From the Dallas Morning News:
“A majority of state lawyers and judges would oust Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Kellerin favor of Austin lawyer Keith Hampton this November, according to a poll by the State Bar.
Nearly 9,300 Texas State Bar members voted between April 8 and May 8, with Hampton beating Keller by 52 percent to 38 percent. Keller, a Dallas Republican, has been the presiding judge on the state’s highest criminal court for a decade.
She attempted to get Hampton removed from the ballot earlier this year by charging that he didn’t collect enough valid signatures to qualify for a spot on the ballot. But the state Democratic Party chairman chose to leave Hampton’s name.
Hampton has said the court needs a fresh perspective and that his legal experience makes him the most qualified person for the job.
Keller has been involved in several ethical battles including formal charges from the state Commission on Judicial Conduct. Lawyers for convicted killer Michael Richard in 2007 didn’t meet the deadline for filing for a death row appeal and wanted to know if they could file it late. Keller’s response to the court’s clerk was, “we close at 5.” Because the defense lawyers couldn’t file that last-minute appeal, Richard was executed that night. Keller was ultimately absolved of the charges.”
