Corpus Christi Caller Times Caller.com - 13th appeals court candidates emphasize records

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Monday, October 23, 2000

13th appeals court candidates emphasize records
Republican Condit and Democrat Castillo vie for position that covers 20 counties
By Dan Parker
Caller-Times
A candidate who said she wants to speed up the appeal process and another who stressed keeping judges from being influenced by campaign contributions are running for Place 3 on the 13th Court of Appeals.
   Republican Bradford M. Condit faces Democrat Errlinda Castillo for a seat on the court, which covers a 20-county area, from Wharton County south to the U.S.-Mexico border. The court handles all appeals, civil and criminal, except those that involve the death penalty.
   Castillo said she would try her best to do her work with care and speed.
   "When I get assigned a case - God willing, I'm elected - it would be my goal to commit to that case as quickly as possible," she said.
   Condit said he has not accepted any campaign contributions and, if elected, will urge judges to remove themselves from cases in which they have accepted money from anyone involved.
   "Money changes the relationship between the parties, the lawyers and the judge," Condit said. "That's not for the good."
   The judge's position is a six-year term that pays $107,350 a year.
   Castillo said she is the best candidate for the office because she loves the law and has good experience. "This would just be in line for the goals I have set for myself professionally."
   During her career, Castillo has worked as a prosecutor, handled appeals for the District Attorney's Office, worked as a criminal defense attorney in state and federal courts and served as chief of the civil section of the Nueces County Attorney's Office. Castillo also has handled a variety of cases as a private attorney in general practice for about 15 years. Those cases have involved family law, labor law, contracts and other areas of civil law.
   Condit said he has handled more than 1,500 civil and criminal cases, tried more than 35 cases to a jury verdict and written more than 45 appellate briefs. He said that if elected he also would work to speed up appeals and establish a Web site where legal briefs and court decisions would be posted.
   "It's a very inexpensive way for the public to hold the appellate judges accountable so as to reduce the opportunity to misrepresent the facts of the case or to ignore the plain dictates of the law in an opinion," Condit said.


Staff writer Dan Parker can be reached at 886-3746 or by e-mail at parkerd@caller.com

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