Republican Jack W. Pulcher is the presiding judge of Texas' 105th District Court, which is located in Kenedy, Kleberg and Nueces counties.
Pulcher faces Democratic candidate Craig D. Henderson in the Nov. 6 midterm election.
The following questions were posed by the League of Women Voters board and submitted by candidates via Vote411.org. Candidate responses are reprinted verbatim and are not edited.
Jack W. Pulcher, Republican
Describe your legal experience for the the type of judicial position you seek, including how many jury trials you've tried as lead counsel.
I am the presiding Judge of the 105th District Court. I have presided over 60 criminal jury trials ranging from state jail felony possession of controlled substances to capital murder. I am currently in a capital murder jury trial involving the death of a 13 year old boy. I have picked over 25 grand juries as a District Judge. Through the years I have presided over 100 hearings involving divorces, child custody, and possession hearings. I was the presiding judge over the first jury trial involving modification of child visitation in Nueces County.
Using a scale of strongly disagree, disagree, neither agree nor disagree, agree, or strongly agree, please explain your answer to the statement, "This court's past efforts to reduce repeat incarcerations (recidivism) have been successful."
Strongly agree. Since I have been on the bench, I was appointed as Judge of the Nueces County Veterans Court by the Nueces County Board of Judges. When our local heroes are involved with a criminal act, instead for placing them on regular probation or in the prison system, the other judges will refer the veterans to me. I require them to complete various programs that will help them deal with military involved issues. I have had 25% of the participants graduate and no longer commit any crimes. I have worked hard to have the budget increased so that more veterans can enter the program.
Using a scale of strongly disagree, disagree, neither agree nor disagree, agree, or strongly agree, please explain your answer to the statement, "The Nueces County Pre-Trial Assessment Initiative has been a success."
Neither agree nor disagree. We, as a board of judges, implemented this program to help assess people who were charged with a crime but could not afford a small amount of money to post bail. This program is based on first time offenses and non violent crimes. The program was just implemented recently and there has not been enough time to evaluate the success of the program.
What will you do to ensure that all parties involved in cases before the court will have an opportunity to have their interests adequately represented and considered?
Everyone involved in a matter in my court have been provided adequate time to have their case heard. I believe in being fair and respectful to every single person that comes before me, no matter what the charges or presented evidence. I have never had a complaint placed against me for not allowing citizens to argue in front of me or a jury. I place this kind of respect as a high regard in the courtroom and will continue to do so.
Craig D. Henderson, Democrat
Describe your legal experience for the the type of judicial position you seek, including how many jury trials you've tried as lead counsel.
I have been a practicing trial attorney for the past 26 years, representing both individuals and large companies in a variety of complex matters in State and Federal Courts. As a Board Certified Trial Attorney, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, I have extensive trial experience.. I was also a City of Corpus Christi Municipal Court Magistrate Judge for 7 years. As judge, I determined if sufficient probable cause existed to hold prisoners, issued various warrants and set bail. My diverse experience in civil and criminal matters will be an asset to the 105th District Court.
Using a scale of strongly disagree, disagree, neither agree nor disagree, agree, or strongly agree, please explain your answer to the statement, "This court's past efforts to reduce repeat incarcerations (recidivism) have been successful."
Agree. The Specialized Caseload Community Supervision Programs are valuable tools in decreasing the recidivism rates. These programs give the Court alternatives to incarceration for eligible offenders, providing supervision and in appropriate cases treatment services. Studies show that these programs can very successful in reducing recidivism, and incarceration costs, while avoiding a "one size fits all" punishment when education and treatment are more effect tools. I plan to fully utilize these programs in appropriate cases.
Using a scale of strongly disagree, disagree, neither agree nor disagree, agree, or strongly agree, please explain your answer to the statement, "The Nueces County Pre-Trial Assessment Initiative has been a success."
Agree. The Nueces County Pre-Trial Assessment Program is an important program addressing jail overcrowding and due process concerns associated with the cash bond system. The pre-trial risk assessment tool has been effective in lowering bail amounts in cases involving offenders who are low risk for flight and to the community. Nueces County was recently awarded grants to expand the program and I will continue to utilize this Program in order to limit the unnecessary and costly incarceration of low risk offenders.
What will you do to ensure that all parties involved in cases before the court will have an opportunity to have their interests adequately represented and considered?
Every party who comes to court deserves a fair hearing and to be treated with respect, regardless of who they are. It is imperative that a Judge acts impartially and applies the law equally to everyone who appears in Court. In addition to acting in a fair and impartial manner, the Judge must ensure that cases are heard in a timely fashion. Justice delayed is justice denied. Accordingly, I will ensure that the 105th District Court is a fair, open and efficient Court, which gives parties their day in Court in timely fashion and issues rulings expeditiously.
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