TRIAL DOGS 2018: RECOGNITION AND ACCOLADES

AFTER A LONG AND CONTENTIOUS DEBATE, THE COMMITTEE HAS FINALLY MADE THEIR CHOICES:

BEST QUOTE:
"My lawyer said I shouldn't say this, but I would never put my junk on her arm, I have herpes.  That would be gross!" 
    --Defendant accused of Continuous Sexual Abuse

LA ANTORCHE DE JUSTICIA AWARD
Ariel Payan and Darla Davis
(3 Capital Murders plus in 2018)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Elsie Craven
Joe Taylor
Polk Shelton
Phil Campbell

NOTABLE TRIALS
Rob Shepherd-Not Guilty (Murder)[CAPDS Lawyer]
Brian Erskine-Not Guilty (Murder)[CAPDS Lawyer]
Ariel Payan/Darla Davis-Not Guilty (Murder)[CAPDS Lawyers]
Leonard Martinez-Not Guilty (Agg Sex Assaultof a Child)[CAPDS Lawyer]
Ken Ervin/Doug O'Connell-Not Guilty (Excessive Force)

TRIAL DOGS
Howard Jenkins (posthumous)
Amanda McDaniel (posthumous)
Patricia Cummings
Jeremy Sylestine
Victoria Winkler
Robb Shepherd
Ray Espersen
Russ Hunt
Charlie Baird
Bill Browning
Leonard Martinez
Hector Del Toro
Andrea Austin
David Levingston

WORKHORSE AWARD
Cheryl Hindera
Michael Burke

RISING STARS
Margaret Kercher
Angelica Cogliano
Amy Lefkowitz

BEST DRESSED MEN
Jim Sawyer
Todd Dudley
Matt Campbell
Victor Erbring
Sidney Williams
Ben Blackburn
Ricardo Maldonado
Lucio Del Toro
Raphael Hernandez
Novert Morales
Marc Ranc
Bob Phillips*
*Denotes Williamson County Lawyer

BEST SHOES
Elizabeth Resendez
Mary Ann Espiritu
Stefanie Collins
Monica Noyola
Delani Long
Makaela Cuellar
Jessica Bernstein
Jill Gately
Deniz Kadirhan
Eloisa Ontiveros
Erika Hansen
Melissa Moreno
Brandy Gann
Amy Meredith
Neha Naik

BEST BOOTS* (new category)
Diana Buss
Claire Carter
Val Antonio

DEL VALLE INMATE VISITATION AWARD
Charles Popper*
*Denotes multiple winner

BEST COFFEE
Mag Court
299th District Court

MONEY LAUNDERING: Hiding in Plain Sight

Some years ago, it was an annual ritual to participate in a road trip to Laredo/Nuevo Laredo.  Stocking up on fake rolexes, drinking cheap margaritas, and eating authentic Mexican food was standard fare.  Generally, it was courthouse personnel, lawyers, and a sprinkling of an occasional judge in attendance.  Those days are gone.

Last time we all traversed to that part of the country, our usual trek to the Mexican side of the border was met with the sight of young Federales with AK-47s on nearly every other corner.  It was a sign that events were unfolding unknown to us under the radar.  Our fears were eventually realized in the ensuing months in the form of some highly publicized (and some not so publicized) kidnappings and robberies.

Now the New York Times has reported in this article, that even more activity was taking place in plain sight under the guise of normal business activity (a perfume salesman making millions!).  Whether stings like this make a difference in the big picture, I don't know.  But time will tell whether I can ever buy another fake rolex again from my favorite Mexican border town.

[NOTE:  You might be interested to know, that according to the official TXDPS statistics, Laredo (pop. 231,000) had 9 homicides reported in 2010, El Paso (pop. 625,000) had 5, and Austin (pop. 796,310) had 38.  El Paso had one of the lowest murder rates in the country per capita for cities over 250,000.]