April 01, 2010 — Austin

The Texas REALTORS® today announced its decision to endorse Judge Debra Lehrmann for the Texas Supreme Court in the Republican runoff election scheduled for April 13.

Commenting on the endorsement, Chairman Bill Jones said, “The citizens of Texas deserve to have experienced, qualified professionals sit on the highest court in the state. Throughout more than 20 years of judicial service, Judge Lehrmann has earned the respect of her colleagues and proven she will serve Texans in fair and just manner.”

In addition to Texas Realtors, Judge Lehrmann has garnered endorsements from most of the state’s other large trade associations as well as five former Texas Supreme Court Justices. She currently serves on the 360th Judicial District Court in Fort Worth and has served as a judge in Tarrant County for more than 22 years.

Throughout her distinguished career, Judge Lehrmann has dedicated herself to the legal profession in many capacities, including: representing Texas as a Uniform Law Commissioner appointed by Gov. Rick Perry; serving as president of the Texas chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts; becoming a master member of the Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court; serving on the Advisory Board of Tarrant County Dispute Resolution Services; becoming a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and the American Bar Foundation; and serving as a charter member of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation.

In contrast, Judge Lehrmann’s opponent, Rick Green, has never served in a judicial position. Though he did graduate from the University of Texas law school, Green described his own courtroom experience to a reporter from the Austin American-Statesman as having been, “Very little, not a lot,” and its nature as, “mostly corporate contracts, transactional work.”

Even more concerning, Green was named a “Worst Legislator” by Texas Monthly in 2001 for his actions as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. During that session, he was the subject of a grand jury investigation for accepting payment to lobby the Texas Department of Health on behalf of Metabolife, a company whose chief executive was later sent to prison for concealing thousands of patient calls reporting dangerous side effects from the company’s product.

Chairman Jones summarized, “Texans need only glance at the legal experience and ethical track records of the two candidates in this race and the choice immediately becomes clear. Judge Lehrmann has proven she is a competent and balanced judge who will accurately interpret law, not attempt to create it, and that’s why the Texas REALTORS® has pledged its full support.”