First off, let’s not forget this in relation to Judge Denise Pratt:
Judge Denise Pratt is incompetent and should resign or be removed from office. And since it is too late for her to remove her name from the Harris County Republican Party Primary ballot, voters should reject her and put her out to pasture.
Sorry to have to keep reminding you of that but every day she sits on the bench is a day that families’ lives are being negatively affected and you need to realize that.
Now, about the Family Courts and fundraising. I’m going to use one donor and Judge Pratt to illustrate this but the same could be said in most of these courts. And no amount of defending these practices by my fellow Republican Tom Zakes is going to change these basic facts.
Let’s take a look first at the contributions of one Shannon L. Boudreaux. According to her website, she specializes in divorce and family law. I have no idea if she is a good attorney or bad – I just want you to see how the money flows in these courts. Here are the donations from Ms. Boudreaux to various political candidates in 2013:
[table id=20 /]
Adding that up gives a total of $12,481.01. Adding up donations to Judge Pratt gives us a total of $5,581.01 – above the maximum amount allowed by law but that is a mistake that is correctable by refunding $581.01. I’ll let you wonder about that donation to Harris County Republican Party Chair Jared Woodfill, who also makes money in these courts via judicial appointments.
In addition to her own contributions, Ms. Boudreaux held a fundraiser for Judge Pratt on August 29, 2013. Here is the invitation:
$500 minimum to attend. Pratt’s finance report shows that she received 10 contributions on 8/29/2013, although they must have relaxed the minimum because a couple of them were for $250.
Why would anyone give that kind of money to judicial candidates and hold a fundraiser getting thousands more? Probably several reasons but since we are looking at money, let’s continue down that road.
It turns out that Judge Pratt appointed Ms. Boudreaux as the Amicus to guard the interests of the children in one of the cases in the 311th Family Court. Yes, she appointed her to other cases but I only have the facts for this one, so bear with me. In the course of this case, a contested divorce with custody issues, Ms. Boudreaux has billed the mother and father of two children approximately $11,000 EACH. That’s $22,000 for just one case. Thus far because the case hasn’t been resolved. Multiply that amount by dozens of cases and you come up with a big ol’ pile of money. Are you getting the picture now?
Family court cases are lucrative. Especially if you have a judge that will not hear cases in a timely manner, with reset after reset after reset. The longer the case drags on, the more money that the attorneys get to bill their clients or, as in this case, the already financially stressed couples that did not hire them. Ms. Boudreaux may be a fine attorney and doing good work for these children – but that doesn’t take away the fact that the case should have been settled long, long ago and stability brought into the lives of these children.
A protest is scheduled in front of the Family Law Center tomorrow to lay out more stories of Judge Pratt’s incompetence. Last I heard it was going to be held at 11:45 am. Go and talk to some of the families that have been affected by Judge Pratt. Especially if you vote as a Republican in the primary.
UPDATE
The protest against Judge Pratt has been cancelled due to forecasts of inclement weather. If it is rescheduled, I will try to let people know.