La Voz de Austin March 2010 inter.pdf - La Voz Newspapers

the community. Daniel
law school at The
and Portuguese. Mr.
ew century, along with
In over 12 years of private practice, Mr. Lauerman has represented hundreds accused
of Judge the most Patterson serious has felony served offenses, on the court including of appeals capital for murder, over eleven murder, years. manslaughter, She was born agand
gravated raised in robbery, Austin, Texas. aggravated After assault graduating and from many the more. University He has of Texas had Law many School, serious she felony served as
jury a federal trials in prosecutor just the in last New few York, years, Texas including: and Washington, capital murder, D.C., successfully murder, prosecuting manslaughter, organized
aggravated crime cases robbery, and violent burglaries, offense drugs, cases. and Judge many Patterson more. has represented a wide variety of
individuals in civil and criminal cases for over 25 years.
��Keith has been a Middle School Teacher and is currently an Adjunct Professor at
Austin � Judge Community Patterson has College. been rated He holds excellent a Master’s and the Degree highest in rated education. judge on the court of
appeals on the 2007 and 2009 Austin Bar Association evaluation polls and won the
��Through his varied experiences, he has developed understanding and exercises
State Bar of Texas bar polls by overwhelming margins.
compassion for both the accused and the victims of crime.
� Judge Patterson has taught at the University of Texas School of Law and is teaching a
��Keith is also a former member of the United Steelworkers Union.
course in judicial ethics in fall 2010.
��Keith is a member of the State Bar College and is licensed by the United States
� Judge Patterson has written hundreds of opinions and handled dozens of cases dealing
Supreme Court.
with the important cases that will come before the 201st District Court.
��Keith currently is approved by the District Judges to represent mentally ill defendants
� Judge
and
Patterson
the indigent
was appointed
at ALL levels
to serve
of
as
Felonies
a Commissioner on the State Commission on
Judicial Conduct and was elected vice chair of the commission by her fellow commissioners.
“I have the RIGHT experience to be Judge of the 331st.”
“I promised you when I was fi rst elected that I would work hard, that I would be a
steward of my offi ce, and that I understood the importance of serving the people and
deciding cases correctly and fairly.”
La Voz de Austin - March, 2010
orked for the Texas Civil
amily); for the University
r of children
JUDICIAL
in The
RACES
legal advisor and special-
es over Travis County’s misdemeanor Mental Health
ffenders e live get in treatment a demanding that helps them lead produccal
especially Administrative true Judge to of hourly our county courts, he helped
rt. He has been elected 7 times—twice as Justice of
lves on a traffi c citation
of Travis County Court-at-Law #3.
dge for 24 years and has presided over hundreds of
isdemeanor mental-health diversion docket through which
s get treatment and services instead of incarceration.
the 2010 Torch Award from the Central Texas African
ce in recognition of my work helping mentally ill misdetreatment
instead of jail time when possible.”
.
.
YOUR VO
Ms. Seelig grew up in El Paso, Texas and graduated from The University of Texas School
of Law. Many of Ms. Seelig’s experiences have set the tone for her desire to see that
everyone is treated fairly. Ms. Seelig is motivated by her work on both sides of the bar,
and inspired by the work she had done for the District and County Court at Law judges.
All information Travis County jail. has been l information provided/appr has been “The provided/approved justice court needs to better refl ect the state of our by lives. We the live in a candidates.
demanding
201st Judicial District
Justice Jan Patterson
www.justicejan.com
phone: (512) 494-3187
VOICE
RAISE A VOICE FOR EAST AUSTIN
Early Voting - February 16-26, 2010
� Seelig clerked for all of the Travis County Court at Law Judges during law school
and was a prosecutor in the County Attorney’s Offi ce after graduation.
Election Day is March 2nd
� Seelig later became a defense lawyer for court-appointed and paying clients in
Travis and Williamson Counties. Her hard work earned an appointment to the Austin
Municipal Court.
