Posted on 01/06/2019 11:00:15 AM PST by Elderberry
As the dust settles from the 2018 midterm elections, a potential shake-up of unprecedented proportions is brewing quietly around the historically stable McLennan County judiciary.
Traditionally, once McLennan County judges get into office, many remain for decades and rarely are challenged for re-election. But a number of domino-effect changes to that equation in coming years could project the current slate of local judges onto a turnover carousel and result in a dramatically different roster.
Aside from possible changes at the McLennan County Courthouse, U.S. District Judge Alan Albright started the process of replacing a longstanding judge when he was sworn into office in September to replace disgraced U.S. District Judge Walter Smith Jr.
Smith, Waco’s first and only full-time federal judge, served 32 years. He retired after being sanctioned by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which concluded Smith made unwanted sexual advances against a female court employee in his chambers in 1998 and lied to investigators about it.
The first domino that fell recently at the McLennan County Courthouse started at the top, the fourth-floor home of the 10th Court of Appeals.
Justice Al Scoggins, 63, left office at the beginning of the month with four years remaining on his six-year term. Scoggins, who defeated Justice Felipe Reyna in 2010, was the first person from Ellis County elected to the court.
Scoggins, who did not move to Waco, said he decided to leave office because he grew tired of driving back and forth from Ellis County.
Gov. Greg Abbott will name Scoggins’ successor, and at least four candidates, including 414th State District Judge Vicki Menard, are seeking the appointment.
Menard became the first woman to serve as a state district judge in McLennan County when former Gov. Rick Perry appointed her the first judge of the court
(Excerpt) Read more at wacotrib.com ...
IBTG
Looks like the rats are abandoning ship...
These are all very different types of judges.
How did they squandered such a slam dunk group of cases?
Cartel money can buy anything.
In Harris County, a few days ago, we had all-Republican county courts, majority-Republican district courts, and two all-Republican courts of appeals. Now, our county and district courts are all Democrat (along with every other countywide elected office), and two majority Democrat courts of appeals.
McLennan County reminds me of the scene from Porky’s where the Angel Beach kids are “flushed out of the “Pig Pen.” When Porky is asked by the crooked Sheriff, what happened, he says: “ We gave the place an enema and this is what came out!
Whacko needs more than a Judicial Enema to fix what’s been wrong there for decades, but this is a start!
“In Harris County, a few days ago, we had all-Republican county courts, majority-Republican district courts, and two all-Republican courts of appeals. Now, our county and district courts are all Democrat (along with every other countywide elected office), and two majority Democrat courts of appeals.”
And yet, most Texans here on FR can’t agree that Texas is at risk of flipping from red to blue!
>>most Texans here on FR can’t agree that Texas is at risk of flipping from red to blue!
It’s not. Harris, Dallas, and Bexar county, not to mention Travis, are nowhere near indicative of the state as a whole.
It will happen within the next 10 years, if things continue as they are. Demographics are steadily goin the Democrats’ way, the state is rapidly urbanizing, and the state Democrat organization is motivated and well funded.
“It’s not. Harris, Dallas, and Bexar county, not to mention Travis, are nowhere near indicative of the state as a whole.”
Take a look at these census figures and then tell me that “things in Texas are just fine!”
http://worldpopulationreview.com/us-counties/tx/
The counties you mention may not be “indicative of the state as a whole,” but they are or soon will be the place of residence of most of your state’s people.
“It will happen within the next 10 years, if things continue as they are.”
That’s why it’s a futile exercise to move to a more conservative state. It only makes your lifestyle o.k. for a little while longer, but doesn’t address the underlying problem. Conservatives need to stand where they are and fight. Otherwise loosing the country will be a sure thing.
Those four counties have more than 10 million residents, well over 40% of the state. That doesn’t count the heavily Democrat Rio Grande Valley or the Houston and Dallas suburbs that are also trending blue.
Fort Bend County went Democrat this last election. Democrats won seats in courts of appeals around the state, in a very underreported story. The1st and 14th courts in Houston cover some of the most conservative counties in Texas in addition to Harris, and were all-Republican for years. Democrats swept the seats that were up this election and now both courts are majority Dem. Rural and suburban Republicans used to outvote urban Democrats in both Harris county elections and Houston four of appeals elections. No longer.
Plus enticing all those California businesses to relocate to Texas brings with them employees who are Demonrats of the California flavor, not pro-business republican oriented people. Ex. McKesson, US biggest drug distributor, to move from San Francisco to Texas.
Houston, DFW, Austin, El Paso and San Antonio eventually will have enough Demonrat voters to where Texas will be like Cal, Minn, Ill or NY big cities override the rest of the state.
>>Those four counties have more than 10 million residents, well over 40%
And only about 3.5 million of them, AT MOST, vote democrat. But that’s enough to control those counties.
You seem to think the entire county is democrat, but it isn’t. Just a majority. In some case, a thin majority. People are moving out of Dallas county into Tarrant, Denton, and Collin counties. All of those are majority Republican. Collin is about 80%. Abbott won 60% of the vote and both houses are Republican. Texas is not going blue anytime soon regardless of how 3 or 4 counties, some which have had the same percentage of democratic voters for decades, go.
A few items that need to be addressed.
1. The sad case of Johnny (I like to spend your money Culberson - He finally had a primary opponent this past March, however the turnout in the primary in this (my) district was as always abysmal. If you do not care to vote - PISS-OFF and enjoy the consequences
2. In the General due to the overwhelming numbers of incumbent and NEW RINOs on the Republican ticket resulted in a LOW turnout of voters who pulled the lever for Republicans.
Some clarity - County Judge - In this case a this means a County supervisor - And another Spend your money RINO - Why in the world would the Harris County Tax payers wish to spend $100 MILLION to refurbish the ASTRODOME? Good riddance to bad rubbish.
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