Dissent blocked in DeLay case, justice says

[sonias]

AAS 10/14/08
Dissent blocked in DeLay case, justice says
Accusation is latest twist in already political legal battle.
By Laylan Copelin
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, October 14, 2008

A 3rd Court of Appeals justice is accusing Chief Justice Ken Law of refusing to file her dissent in a politically charged case involving two associates of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

Justice Jan Patterson, a Democrat, is asking the Texas Supreme Court to intervene. She claims that Law, a Republican who's up for re-election, blocked the filing of her dissent to last week's ruling on whether fellow Justice Alan Waldrop, also a Republican, should step aside in the money-laundering case involving DeLay's associates.

It's the latest twist in a legal battle that's already been marked by infighting among the appeals court judges.

Law did not respond to a request for comment. Patterson declined to comment beyond her filing.

Republican shenanigans at the Third Court of Appeals. Unfortunately with the Texas Supreme Court completely in the hand of republicans, I'm sure it won't get a fair hearing there either.

This is why the courts matter, folks!

Sonia

[sonias]

1. Let me add that Woodie Jones is our candidate running against Law

AAS 10/13/08 Endorsement
ENDORSEMENT- EDITORIAL BOARD
3rd Court of Appeals: Woodie Jones' extensive record stands out

Monday, October 13, 2008

In 2002, Kenneth Law, an associate district judge specializing in family law cases, decided at the last minute to file as a candidate in the Republican primary race for chief justice of the 3rd Court of Appeals. He won the primary and went on to win the election. Now he's up for re-election on Nov. 4 — but voters should replace him with his challenger, Woodie Jones, an experienced appeals court judge and appellate lawyer.

The 2002 victory was something of a fluke for Law. His only primary opponent was Justice Lee Yeakel, who was so highly thought of in the legal community that no one filed in the Democratic primary.

While Law was not well known in the 3rd Court's 24-county district, which stretches from Austin to San Angelo, he had a good ballot name and defeated Yeakel — and ran unopposed in the general election.

Law, 60, is not a bad man. But he's proven ineffective and he has presided over a court that has become all too politicized as Republicans have won a 4 to 2 majority on the six-member court.

Emphasis mine in the story above.

Woodie's website: www.WoodieJones.com

:kick: for Woodie Jones!

Sonia