Democrat Don Adams has been an effective and fair judge in this court. Even his Republican opponent agrees. Challenger David Lewis, who has worked in the district attorney's office and as an assistant U.S. attorney, has a strong resume and is a smart lawyer. But he could not articulate why he would be a better choice than the incumbent, even offering at one point in our interview that we couldn't go wrong by recommending Judge Adams.
Voter Guide: Comparing Don Adams and David Lewis
Voter Guide: Comparing Gracie Lewis and William Fay
Voter Guide: Comparing John Creuzot and Steven Autry
One in a series of Dallas Morning News candidate recommendations for the Nov. 4 elections.
Coming soon: Recommendations in other key county, state and federal races in North Texas.
TO FIND candidate questionnaires , visit our Voter Guide.
Early voting starts: Oct. 20
Election Day: Nov. 4
Last day to register: Oct. 6
For more information: Call the Dallas County elections office at 214-637-7937 or visit www.dalcoelections.org. You also may call the Texas secretary of state's office at 1-800-252-8683 or visit www.sos.state.tx.us/elections.
So, we will heed his somewhat curious advice. Judge Adams, 60, has won praise from both sides of the courtroom and has significantly lowered his court's cost-per-disposition ratio by handling more pleas and jury trials. Mr. Lewis, 57, seems to be half-heartedly pursuing this office, raising no money and offering no new ideas for improving this court.
In this case, voters would be wise to re-elect Judge Adams.
Republican Bill Fay is smart, capable and impressive just like Gracie Lewis, his Democratic opponent in the race for an open seat. But Ms. Lewis, an associate judge in the 305th Judicial District Court, earns our recommendation based on her 13 years of experience on the juvenile bench and her passion for the law.
Mr. Fay, a 46-year-old Dallas Republican who spent seven years as a prosecutor, seems to want the jurist's job because the work is interesting and the hours predictable. Judge Lewis, 47, struck us as much more reflective. Despite her tough-minded demeanor, the Grand Prairie Democrat is sensitive to how a judge's rulings affect criminals and their victims across families and generations. Explaining what bench experience has taught her, she said, "There's more standing before you than just the defendant."
A broader, more thoughtful perspective helps make Judge Lewis the better choice.
John Creuzot has earned a national reputation as an innovator who brings an approach that is both fair and creative to the courtroom. He is best known for his efforts in the DIVERT court program, which focuses on supervision, counseling and treatment instead of jail for nonviolent drug offenders. He has the stats to back up the effectiveness of these programs.
The 51-year-old Democrat also wins praise for his calm judicial temperament and work ethic.
In this race, Judge Creuzot faces Steven Autry, a public defender who says he's "a victims' rights person" and noted that he's running for this seat because the Republican Party asked him to. The 40-year-old is articulate and has been active in civic and legal organizations. But he struggled to make a case for why he's better suited to this job than the incumbent, at one point acknowledging that Judge Cruezot runs a good court.
Judge Creuzot has been appropriately tough and has held criminals responsible for their actions. He is a Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-Democrat-again. He argues that judicial posts should not be partisan elective jobs, and we agree. Regardless of what letter is next to his name, Judge Creuzot's performance merits his re-election.
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