� As a judge, Seelig presided over criminal cases as well as magistrate cases at the
“I‘ve done a lot of things, but there‘s something more than life experience that makes
me seek the bench. It‘s about people—and a judge‘s responsibility to provide a fair,
just court to serve them and our community. As the judge for County Court at Law 3,
I‘ll continue my devotion to ensuring a fair and just court for all.”
Mr. Bradford has lived in Precinct 1 for 10 years and is active in the community. Daniel
attended high school in Brazil, college at Ohio State University, and law school at The
University of Texas School of Law. Bradford speaks fl uent Spanish and Portuguese. Mr.
Bradford wants to bring innovation, all the best practices of this new century, along with
an insider’s understanding to our community.
� Mr. Bradford is a dedicated public-interest lawyer who has worked for the Texas Civil
Rights Project (where he helped represent the Sophia King family); for the University
of Texas Legal Services for Students; and as a public defender of children in The
University of Texas Juvenile Justice Clinic.
� Bradford works for Travis County Attorney David Escamilla as a legal advisor and specializes
in open-government laws.
world that makes it diffi cult to physically visit our court. This is especially true to hourly
wage-earners, who may have to choose between defending themselves on a traffi c citation
County or Court missing three at hours Law of work.” 3, Judge Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1
John Lipscombe
www.johnforjudge.com
email: info@johnforjudge.com
phone: (512) 485-3003
Mr. Lipscombe is a native Texan, born in Snyder. He is a graduate of The University
of Texas Ms. and Montford St. Mary’s has lived University in Austin, School Texas of Law. since He she was was a 6 law years clerk old. with She Judge graduated Mike The University
McCormick of Texas. of the Montford Texas Court is the of only Criminal candidate Appeals who and has a served Staff Attorney for over for a decade Senior as Judge a prosecutor of
the Court, and W.C. defense (Bill) attorney Davis. in He Travis has tried County. hundreds Montford of cases has taught as fi rst at chair, The University and co-chaired/ of Texas School
trained of new Law prosecutors and co-hosted on hundreds a weekly of television additional news trials. series He titled has “Court also worked Files.” She on the is currently a
development legal analyst of criminal for KXAN law News. of this State and has been a legal trainer and teacher for
over 15 years. � Montford served as the General Counsel to State Senator Eddie Lucio where she
��For 19 helped years, write Lipscombe the “Life has served Without as Parole” a prosecutor law giving in the juries Travis an County alternative misdemean- to the death
or courts penalty he is . running She also for served in Travis as County, a prosecutor working for with the juvenile Travis County defendants District and Attorney’s
their parents Offi ce in on the school Trial attendance Court Division, and substance Family Justice abuse; Division, with victims and of the violent Public crime, Integrity
property Unit. crimes, and domestic violence; with persons suffering from mental illness, and
with � defense Montford attorneys, has prosecuted law enforcement more than offi cers, 100 and jury judges trials to for ensure crimes just of and murder, fair aggra-
resolution vated of assault, criminal burglary, cases. robbery, aggravated sexual assault, child abuse, and assault
��Lipscombe family enjoys violence. mentoring young lawyers, guiding them in evaluating cases and
preparing
� Montford
for trial,
has
and
served
coaching
as a
them
board
through
member
trials.
for the Girl Scouts of Central Texas and
��Lipscombe the Travis has been County endorsed Women by Lawyers’ the Austin Association, Chronicle, among District other Attorney organizations. Rosemary
Lehberg, State Senator Kirk Watson, Mayor Lee Leffi ngwell, State Representatives Mark
“I will uphold the laws before me and treat every individual who stands before the bench
Strama and Eddie Rodriguez, Commissioner Karen Huber, every law enforcement group
with respect and dignity.”
and over 1,000 individuals within Travis County.
“A prosecutor’s job is not merely to seek a conviction, but to see that Justice is done.”
to Contested Judicial Races
YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE
Yvonne M. Williams
www.yvonnewilliams4jp1.com
Page 11
RAISE A VOICE FOR EAST AUSTIN
Law School and started
illiams relocated to Austin
rtment of Agriculture.
