Is it time?

Few things about judges capture the nation's attention the way a Supreme Court confirmation hearing does.  After all, most people have no exposure to judges or the courts except through a hearing such as Judge Sotomayor's confirmation hearing.  I think it's boring, but hey, if that's what floats your boat, the straw that stirs your drink, the, well, you know.

But as I sat watching some highlights the other day, I recalled a conversation I had with a fellow attorney friend of mine.

There are nineteen criminal courts in Tarrant County.  The county's population is roughly 1.7 million people.  Approximately 25 percent of the county's population is Hispanic.  If memory serves, I believe Judge Nekhom of CCC 4 is from Guatemala Argentina (thanks Lance),thus making her the only Hispanic judge in the county.  I could be wrong on that though. 

Of the county's population, roughly 14 percent is African American.  That corresponds with the two African American judges we have, Judge Salvant of CDC 2 and Judge Sturns of the 213th. 

Just going on the population percentages, there should be about three more Hispanic judges in the county.  Of course, there will be some that argue that to be a judge, you have to campaign, and except for J.R. Molina and his interminable campaign for the Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin, there aren't any Hispanic candidates.  I can't argue with that.

But there will soon be an opportunity to partially remedy this situation.  The Texas Legislature recently created a new felony district court for Tarrant County, the 432nd  District Court.  I know that the Governor's office is taking applications for filling that new bench.  Would the Governor appoint a Hispanic to the bench?

From a political standpoint, it would make sense.  He is, or at least will be, in a tight race for reelection against Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.  Tarrant County is overwhelmingly Republican.  In fact it is the second-most Republican county per capita in the country.  It might help to sway some Hispanic Republicans and undecideds to his side if he were to appoint a Hispanic to the 432nd.  

Now obviously I'm not trying to tell the Governor how to do things.  If I was, he probably wouldn't be in the trouble of losing reelection.   But I digress.  

The bottom line here is that there is an opportunity to adjust the racial makeup of the Tarrant County criminal bench.  Interestingly, there isn't really much discussion on the subject.  So the question is, is it time?  If it's good enough for SCOTUS, why not here?

But what the hell do I know?

Comments

[Lance Rodman]

FYI-Judge Nekhom is from Argentina.

[Joe]

It makes sense from a population representation standpoint, but how many attorneys that the governor can choose from are Latino?

[Chrissy]

Is there some reason the governer cannot just appoint the most qualified candidate? Would that be out of the question in this county?