Bell wins nomination for district judge

By Chris Lundstrom
Publisher/Editor
    District Attorney Bobby Bell is realizing his life’s dream. On Saturday, Republican precinct chairs from six counties overwhelmingly voted Bell to succeed former District Judge Skipper Koetter. This will be the first time a Jackson County citizen has sat on the bench as a district judge.
    It has been a long and arduous process. When Koetter retired last March, it was expected that Gov. Greg Abbott would appoint someone to fulfill Koetter’s term. Instead, Gov. Abbott handed the decision to the precinct chairs in the district that Koetter represented. Since late spring, those representatives have been meeting with their county chairs and the local attorneys interested in the position. 
    On July 16, 43 of the 80 precinct chairs supported Bell for the nomination on the first ballot.
    Jeri Browning, a precinct chairman from Jackson County, participated in the process. 
    “I felt a great deal of responsibility weighing on my shoulders in making the decision,” Browning said. “All of the candidates were uniquely qualified to step into the slot.”
    Dana Parks, the precinct chair from Ganado, said she liked the process of letting the delegates choose. ‘If nothing else, it gets people involved and actually opens up the ability for smaller counties to have a say.”
    The other attorneys vying for the judgeship were from Victoria County and included Joanna Stahlins, Robert Whitaker, Doug Anderson and Keith Weiser.  
    Browning said she was encouraged to hear Sheriff Andy Louderback along with all the other represented county sheriffs endorsing Bell.
    “That meant a lot to me as a voter,” she said. “I support Mr. Bobby Bell and feel that he will be a judge who follows the rule of law and will not legislate from the bench.”
    Bell said he anticipates the appointment process to move relatively quickly. Once Abbott signs the appointment, Bell will be sworn in as the 267th District Judge. He said the courts have been swamped with cases since Koetter’s retirement, but said he  probably won’t be sent to Jackson County on criminal dockets for several years.
    He said he plans on filling out Koetter’s term and running for the position when it is up for re-election.
    In the meantime, Assistant District Attorney Pam Guenther has been handling most of the cases in Jackson County. If she decides she wants the district attorney position, she will have to fill out an application and send it to the governor’s office.  
    “I have been still meeting with grand juries and trying cases,” Bell said. “This was not an election, it was a selection. If it was an election I would have vacated my office. It was a selection so I was able to maintain my position as district attorney.”
    Bell said for it to be a fair process in appointing a new district attorney, the governor could extend the application process to allow other interested individuals to apply for the position.
    He said he would also encourage the county commissioners to hire an assistant for Guenther after Bell is appointed.
    Bell said he was humbled and ecstatic at the outcome. “It has been a life long dream of mine to do this,” he said. I am thankful to have gone through this process because I got to go to the people and the citizenry. I know what our hometowns mean to us and I know what hometown values are.”
    In his acceptance speech Saturday he thanked the counties and said it had renewed his spirit in the process. 
    “This is the first time in my 42 years as a lawyer that I am speechless,” he quipped.
    Bell’s father was an important role model for him. He was a decorated WWII fighter pilot and did three tours in the European Theater and got shot down twice. When he came home he went to law school and opened a hometown general practice. Bell was part of his practice for eight years. 
    “My dad has always been my hero,” he said. “He was a special person to me. He was a real estate lawyer, but that was not my cup of tea. I wanted to be in the courtroom and it seems that is where God has gifted me. I have a picture of dad swearing me in [as district attorney] and I want my kids to come and swear me in as district judge, too.”