Murray Newman said.
Both chiefs in state district courts, the couple were also Siegler supporters, but said they planned on taking the test before Tuesday's contest.
"We knew before that you don't know what may happen in November," Murray Newman said.
Other prosecutors who asked not to be named out of fear of losing their jobs ran the gamut in responses.
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Great Prosecutors like Steve St. Martin should have nothing to worry about. He has been an asset to the citizens of this County. I worked with him as an officer on many cases. This guy was a rare standout. You could call him at the house if it was important enough. I met his lovely wife at an event before and she even said, "you're not bothering us, call anytime." There was never anything this guy couldn't do,always in a good mood and truely cared about his job. My Hats off to you Steve St. Martin!
ReplyDeleteI'ts just scary to think that Bradford, who has never seen the inside of a courtroom as a prosecutor, would make staff retention decisions based on reading over someone's personnel file and engaging in water-cooler chat around the office. Defintition: Idiot.
ReplyDeleteOf course, he's no stranger to the legal process, as he himself was indicted for aggravated perjury by a Harris Co. Grand Jury....pot, meet kettle!
And, Pat Lykos never met a prosecutor she liked......she's one to talk about "managerial" experience....unless you consider verbal abuse, berating and demeaning (wielding her judicial powers a little too wildly, if you ask me) every prosecutor in her court (at some time or another) "management".
And people think the D.A.'s Office is a shambles NOW? Wait 'til after November folks, you ain't seen nothing yet!
Don't Let the door knob hit you!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe issue is this....These prosecutors DO NOT want to work for a district attorney who promises to overhaul the office and restore leadership,ethics, and justice for all!
They have been working for years in a "good ol boy" system that rewards racism, sexism and mediocrity.
Rather than answer to an African American Man, or a White Female (who does not share their backwards attitudes) they would rather change sides and make more money.
Why else would the two prosecutors who wrote the racist canadian emails support Siegler and attend her "victory" party election night?
Adios, Mo Fo's.....Better late than never.
Why do people keep talking about "experience as a prosecutor"
ReplyDeleteremember, rosenthal has experience, but he destoryed the integrity and the image of the distriict attorney's office.
And - don't forget that the UNITED STATE'S SUPREME COURT ridiculed his poor presentation during legal arguments for the sodomy case.
The DA in harris county is an administrative and leadership position.
That person sets the tone, the agenda and the vision for the office.
Yeah - Kelly is a career prosecutor, but she is also a corrupt, selfish, morally deficiant and reprehensible person, who is willing to ignore the rule of law to win a convinction.
I am certain that Bradford or Lykos would retain the prosecutors who are ethical and committed to seeking justice on behalf of all people in harris county regardless of race, sex, or economic status.
I aint even worried about it. I think Lykos will make a great DA. not taking anything away from C.O (who should have ran for sheriff instead)
ReplyDeleteThe republican strong hold of harris country will not let him slide into the DA's job, even though it is said that alot of democrats are banking on Obama's coat tails in the fall.
It just aint going to happen with the office of District Attorney.
"I am certain that Bradford or Lykos would retain the prosecutors who are ethical and committed to seeking justice on behalf of all people in harris county regardless of race, sex, or economic status."
ReplyDelete10:57 PM
I don't know much about Lykos, but Bradford is far from ethical. His stint at HPD was filled with adulterous allegations and serious management errors (K-mart/crime lab/etc).