Candidate review committee a must

By KERRY NEVES

It has been more than a year since I was elected as the Republican nominee for the 10th District Court and effectively won the election, since I had no opponent in November. I have served for seven months. Those seven months have shown me the power a judge has and how a person with questionable integrity and ethics could cause great harm. I knew that reality before I took office, and I strongly urged Galveston County Republican Party Chairwoman Barbara Meeks to strengthen the Candidate Review Committee. I felt it needed the power to report to the Executive Committee and Republican voters when candidates would not answer a questionnaire or appear before the committee. I felt it needed the power to tell voters when a candidate did not measure up to the standards we could all agree Republican candidates should have. I felt those changes were more necessary than ever after the last election, which saw attorneys from other counties coming to talk to elected Galveston County officials and attorneys. Those attorneys warned us of the unethical conduct of a candidate and provided documents supporting those allegations. I understand that information was made available to the Candidate Review Committee, but it felt it could not divulge that to voters. I disagreed with that position and felt the voters had a right to know the details. I have served on the committee during three election cycles, two times as chairman. We asked tough questions and at least on one occasion convinced a candidate he should not run, based on information in his history which would have been embarrassing to him and to the party. I have never supported a seal of approval or endorsement of a candidate. If, as we had for sheriff in the last election, there are a number of qualified candidates, the committee should simply report any of them would merit the vote of an informed Republican voter. But I strongly feel the committee should not hesitate to let the voters know when it has information raising questions about a candidates fitness to run as a Republican. I am particularly concerned about the position of elected judges. To be blunt, I do not believe we should let anyone near a judicial bench and a black robe who does not have unquestioned integrity and judgment. The recent announcement by a person that he will once again seek a judicial position compels me to write this column. The Candidate Review Committee should require any candidate for judge to provide complete answers to some tough questions. I would hope the GCRP would provide this information to the media, mail it to prospective voters and publish it in ways that will get the attention of busy voters. This does not constitute a seal of approval or endorsement. Rather, it is simply doing what we should all want to do to give voters the true picture of the candidates. As a Republican, I do not want to see my party embarrassed as we have seen too frequently in recent cases. Most importantly, I do not want to see people who come to the courthouse seeking justice to discover the judge

in front of whom they appear is not qualified and lacks the necessary judgment and ethics to rule fairly and impartially. Some suggested questions for judicial candidates Have you had grievances filed against you with the State Bar of Texas by former clients? Have you paid restitution, fines or attorney fees to the State Bar of Texas or former clients as part of resolving a grievance? Have you had your license to practice law revoked or suspended by the State Bar of Texas? Have you been sued by former clients for legal malpractice? Have you been sued by anyone other than clients? Are there any judgments on file against you? Has the IRS filed tax liens against you or your law firm? Are you current on all federal, state and local taxes owed?

Kerry Neves of Dickinson is judge of the 10th District Court.