About the Court

The 299th Criminal District Court is one of seven felony districts courts in Travis County. Judge Charlie Baird has announced that he will not run for re-election to the bench in 2010.

Criminal District courts handle felony cases. Felony cases are the most serious criminal cases such as murder, aggravated robbery, and sexual assault, as well at the certain cases involving the possession and delivery of narcotics. The sentences in these cases can range from a period of probation to life imprisonment and even death.

The cases in the criminal district courts are brought by the Travis County District Attorney. After obtaining an indictment by the Grand Jury, the cases are either settled upon a plea agreement by the prosecution and defense or taken to trial to be tried by a jury of twelve.

When choosing the next judge for the 299th District Court, Karen believes there are three things the voters should consider: a sense of justice, knowledge of the law, and measured compassion.

A SENSE OF JUSTICE

First, a criminal district court judge must have a sense of justice – justice that comes only from experience in handling felony cases. One of the most important responsibilities of a district court judge is sentencing. When a defendant is convicted on a first degree felony he or she stands before the judge facing a sentence of 5 years to 99 years or life. The only way a judge can determine where in that range a defendant should fall is to have handled numerous cases with similarly situated defendants. As a prosecutor, Karen has handled hundreds of felony cases, which she has resolved both by trial and by plea bargain. She has the insight that comes from experience necessary for the bench.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW

Second, a criminal district court judge should have superior knowledge of the law as it relates to the important decisions facing the court. In addition to her job as Assistant District Attorney, Karen teaches a class at UT Law School called the Ethics of Criminal Law. Teaching law students helps her keep abreast of the latest developments in the law, along with studying new laws and attending educational conferences. Criminal court judges are the last bastion of individual rights. It is important that the judge knows the current law as it relates to the rights –not the law as it existed weeks or months ago.

MEASURED COMPASSION

Third, a criminal district court judge should have a sense of compassion. As the Mental Health Prosecutor for the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, Karen is consistently looking for ways to decriminalize mental illness. History has shown us that throwing the mentally ill into our jails and prisons does nothing to help the individual or society. The court needs to look at new and innovative ways to address these issues. That is what Karen is currently doing as a prosecutor, and what she will continue to do as the presiding judge of the 299th District Court.