Texas legal reform group not pleased with appointment of new judge

GALVESTON, Texas (Legal Newsline) – On Monday, Gov. Rick Perry appointed Friendswood attorney Bret Griffin as the next judge of the 212th District Court in Galveston County.

The term is set to expire after this year’s election, and Griffin will face competition in the coming Republican March primary from Patricia Grady, who just received the support of Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC.

According to a Jan. 28 press release, TLR has endorsed Grady for the judgeship because it believes she will be a competent, honest and impartial judge.

“We oppose Griffin because we do not think he is qualified for the judgeship and because he has close personal and financial ties to Tony Buzbee, a personal injury trial lawyer who is extremely active in the 212th District Court in Galveston,” states the press release.

Some of Buzbee’s more notable cases include two separate lawsuits he filed against BP over alleged chemical releases at its Texas City refinery. Both suits sought billions of dollars in damages, according to the Southeast Texas Record.

“Griffin once worked for Buzbee and Griffin’s wife is a business partner of Buzbee’s. Buzbee fully funded Griffin’s previous, failed election bid for a judgeship,” states the TLR press release.

“Buzbee is notorious for his public brag about judge shopping in South Texas, where he says he is allowed to handpick juries favorable to his plaintiff’s case. The 212th District Court deserves a judge who will be fair and impartial to all parties and lawyers who come before the court.”

TLR PAC is the political arm of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, the state’s largest civil justice reform organization.

From Legal Newsline: Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com.