Dallas County Democrats
Judicial Campaign Newsletter

This site is an ARCHIVE of the website used for the Dallas County Democratic Party from 2000 to May of 2002, and which was built by the then Chair Bill Howell. Though some information here will be relevant through the 2002 elections, other pages here are of interest for history or research. For the latest updated news about the Dallas County Democratic Party, see their own website at www.dallasdemocrats.org.

Welcome to the First Edition of the Dallas County Democratic Party Judicial Campaign Newletter. The purpose of this newletter will be to keep you up to date regarding the progress of our 24 County-wide Judicial Candidates in their races for election this November.

Because these races do not draw the same degree of media attention as races for Governor or Senator, we also believe that it is important to use these newsletters to give you the information you need about the Judicial Campaigns. All too often, people complain that they do not have any information about who judicial candiates are or what type of court they are running for.

If you read the newletter, you will have the answers to those questions. We want the newletter to meet your needs, so if there is a question about the court sytem or campaigns that you think we should be covering, send it to us by e-mail, and we will try to include it in a future edition.

In this issue we provide some current newsbriefs and then profile the Democratic Candidate for County Court-at-Law No. 1, D'Metria Benson.

Two of our candidates for Civil Court Benches were honored in the most recent (May 2002) edition of D Magazine, now on newsstands. Patrick Strauss, the Democratic Candidate for 160th Judicial Disttric Court, and Andrew Trusevich, the Democratic Candidate for County Court-at-Law No. 3,were both honored as being among a select group of the best lawyers under 40 in Dallas. Mr. Strauss practices with Hallett& Perrin, P.C. focusing on business litigation and intellectual property cases. Mr. Trusevich practices with Quilling, Selander, Cummiskey & Lownds, P.C. with a focus on Civil Trial work in the area of Labor and Employment Law.

D'Metria Benson (profiled below) is holding a Campaign Kickoff Party on Thursday, May 2, 2002 at Geode Restaurant (2900 McKinney at Allen) from 6:00-8:00 p.m.. RSVP to 972-731-0840.

The Dallas Bar Association is currently holding its "Bar Poll". This gives lawyers who are a member of the group a chance to express their preference in the judicial races. If you are a lawyer and a member of the DBA, your support of Democratic Candidates in the Poll would be appreciated. If you are not a lawyer, but know someone who is, feel free to express your opinions on the races to them. In connection with the poll, the Democratic Party sent Judicial Candidate Profiles to members of the Dallas Bar Association. If you did not receive one or need additional copies let us know.

On May 9, 2002 at 5:30 p.m. there will be a meeting at the Dallas County Democratic Party Headquarters (4209 Parry, Dallas, TX 75223) of persons interested in volunteering to help with the judicial campaigns. We need everything from persons to walk neighborhoods, to persons to help us design the text of the leaflets to be distributed. If you can't make it on the 9th but are interested in helping call Bruce Rothstein 214-969-6868 or the Democratic Party Office at 214-821-8331.

Newsletter: Have you enjoyed your career in the practice of law?

Ms. Benson: There are always ups and downs but overall I have enjoyed it greatly. The area of law in which I currently primarily practice (employment law) wasn't where I started but I believe that it is where I was meant to be because it has given me such a direct opportunity to help people. My overall experience in many areas of law in addition to my employment practice has prepared me well for the types of disputes that judges routinely handle.

Newsletter: What does it mean to you when someone is said to be a "good judge" or a "bad judge"?

Ms. Benson: If someone is said to be a good judge that means to me that they come into the court prepared, having read the pleadings in advance, and are ready and willing to listen to the parties. A bad judge is one who is ill prepared and/or unwilling to listen to the parties.

Newsletter: You are running for County-Court-at-Law No. 1. Could you explain what type of court that is?

Ms. Benson: It is a civil court that primarily hears disputes over money. People often think of big companies as the only ones who go into court but often it is your neighbor or yourself who go to this kind of court because the cases I will hear include issues that directly involve individuals' lives such as medical care, injuries or a dispute regarding a job.

Newsletter: Are the types of cases heard in a County Court-at-law any different from those heard in a District Court?

Ms. Benson: Historically, there used to be a difference, with County Courts having limited money and subject matter jurisdiction. Recently, that changed and now County Courts-at-Law have, in addition to their jurisdiction over appeals from Justice and Small Claims Courts, the equivalent jurisdiction of State District Courts.

Newsletter: Are you running against the incumbent judge of County Court-at-Law No. 1?

Ms. Benson: My opponent was appointed only a few weeks ago by a majority of the Republican controlled County Commissioners after winning the Republican Primary. The last elected judge in that court was David Gibson, who resigned from office. Interestingly, I got more votes in the primary than my current opponent did, but it appears that party affiliation was the controlling factor in his receiving the appointment.

Newsletter: What type of help do you need in your race for judge?

Ms. Benson: Like all candidates I need money. I also need campaign workers to get out there, to knock on doors, write letters and make phone calls. It will be an exciting and challenging race but one in which I am confident of success with everyone's help.

If you want to make sure that you don't miss a single edition of this newsletter, send an e-mail message to [email protected] with the subject "subscribe judicial newsletter".

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If you want to discuss judicial campaigns and other issues with local democrats, send an e-mail to [email protected].