Local News
Wright named Chief Justice, Dallas Court of Appeals
By John Browning
Special to the Herald-Banner
On Oct. 23, Gov. Rick Perry appointed the Hon. Carolyn Wright Chief Justice of the Dallas Court of Appeals effective Oct. 31.
In succeeding Linda Thomas, Chief Justice Wright becomes the first African-American to serve as chief justice of any intermediate appellate court in Texas.
Wright, a resident of Heath, has been an associate justice on the court since her 1995 appointment by then-Gov. George W. Bush.
Wright’s career path has paralleled that of her predecessor. When Thomas left Dallas’ 256th District Court upon her election to the Court of Appeals in 1986, Wright was elected to that family court to replace Thomas. After Thomas assumed the position of chief justice in 1995, Wright followed in her footsteps once again with the appointment as an associate justice.
Chief Justice Wright has had a career marked by a number of firsts. A fourth-generation Texan and graduate of Howard University Law School, Wright was the first African-American woman to win a multi-county election for any elected office in Texas. Wright’s reaction to the historic appointment was typically modest.
“It’s really very humbling and personally gratifying to be rewarded like this after almost 25 years in the judiciary,” she said.
Wright’s goals for her new position include introducing electronic filing and other technological improvements to increase the efficiency of the court, which hears appeals from trial courts throughout a six-county area: Dallas, Collin, Grayson, Rockwall, Hunt, and Kaufman counties.
“My goal is always to further the cause of justice,” says the longtime Rockwall County resident.
Chief Justice Wright’s appointment will expire after the 2010 general election. She is expected to run for election to her post in that race.
- Local News
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Countywide emergency drill held
Emergency personnel from throughout Rockwall County passed their test during an exercise to practice their roles in response to a weather emergency.
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Relay for Life fast approaching
The annual overnight event which raises thousands for cancer research is right around the corner. Relay for Life will take place April 30-May 1, 2010 at the Cain Middle School football field. For more information, contact Carla Brooks at 972-771-8139 or relayforliferockwallcounty@gmail.com.
To register as a Survivor contact Becky Branum at 972-771-8797. To purchase a Luminaria contact Dorothy Burriss at 972-722-7998. To register a team, contact Mary Poteete at 214-771-1900 or Lindsey Hanna at 972-771-4884. To help sponsor the event contact Jeff Projelof at 214-334-9318 or 972-771-4122.
See upcoming features in the Rockwall County Herald-Banner.
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Man charged with attempted kidnapping at RISD school
A 35-year-old Mesquite man is facing attempted kidnapping charges after he allegedly attempted to persuade a 7-year-old first grader to leave a Rockwall ISD elementary school with him Thursday. For more details pick up a copy of Friday's Rockwall County Herald-Banner.
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Hogan, Fowler head into runoff for County Judge
Jerry Hogan and Kevin Fowler said there will be a change in their focus as they head to an April 13 runoff election for Rockwall County Judge.
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Voters opt to keep Hall, Deuell and Laubenburg
Voters opted to keep the incumbents for U.S. Representatives District 4, State Senate District 2 and State Representative District 89 in Tuesday’s contested Republican primary.
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Big jump in Rockwall County unemployment
Local unemployment rose sharply to start the year, with the jobless rate and the number of people seeking jobs the highest recorded during the month of January so far this century.
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Heath City Council says it’s open to considering alternate water tower sites
Heath City Council members haven’t abandoned plans to build a water tower on city-owned property behind The Fulton School, but they are open to considering alternate sites.
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Gerri’s Legacy: Lessons learned from cancer
A friend once told me that it’s interesting to compare a photograph of a cancer patient before and after their diagnosis, because the look in their eyes changes.
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Golden Opportunity
A Heath chiropractor played a role in the U.S. four-man bobsled team’s historic Olympic gold medal victory.
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New Fate pump station could cost up to $6.2 million
Increasing water demand for a growing city could result in the City of Fate spending $6.2 million for pump station improvements.
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Countywide emergency drill held
