If something can be done better, shouldn't it be done better?
Today, my campaign released a new video entitled, "We Can Do Better." In the video, which you can watch below, I discuss reforming the criminal justice system in Travis County to better reflect our values and beliefs.
If you are like most people, the thought of someone spending the night--or a week or a month--in jail for a crime they did not commit is abhorrent to you. It certainly is to me.
Although many folks here in Travis County are already familiar with me and my campaign, I wanted to share with you a video that was produced for my campaign launch earlier this month that tells a little more about me and my beliefs about the justice system.
As of next Tuesday, former Judge Charlie Baird will stop exploring and begin officially campaigning for the position of Travis County District Attorney. Making his primary challenge to Democratic incumbent Rosemary Lehmberg official, Baird has announced that he will be joined by the Hon. Morris Overstreet, former judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and Cory Session brother of Tim Cole, defendant exonerated in 299th District Court in 2009 by Charlie Baird.
The selection of the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex in a historically African-American part of East Austin, combined with his announced guests, would indicate that Baird is looking to tack to the left of Lehmberg in his primary challenge. This sets up the highest profile primary on the county level in Travis County for next spring's ballot outside of the TX-35 Congressional primary. Lehmberg sports a broad list of supporters, including many traditional African-American community and elected leaders including Rep. Dawna Dukes, Sheriff Greg Hamilton, and former DA opponent Gary Cobb. While Black voters tend to make up a larger share of the Democratic primary electorate than say a general election, it's not a source of votes from which to launch an terribly strong primary challenge for a countywide race.
We'll know more after next Tuesday as Baird lays out more of his policy agenda which he has been building with community input through local advertising including on Burnt Orange Report.
Here's the latest on Judge Charlie Baird, one of our county's most admired members of the judiciary.
For Immediate Release
For more information please contact:
Stefanie Collins
The Fowler Law Firm, P.C.
919 Congress Ave, Suite 900
Austin, TX 78701
Ph: (512) 441-1411
Fax: (512) 441-1410
email: scollins@thefowlerlawfirm.com
NEWS RELEASE
Hon. Judge Charlie Baird of the 299th District Court of Travis County will join The Fowler Law Firm PC of Austin, Texas on January 3rd, 2011 as Chief of the Criminal Law Section. Charlie Baird's remarkable career as a Texas attorney spans almost thirty (30) years during which time he practiced criminal law actively, served on Texas' highest appellate court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, taught criminal law at his alma mater South Texas College of Law, Texas Tech University School of Law and Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, earned advanced degrees in law from University of Virginia School of Law and appeared frequently on ABC, CNN, NBC, PBS and even Court TV! A ferocious champion of the legal rights of the individual, Charlie Baird considers his greatest contribution to his fellow man to be the unwavering and devoted defense of the accused.
Stefanie Collins, a 2008 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, passionately practices criminal law in Travis and surrounding counties, is an ardent champion of the rights of the accused and a current co-chair of the Central Texas Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas. Ms. Collins will join Judge Baird at The Fowler Law Firm.
For more information please contact:
Stefanie Collins
The Fowler Law Firm, P.C.
919 Congress Ave, Suite 900
Austin, TX 78701
Ph: (512) 441-1411
Fax: (512) 441-1410
email: scollins@thefowlerlawfirm.com
Wed., March 31st, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Mindy Montford and Karen Sage Debate.
Broadcasting live on 91.7FM KOOP Radio, Austin or you can stream it live and free from your computer from 12 p.m. -1 p.m. at www.koop.org
Montford and Sage are candidates running for the Travis County 299th District Court. Both are Democrats. This is the only Travis County Democratic Party Run-off Election for this primary season. This is a criminal court that hears some of the most serious crimes in Travis County. This seat is being vacated by Judge Charlie Baird.
Experts unfortunately are predicting a very low turnout for this runoff election. I'm hosting this debate live on the radio to help educate the public about these candidates and help drive more individuals to vote.
I'm interested in hearing any suggested topics, themes, or questions that you'd recommend I ask either Karen, Mindy or both candidates.
Please post any recommended topics, themes or questions on this blog or email them to me at cleanair999@yahoo.com. Please keep them fair, concise, and professional. I'll do my best to ask them. I can keep the source confidential or I can reference you on the air.
At this time, this appears to be the only debate scheduled between these two candidates for this runoff election. This is a very important race for anyone living in Travis County and we hope you participate in the voting process.
Thank you for your suggestions, and for tuning into the show.
Best,
David Kobierowski
Talk Show Host
"A Neighborly Conversation"
91.7FM KOOP Radio, Austin
Yesterday, Karl-Thomas and David wrote about both Baird's rumored retirement and Karen Sage's announcement to switch races and run for 299th District Court.
This morning, Judge Baird released an official statement announcing his intentions to complete his term and not run for re-election.
Here is the statement in full.
Today, Judge Charlie Baird announced that he will not seek re-election to the 299th District Court.
"Serving the people of Travis County has been the highest honor of my professional career," said Baird. "I am leaving the best job on earth, to devote more time to life's most important job, being a parent." Baird is the father of two preschool-aged children.
Baird's time in office has been notable for his efforts to help criminal defendants extricate themselves from the criminal justice system and become productive members of society.
Baird established a program to help defendants find employment and uses his courtroom to hold parenting, anger management and cognitive skills classes. The classes are free and frequently attended by Baird.
Earlier this year, Baird made history when he presided over the first posthumous exoneration in Texas, clearing the name of Tim Cole who was unjustly convicted of rape in Lubbock and later died in prison.
