April 01, 2010 — Austin

The Texas REALTORS® today announced its decision to endorse 法官 Debra Lehrmann for the Texas Supreme Court in the Republican runoff election scheduled for April 13.

Commenting on the endorsement, Chairman Bill Jones said, “The citizens of Texas deserve to have experienced, qualified professionals sit on the highest court in the state. Throughout more than 20 years of judicial service, 法官 Lehrmann has earned the respect of her colleagues and proven she will serve Texans in fair and just manner.”

In addition to Texas Realtors, 法官 Lehrmann has garnered endorsements from most of the state’s other large trade associations as well as five former Texas Supreme Court Justices. She currently serves on the 360th Judicial District Court in Fort Worth and has served as a judge in Tarrant County for more than 22 years.

Throughout her distinguished career, 法官 Lehrmann has dedicated herself to the legal profession in many capacities, including: representing Texas as a Uniform Law Commissioner appointed by Gov. Rick Perry; serving as president of the Texas chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts; becoming a master member of the Eldon B. 马洪 Inn of Court; serving on the Advisory Board of Tarrant County Dispute Resolution Services; becoming a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and the American Bar Foundation; and serving as a charter member of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation.

相比之下，法官 Lehrmann的 opponent, Rick Green, has never served in a judicial position. Though he did graduate from the University of Texas law school, Green described his own courtroom experience to a reporter from the Austin American-Statesman as having been, “很少, 不是很多,，其性质为, “mostly corporate contracts, 事务性工作.”

更令人担忧的是, Green was named a “Worst Legislator” by Texas Monthly in 2001 for his actions as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. 在会议期间, he was the subject of a grand jury investigation for accepting payment to lobby the Texas Department of Health on behalf of Metabolife, a company whose chief executive was later sent to prison for concealing thousands of patient calls reporting dangerous side effects from the company’s product.

Chairman Jones summarized, “Texans need only glance at the legal experience and ethical track records of the two candidates in this race and the choice immediately becomes clear. 法官 Lehrmann has proven she is a competent and balanced judge who will accurately interpret law, not attempt to create it, and that’s why the Texas REALTORS® has pledged its full support.”