Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association

  • Home
    • COVID-19 Court Updates
    • Local Court Information
    • Criminal Law Jobs
  • Membership
    • HCCLA Membership
    • Mentorships
  • About HCCLA
    • Officers & Directors
    • Member Directory
    • Mentorships
    • In Memoriam
    • Bylaws
  • Media
    • Press Releases
    • The Defender
    • Reasonable Doubt 2021
  • Events & Seminars
    • Event Calendar
    • Holiday Party 2022
    • Declaration of Independence Readings
    • HCCLA Annual Banquet & Awards
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Member Login

PR: Magistrate Appointment to Connie Spence Must Be Rejected

September 25, 2016 Leave a Comment

hccla8v.gif

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

FROM: Tyler Flood, President – Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association

Houston, Texas – September 25, 2016 – We have learned that Harris County Assistant District Attorney Connie Spence may be awarded a position as a Probable Cause Magistrate Judge. It is our understanding that a majority of the current District, County and Justice of the Peace judges trying criminal cases will, without allowing public comment, gift Ms. Spence this judicial position this week.

HCCLA vehemently opposes the appointment of this prosecutor to a judicial position. Connie Spence has historically exhibited conduct and judgment unbecoming of anyone licensed as an attorney in the State of Texas. As an assistant prosecutor she has misused her power to the detriment of the people of Harris County.

Spence’s unethical behavior is well documented in the media, as she was accused of withholding evidence and coercing witnesses in the Linda Carty Capital Murder case. Specifically, two of Carty’s co-conspirators and a former DEA employee — witnesses whom Spence had sponsored at trial — testified at a hearing that Spence had in fact coerced them to give particular testimony.

The Harris County Judiciary has a responsibility to the people of Harris County: to avoid not only impropriety but also the appearance of impropriety. If they are interested in restoring the integrity of the justice system and the trust of the public, then any appointment of Connie Spence to a judicial position must be rejected.

If you have any questions regarding this statement, I can be reached at office@tylerflood.com or by calling me at 713.224.5529.

Download (PDF, 2.53MB)

Filed Under: appearance of impropriety, press release Tagged With: appearance of impropriety, appointment, Connie Spence, magistrate

Will the Harris County District Attorney Accept Responsibility?

July 18, 2015 3 Comments

Our clients have problems.

Despite their denial, the Harris County District Attorney has problems as well.

They want our clients to accept responsibility. Will they as well?

In yet another instance, injustice and an appearance of impropriety permeates the Office of District Attorney for Harris County. Apparently, it seems the prosecutor and the bailiff engaged in a series of conversations and text messages about the jury. The importance of this is two-fold: (1) the bailiff, a Harris County Deputy Sheriff, is an officer and arm of the court who is the only person authorized to speak with jurors and (2) the prosecutor is an officer of the court who is forbidden from talking to the jurors. Granted, the prosecutor did not engage in direct communications with the jurors; however, she did attempt to communicate through the bailiff.

She texted the bailiff saying she wished she knew what the jury was thinking. The bailiff responded saying he would find out. THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE. There is no way to spin this so that any part of that conversation was proper and within the rules that require the court (via his bailiff) and the parties (via the prosecutor) to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

So what’s the big deal? Well, the thing is this is just one of many instances – all seemingly small – which cast doubt on the ability to have a fair trial in Harris County.

When will Devon Anderson accept responsibility? She didn’t in her response to our request about Dan Rizzo and the Alfred Brown case. She didn’t in an inquiry about prosecutor’s Connie Spence and Craig Goodhart threatening witnesses. She hasn’t in her media responses to the Kelly Siegler findings of prosecutorial misconduct. And, she hasn’t here. What will it take?

 

Filed Under: appearance of impropriety, honor, justice, police, politics, prosecutors, Public Trust Tagged With: alfred dwayne brown, appearance of impropriety, bailiff, cell phone, criminal defense, Criminal Justice, Dan Rizzo, devon anderson, district attorney, fair trial, fundamental fairness, harris county, Harris County District Attorney, harris county sheriff, hccla, honor, Improper Conduct, justice, kelly siegler, lawyers, perception, prosecutorial misconduct, prosecutors

Helpful Links & Resources

  • Court Info & Policies
  • ePLEA: How-To Guide
  • HCCLA Ethics Hotline 713.518.1738
Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association (HCCLA)

Important Links

  • Bylaws
  • HCCLA Membership
  • Join HCCLA
  • Media
  • HCCLA Blog
  • Pozner on Cross

Upcoming Events

  • Nominations: HCCLA Board of Directors
    Tue Mar 21 2023 - Fri Mar 31 2023, 05:00pm CDT
  • Election: HCCLA Board of Directors
    Tue Apr 4 2023 - Fri Apr 14 2023, 05:00pm CDT
  • HCCLA Board Meeting
    Thu Apr 13 2023, 03:30pm CDT

Contact Us

Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association
P.O. Box 924523
Houston, TX 77292-4523
(713) 227-2404

    

Copyright © 2023 · Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association. The HCCLA logo is a registered trademark.