The year was 1988.
Noe Robles, at 29, had been elected to Cameron County Court-at-Law No.1 just two years before.
That was the heyday of compadrismo and the nod-and-wink system. In fact, the recent judicial corruption cases against Abel Limas, Jim Solis, Armando Villalobos, Mark Rosenthal, et al, might have had their genesis way back when.
Now we understand that Robles is making another run for the judiciary, this time for the newly-formed County Court-at-Law No.5. Former city commissioner Estela Vasquez-Chavez and Brownsville attorney Jesus "Chuy: Garcia have also indictwed they will run for the position,
We saw a picture of Robles in some of his campaign literature. As with the rest of us, his appearance has changed a wee bit. His beard is no longer jet black and he has added a few pounds to his frame. Has it been 27 years already?But if you were around like we were in 1988, you probably still remember the commotion caused when Robles – reacting to the release of a prisoner convicted and sentenced for DWI – ordered the arrest of his prominent lawyer D.J. Lerma and Chief Sheriff Department Deputy Carlos Tapia.
Lerma – a former county court-at-law judge, justice of the peace, and county commissioner at the time – was representing Luis Leal, of San Benito, who was convicted and free on bond while he awaited sentencing by Robles. At the sentencing, Lerma asked that his client be allowed to be free awaiting the decision on his appeal.
Robles said he would consider the request when Lerma brought in the paperwork and had Leal placed in the custody of the sheriff to be jailed.
This is when things gut sticky.
Lerma, who later claimed he could not find Robles on a Friday, showed up at the jail with the bond papers and presented them to Tapia who ordered Leal released.
When Robles heard about it, he issued contempt of court charges against both Lerma and Tapia and had them picked up. Then-Constable Arturo Gonzalez arrested both men and both posted a bond and were not booked.
That unleashed a political firestorm.
After all, Tapia was Sheriff Alex Perez's right-hand man and Lerma was a local legal scion and sitting county commissioner. To have an upstart lawyer who was born in Brownsville and who had moved to Harlingen (of all places) arrested was unheard of.
Through it all, Robles said he considered Leal's release from jail tantamount to an escape since the judge who sentenced the defendant decides whether to grant an appeal bond.
Lerma's attorney, Rene Oliveira, said that when a visiting judge threw out the contempt charges against his client, he had been "vindicated."
In the end, with ruffled feathers all around, Robles' stand was upheld and everyone returned to their duties.
However, if you were around in 1988, there were some interesting times in the local courts.
1 comment:
what a shame that Robles has to dig up my father's grave from that time? In his 28 years this is all you have to show of your career Noe? what happened to you're life in the last 27 years? is this the highlight? and by the way Noe.....you forgot to mention that we challenged your contempt of court citation and a non-corrupt visiting Judge heard the case. I represented my father and my proudest moment of my career that day was to WIN. The Judge found there was no contempt....how you forgot that part? Not to mention your claim of being above politics the only reason you got lost was because that family was not supporting you and you chose to deny his appellate rights because of politics. YOU LOST that case. there was no errors committed and certainly no corruption.
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