Carleton Spears responds to opponent's attacks

Carleton Spears
150th District Court candidate

Since when is name-calling and character assassination a trait befitting a “lady” or a judge?

The recent television ads by my opponent indicate a lack of judicial temperament, which fits her reputation around the courthouse. The name-calling is typical of her attitude in court.

If she does not like what she hears, she takes personal offense and becomes angry with the litigants and their attorneys. Her yelling tirades have even caused her bailiff to quit working for her about a month ago and often leaves her staff in tears.

The truth is the truth no matter whether she likes it or not. It would be one thing for her to say that a statement is misleading. It is quite another to say that the speaker is a “liar”.

The pure and simple fact is that Littlejohn is one of the most reversed judges in Bexar County according to the Appellate Court records. She also has one of the lowest ratings of the Civil District Judges for 1) knowledge of the law; 2) judicial temperament; and 3) impartiality – the three key qualities a judge should possess.

The Express News has already recognized that her recent completion of a half a million-dollar home out of the county is a campaign issue. (A judge cannot live out of the county while sitting on the bench in Bexar County) Combined with the fact that she had told people in the courthouse that she was not going to run for re-election, and that her retirement vests on December 31, 2006, it is logical to assume that she will not stay on this bench for the entire four year term for which she seeks re-election.

It doesn’t make sense to leave a half a million-dollar home vacant for four years.It certainly looks like she would retire early to allow her party to appoint her successor giving him or her the advantage of incumbency upon re-election.

The childish personal attack made by Littlejohn is a key to understanding the type of court she is known for running.I can only hope the voters understand these facts and reject this type of behavior.

Carleton B. Spears