(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates on the November ballot. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates.)
Herb Ritchie
1. Who are you and what are you running for?
My name is Herb Ritchie, and I am running for Judge of the 263rd Criminal District Court.
2. What kind of cases does this court hear?
This Court hears all nature of alleged felony offenses arising anywhere in Harris county. These cases range from theft to capital murder.
3. Why are you running for this particular bench?
I am running for this bench because I previously served for 4 years as the judge of the 337th Criminal District Court. I will require no “on the job training”, and I can continue to work to insure that all persons regardless of status, receive fair and equal treatment under the law.
4. What are your qualifications for this job?
U.T. honor graduate (B.A. 1967, with honors; M.A. 1969; J.D. 1974, with honors); Phi Beta Kappa (Honorary Academics Achievement); Phi Delta Phi (Honorary Legal Achievement); Eta Sigma Phi (Honorary Classics Achievement); past teacher/instructor of Classics at U.T.-Austin and Baylor University; Teacher’s Award-Mortgages; third highest grade-Texas Bar Examination; past counsel Texas Real Estate Commission and Southwestern Bell Telephone Co., past managing partner, Ritchie & Glass, Law Firm; experienced in both civil and criminal cases and appellate procedure; Board Certified in Criminal Law since 1987 by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization; member: Houston Bar Association, College of the State Bar of Texas. Licensed to practice in all Texas Courts, Southern, Western and Eastern District of Texas, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and U.S. Supreme Court. Elected Judge 337th Criminal District Court, 2009-2012.
5. Why is this race important?
It is fundamentally important that the people have experienced, fair and unbiased judges. I have been, and will continue to be, if elected that type of judge.
This race is also important because presently there are only three (3) Democratic criminal district judges, out of twenty-two (22), in Harris County. There needs to be more balance in our judiciary.
6. Why should people vote for you in November?
I am the better qualified candidate. Because of this, I have been endorsed over the sitting judge by the following non-partisan organizations: The Houston Chronicle; the Association of Women Attorneys of Houston; the Mexican American Bar Association of Houston; the Pasadena Bar Association; the Houston GLBT Political Caucus; the Harris County AFL-CIO Council.