Baird, 54, was elected district judge in 2006 and took office on January 1, 2007. His term of office will end on December 31, 2010.
From 1990 through 1998, Baird, a Democrat, served on the Court of Criminal Appeals, Texas' highest criminal court. From 1999 until his election, Baird served as a visiting trial and appellate judge, and taught criminal law subjects at Texas Tech University and South Texas College of Law, his alma mater. At the end of his current term, Baird will have served twenty (20) years in the judiciary.
Baird left open the door for a future run for political office, saying: "There will be an appropriate opportunity for me to return to public service but now is the time to devote to my family."
Baird, known for having a large number of photographs of his wife and children in his chambers, often questions criminal defendants about their children and frequently orders them to take parenting classes.
Last June, Baird announced that he would seek re-election and had been endorsed by many elected officials, community leaders and attorneys. He is currently unopposed in both the Democratic Party Primary and the General Election. Baird said the contributions to his re-election campaign would be returned.
As Karen Sage moves quickly and deliberately into the race for 299th, the rumors of Mindy Montford running turned from insider discussion to public conversation. Montford, former candidate for District Attorney, began a discussion on facebook last night asking friends what they thought of a potential run.
Montford has residual name ID from running in a high profile, well financed race recently, but would that be enough to defeat Sage who is already in the race and has been in the field for months?
Tomorrow is the first day to apply for the ballot. Expect our Democratic candidates to shake up a little more before the January deadline as both expected and unexpected candidates begin to file.
It was the buzz at tonight's Capital Area Progressive Democrats / South Austin Democrats Holiday Party at the AFL-CIO and in less than an hour, official confirmation by email from Karen Sage that she indeed will be moving to run in the 299th District Court to be vacated by Charlie Baird who just announced he will not seek re-election.
I begin this e-mail on a note of sadness, because I have recently learned that one of Travis County's most accomplished judges and beloved Democrats, Charlie Baird, has decided not to run for re-election to the 299th District Court. Judge Baird has had a distinguished judicial career, both on the Criminal Court of Appeals and in the 299th District Court. There are many, including myself, who will miss his presence on the bench.
I am very excited, however, because I have decided to move from pursuing the 147th District Court bench to seek Judge Baird's empty seat on the 299th District Court. After speaking with friends, family, and supporters, I believe this is the best move for Travis County. There is no appreciable difference between the courts - they both deal with felony criminal cases, and I will be able to work for justice in the exact same way as I would be able to work for it on the 147th.
This now leaves Cliff Brown as the sole candidate standing for the Democratic nomination in the 147th District Court. Previously, Judge David Crain decided to seek retiring Judge Bob Perkins's bench on 331st District Court.
It remains unclear if Sage will remain without primary challenge. Tonight's chatter was centered around former Assistant District Attorney and 2008 Travis County District Attorney candidate Mindy Montford who was also in attendance at tonight's holiday party and did not appear to be going out of her way to quash any rumors at this time. Sage's lightening fast email tonight would be a smart move if one were attempting to move quickly to gain an early edge in hope to scare off other challengers.
The Austin American-Statesman has reported that State District Judge Charlie Baird of Austin will not seek re-election. Baird's announcement comes two days before the filing period is set to begin.
Judge Baird says he will be leaving the court to spend more time with his family. Although he has only held his current position for one term, Baird has quickly distinguished himself. His methods had drawn fire from some, but he had established a solid reputation among Travis County Democrats. Baird's retirement is a loss for all of Travis County, however, not just Democrats.
Assistant District Attorney Bill Bishop for a short time last year planned to challenge Baird in the Democratic primary. Bishop, who criticized Baird for being too lenient with sentencing, ultimately decided not to run, citing the time committment.
Due to the late timing of the decision, it may be a few days or weeks before it is clear who will end up running for Baird's seat. In the end, the race could perhaps draw a candidate who is at this time running for one of the two district judge races currently being contested.
Karen Sage, currently running against Cliff Brown for the 147th Court, is said to be considering moving into the race for Baird's seat. That would leave Brown unopposed. There have been rumors that former Travis County Assistant District Attorney Mindy Montford may also run for Baird's seat, likely matching her against Sage. While Montford has not publically announced she is thinking about running, if she decides to, she would start out with higher name ID than most potential rivals due to her 2008 campaign for District Attorney. She would also be able to hold of on a decision longer than most others, given her name ID and fundraising ability.
When will all the hopping between judicial races stop? Well, that's what the filing deadline is for. Although it may seem like there is plenty of time, Election Day is just three months away.
Baird, who was profiled in this lengthy and informative 2008 Austin Chronicle story, has already had one challenger announce and withdraw this cycle. While currently without an opponent, things may not stay that way due to the various interests in Austin that have their own issues with his style of justice.
Baird has previously served on the statewide Court of Criminal Appeals from 1990-1998 where he authored over 1,000 opinions as one of the most highly respected judge of both parties on that court.
Bill Bishop, the Travis County Assistant District Attorney who recently said he would challenge District Judge Charlie Baird in next year's Democratic Primary, backed out of the race today.
Bishop said that after talking with friends and family members he has decided that “I can’t commit the time and energy” to the election. He did not elaborate.
Bishop last month told Austin Legal of his intent to run against Baird, saying he disagrees with some of Baird’s decisions to release defendants awaiting trial on personal bond or to give probation to those who have been convicted. Bishop did not cite specific cases.
The simple truth is Bishop would have never been able to beat Judge Baird.
Some people may have disagreements with him, but it will be very difficult -- perhaps next to impossible -- to defeat Judge Baird in a Democratic Primary in Travis County.