Amy Clark Meachum
www.amymeachum.com
email: amy@amymeachum.com
Olga Seelig
www.OlgaSeelig.com
email: info@olgaseelig.com
Daniel Bradford
www.BradfordforJustice.com
years, serving as the
phone: (512) 795-5032 fax: (512) 590-8717
phone: (512) 848-3130
tice, Mr. Lauerman has represented hundreds accused Mr. Lipscombe is a native Texan, born in Snyder. He is a graduate of The University Ms. Williams received her law degree from the University of Houston Law School and started
ooking facility.
ses, including capital murder, murder, manslaughter, ag- of Texas and St. Mary’s University School of Law. He was a law clerk with Judge Mike her legal career as a civil rights trial attorney in federal courts. Williams relocated to Austin
sault South and African many Judge more. Ms. anti-apart- Crain Meachum He has pioneered had grew many up and in serious presides a small, felony rural over Travis Central McCormick County’s Texas town misdemeanor of the and Texas is the Court Mental fi rst of Criminal person Health Appeals on either and side a Staff Attorney Ms. Seelig for Mr. Senior Martinez grew Judge up of in is board El Paso, certifi Texas in 1990 ed and in and criminal graduated served as law Assistant from with The General almost University Counsel 30 years at of the Texas of Texas continuous School Department of Agriculture. Mr. Bradford After has earning lived her in Precinct law degree 1 for from 10 the years University and is of active Minnesota, in the Ms. community. Sage prosecuted Daniel hundreds of
ears, including: Docket capital of her where murder, family many murder, to become mentally-ill manslaughter, a lawyer, offenders graduating get treatment the with Court, honors W.C. that from (Bill) helps Davis. The them University He lead has tried produc- of hundreds Texas School of cases as fi rst of chair, Law. courtroom and Many co-chaired/ of experience Ms. Seelig’s handling experiences ��Williams the have most was an set diffi Austin the cult tone Municipal cases. for He Court her is desire Judge a proud for to the Vietnam see past that 3 years, veteran, serving as the attended important high school and in high-profi Brazil, college le felony at cases, Ohio with State crimes University, ranging and from law sexual school assault at The to murder cases.
in rugs, the and Houston-Galveston
many tive, more. law-abiding lives. As the Local Administrative trained Judge new of prosecutors our county on hundreds courts, of he additional helped trials. He has also everyone worked is on treated the
of Law. During the past decade, she has been a partner for an Austin-based law fi rm. She has a graduate of fairly. the University Ms. Seelig of city’s is Texas motivated fi rst overnight School by of magistrate her Law, work a in strong on the both Travis leader sides County in of central the Austin Booking bar, com- facility. University of Texas School of Law. Bradford speaks fl uent Spanish and Portuguese. Mr.
��Sage is currently an Assistant District Attorney for Travis County, and is the sole
chool Teacher establish and been is currently considered Travis County’s an Adjunct as a Rising DWI Professor Court. Star at
development of criminal law of this State and has been a legal trainer and teacher for
in He Texas has Law been and elected Politics 7 Magazine times—twice for the as past Justice 3 years. of and inspired munity, by and the an work advocate she had for done the mentally for the District ill and and drug County addicted. Court His at early Law judges. education in Bradford wants to bring innovation, all the best practices of this new century, along with
He holds a the Master’s Peace Degree and in 5 education.
over 15 years.
��Williams represented plaintiffs in discrimination lawsuits and South African anti-apart- prosecutor in the Mental Health Court Docket. She fi nds alternatives to incarceration
times as Judge of Travis County Court-at-Law #3.
� Seelig clerked for all of the Travis County Court at Law Judges during law school
an insider’s understanding to our community.
