High-ranking Montgomery County prosecutor seeks district court bench
From Conroe Courier By Brandon K. Scott | Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2015 5:20 pm
High-ranking Montgomery County prosecutor seeks district court bench
Montgomery County’s second-highest ranking prosecutor is seeking the 9th state District Court judge position in 2016.
In a move that surprised no one in the Montgomery County legal community and political circle, First Assistant District Attorney Phil Grant filed his official paperwork in Austin on May 20.
This allows Grant to start raising money to seek nomination in the Republican Primary Election on March 1, 2016.
Grant designated J.R. Moore, the county’s former tax assessor, as his campaign treasurer.
The campaign is an attempt to unseat 9th state District Court Judge Kelly Case, who was elected in 2012 after defeating 20-year incumbent Fred Edwards.
Case had been endorsed by the Texas Patriots PAC until 2014, when the group issued a critique of the judge’s court behavior due higher courts overturning his rulings for a fifth time.
Case’s background as a defense attorney, along with some of his rulings, led to the PAC and others accusing him of “stalling justice” and showing a bias toward the defense.
“Judge Case’s actions continue to demonstrate an obvious bias toward the defense, employing frivolous tactics that waste county time and resources,” Texas Patriots PAC President Julie Turner wrote in September. “We call on Judge Case to perform his duties with greater integrity and impartiality.”
Case told The Courier on Thursday afternoon that he was still discussing with his family whether to run for re-election. He said the decision has not yet been made.
Grant planned to make his formal announcement at a fundraising event for Pct. 3 Constable Ryan Gable at Knights of Columbus Hall in Spring.
For the more on this story, read Friday’s edition of The Courier.