Criminal District Court Interview

Dana Cowan
Interview
Honorable Judge Jackson
Criminal District Court



This article is a report on an interview with Honorable Judge Jackson of the xxxth Criminal Court. Judge Jackson is female and a minority of African American-Hispanic lineage. She is also the single mother of two sons. She is a 1998 Graduate of Texas Wesleyan School of Law. Her family background has contributed to who she is today. She was brought up with her father being in the military. She was exposed to many cultures and traveled often. She stated that she “always knew I was going to go to law school”. From her youth she had this goal. Judge Jackson attributes her father with her lack of bias and gift of open mindedness. This is the adventure I embarked upon with this interview.
The xxxth Criminal Court is located on the xxth floor of the County Criminal Courthouse. Upon arrival to the Criminal Courthouse I was welcomed with metal detectors and the removal of my shoes. My bags were scanned and I recall thinking this was comparable to airport security. Although I was not boarding a plane I was taking a trip into the complex criminal justice system, as I was walking to the elevators the thought in my mind is that people’s lives are altered and even ended in these courts. The courts have authority over a range of infractions of the law from small drug cases to murder. These courts can dismiss cases as the smallest flex of justice and they can also go to the most severe flexing and call for justice, the death penalty. I entered the xxxth courtroom and witnessed court about to be in session.
The U.S. and Texas flags hang in front of the fine wooden paneling behind the Judge’s bench honorably framing the metal state of Texas seal. The court is formal in appearance and the attorneys are making small conversation. The defense announced “ready for trial” followed by the state’s announcement “state’s ready for trial”. Honorable Judge Jackson enters the court and people stand in respect. The attorneys immediately approach the bench while the defendant is brought in. The defendant is a Hispanic male wearing an orange jumpsuit that reads county jail on the back. The cause number is read and the habeas corpus is explained to the defendant. The translator repeats the charges to the defendant in Spanish. The defendant is asked if he understands the charges and he affirms. He pleads guilty. He is charged with possession of a small quantity of a controlled substance- a petty drug charge. The state recommends 6 months and Judge Jackson agrees with the state and allows credit for time served. The punishment is realistic to the crime committed. The sentence is in the terms of months, not years. After the cases are tried, Honorable Judge Jackson’s court bailiff shows me to Judge Jackson’s office.
Honorable Judge Jackson is a beautiful lady and this interview confirmed that her beauty is indeed inside and out. I noted the care she put in the replies and concern she expresses for all the people of her court including prosecutors, defense lawyers, victims and defendants. I proceed to the interview and ask Judge Jackson to describe what her job entails. Judge Jackson expresses she is an “elected official” and she is the “presiding Judge over the xxxth criminal court of xxxxxx county”. The xxxth court presides “over cases ranging from serious felony offenses, death penalty cases, and aggravated assault cases to drug cases.” Judge Jackson expressed that she has an upcoming death penalty case that has its own difficult challenges.

I was interested to find what her favorite aspects of this job are. Honorable Jackson affirmed that she likes the “ability to help people by offering probation and rehabilitation”. She believes in “community service and having the offender contribute to society”. When Questioned about the least favorite aspect of the job Judge Jackson gave voice to the difficulty she has with “decisions on tough cases” and dealing with the facts of the cases. This statement reminds me that Judges are upholding the law and representing the citizens of our country - Judges (at the end of the day when they leave the robe and the courts) are still compassionate and caring human beings. Another difficulty in this job is “mistrials” – the example of a capital murder case from January was given “It was tried again and the defendant was found guilty” the sentence was life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The question of racial issues being an issue in this job was met with the simple, yet affirmative statement “I rise above racism”. I do believe she rises above bias in any form with great integrity. The interview granted me insight to the court system. As we spoke (and as Judge Jackson sipped on her warm tea) she educated me on public defenders and the selection of public defenders for the court. She took her time to grant me an understanding of the prosecutors and the resources available to the public defenders.
As a single mother of two beautiful children, a female lawyer and a minority - Judge Jackson has indeed risen above all obstacles to become an admired success. Therefore, I do choose to support her and Judge Jackson will receive my vote. She has demonstrated to me a fairness and a sensibility in her rulings, in court and in person. Judge Jackson is a judge that Lady Justice honors by holding up the balanced scales.