� Meachum has represented numerous individuals throughout the country against drug
psychology and nursing prepared heid him civil disobedience for the challenges actions and of practiced the criminal civil rights justice law in system the Houston-Galveston
orris Overstreet for 3
and
nces, he has developed understanding and exercises
��For 19 years, Lipscombe has served as a prosecutor in the Travis County misdemean-
for the mentally ill. She is committed to decriminalizing mental Illness and serves on
� Judge companies Crain has for been failing a to judge warn for about 24 years the dangers and has of presided their products. over hundreds of and to help was save a prosecutor and change in the lives. area throughout the 1980’s.
ccused and the victims of crime.
or courts he is running for in Travis County, working with juvenile defendants and County Attorney’s Offi ce after graduation.
� Mr. Bradford the Mayor’s is a dedicated Mental public-interest Health Task Force. lawyer who has worked for the Texas Civil
jury � Meachum trials. handles a complex civil litigation their docket parents including on school such attendance varied and subjects substance as abuse; with victims of
� Seelig �
violent
Martinez’
crime, ��Williams clerked for then Court of Criminal Appeals Justice, Morris Overstreet for 3
later became a defense lawyer for court-appointed and paying clients in
Rights Project (where he helped represent the Sophia King family); for the University
mber of the United Steelworkers Union.
goals are “to serve my community, the Bar, and to the best of my ability,
d
property crimes, and domestic violence; with persons suffering from mental illness, and years. This is the court of last resort for criminal cases.
sion (TWCC) for 13
� Judge products years
Crain Implemented liability, professional misdemeanor malpractice, mental-health alternative diversion energy docket and health through care which law, Travis and Williamson Counties. Her hard work earned an appointment to the Austin
of Texas
��Sage
Legal
worked
Services
as
for
a
Students;
prosecutor
and
in
as
the
a
United
public defender
States Attorney’s
of children
Offi ce
in
and
The
was awarded
protect and defend the Constitution of Texas and the Constitution of the United
State Bar College and is licensed by the United States with defense attorneys, law enforcement offi cers, and judges to ensure just and fair
��Williams worked for the Texas Workers Compensation Commission (TWCC) for 13 years
hundreds representing of minor plaintiffs offenders in personal get treatment injury and cases, services defendants instead in of business incarceration. litigation mat- Municipal Court.
University
the
of
Director’s
Texas Juvenile
Award
Justice
for Superior
Clinic.
Performance.
Offi cer & later managed
resolution of criminal cases.
States of America.” in various capacities writing over 500 opinions as a Hearing Offi cer & later managed
Offi ters, as well as counsels other lawyers on matters of legal ethics.
“I am honored to have received the 2010 Torch Award from the Central Texas African
� As a judge, Seelig presided over criminal cases as well as magistrate cases at the
� Bradford ��Sage works served for Travis as County Counsel Attorney to the Mayor David Escamilla of Los Angeles as a legal for advisor 3 years, and where special- she helped
by the ce District of Administra- Judges to represent mentally ill defen- ��Lipscombe enjoys mentoring young lawyers, guiding them in evaluating “Judges cases and have the opportunity a team to affect of lawyers people’s processing lives >2,500 and cases improve before the communities. State Offi ce of I’m Administra-
� Meachum has been endorsed by the Austin Women’s Political Caucus, the Hispanic Bar
American Family Support Conference in recognition of my work helping mentally ill misde- Travis County jail.
izes in open-government develop key policies laws. after the Rodney King riots and assisted with efforts so that Magic
e ALL dispute levels of resolution Felonies was
preparing for trial, and coaching them through trials.
tive Hearings on behalf of the agency. Mediation & alternative dispute resolution was
running for Judge because I want to be an instrument for positive change in our
Association of Austin, the Austin Black Lawyers Association and many Democratic clubs.
engaged to resolve these cases.
Johnson could begin his successful movie theater company in underserved neighbor-
HT experience meanor to be Judge offenders of the 331st.” get appropriate treatment instead ��Lipscombe of jail time has been when endorsed possible.” by the Austin Chronicle, District Attorney community.” Rosemary
“I‘ve done a lot of things, but there‘s something more than life experience that makes
“The justice court hoods. needs to better refl ect the state of our lives. We live in a demanding
“I believe a good judge knows the law, has an even Lehberg, temperament, State Senator an open Kirk mind, Watson, and Mayor respect Lee Leffi ngwell, State Representatives Mark
��Williams is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Karate and teaches Karate at Dottie Jordan
me seek the bench. It‘s about people—and a judge‘s responsibility to provide a fair,
world that makes it diffi cult to physically visit our court. This is especially true to hourly
Strama and Eddie Rodriguez, Commissioner Karen Huber, every law enforcement group recreation center. She also teaches legal writing at ACC Rio Grande Campus.
arate at Dottie amongst Jordan her peers, but most importantly understands that the courts are not solely for judges
just court to serve them and our community. As the judge for County Court at Law 3,
wage-earners, “I will who provide may have the sense to choose of justice, between the defending knowledge themselves of the law, on and a traffi the c measured citation compas-
and over 1,000 individuals within Travis County.
“I plan to resolve the truancy docket using restorative justice and mediation; I will decrease
Grande Campus. and lawyers – but ultimately for the families and citizens… our duty as lawyers and judges is to
I‘ll continue my devotion to ensuring a fair and just court for all.”
or missing sion three that hours the 299th of work.” District Court demands.”
“A prosecutor’s job is not merely to seek a conviction, but to see that Justice is done.” the civil docket using mediation; & at all times, I will solicit input from the community to
make that experience a fair, effi cient and understandable one for all citizens.”
implement all these measures.”
mediation; I will decrease
t from the community to
Ms. Williams received her law degree from the University of Houston Law School and started
her legal Ms. career Schatelowitz as a civil was rights raised trial in attorney the Austin in federal area, is courts. married Williams to a Texas relocated State to Trooper Austin Rey
in 1990 Alcantar and served and as has Assistant three children. General Counsel She received at the a Texas law degree Department from of St. Agriculture. Mary’s University School
of Law in San Antonio. She clerked with the Travis County Attorney’s Offi ce, then the Texas
��Williams Court of was Criminal an Austin Appeals Municipal where Court she Judge assisted for with the Death past 3 Penalty years, serving Appeals, as Writs the of Habeas
city’s
Corpus,
fi rst
and
overnight
Petitions
magistrate
for Discretionary
in the Travis
Review.
County
She
central
was an
Booking
Assistant
facility.
County Attorney for Travis
��Williams County, represented prosecuting plaintiffs misdemeanor in discrimination cases. lawsuits and South African anti-apartheid
civil
� In
disobedience
private practice,
actions
she
and
has
practiced
defended
civil
indigent
rights
clients
law in
with
the
criminal
Houston-Galveston
offenses and handled
area throughout the 1980’s.
complex Federal felonies ranging from white-collar crime to drug distribution conspiracies,
��Williams assault, clerked kidnapping, for then Court sexual of molestation Criminal Appeals of children, Justice, money Morris laundering Overstreet and for 3 mortgage fraud.
years. This is the court of last resort for criminal cases.
� Schatelowitz is concerned that victims are not heard enough in the judicial process
��Williams worked for the Texas Workers Compensation Commission (TWCC) for 13 years
“Victims and their rights are most often heard only by law enforcement or by the prosecu-
in various capacities writing over 500 opinions as a Hearing Offi cer & later managed
a team
tor’s
of
offi
lawyers
ce. By and
processing
large, victims
>2,500
do
cases
not
before
come to
the
courtrooms
State Offi ce
to
of
tell
Administra-
their stories to the
tive
judge
Hearings
who
on
will
behalf
impose
of
a
the
sentence
agency.
upon
Mediation
a defendant.
& alternative
As a
dispute
defense
resolution
attorney, and
was
former
engaged
prosecutor,
to resolve
I always
these
take
cases.
victims’ rights into consideration.”
��Williams is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Karate and teaches Karate at Dottie Jordan
recreation center. She also teaches legal writing at ACC Rio Grande Campus.
“I plan to resolve the truancy docket using restorative justice and mediation; I will decrease
the civil docket using mediation; & at all times, I will solicit input from the community to
implement all these measures.”