AUSTIN (1080 KRLD) - Chief Justice Nathan Hecht delivered the State of the Texas Judiciary address before the State House and Senate on Wednesday.
Hecht says Texans are paying nearly $1 billion a year to jail those who should be released. “Three-fourths of the jail population is awaiting trial. Most of those detained are non-violent and unlikely to re-offend and posing no risk of flight.” He says the current cash bail system isn’t the answer either. “Some are held because they’re too poor to make bail, though presumed innocent, no risk to public safety they remain in jail losing jobs and families and emerge more likely to offend. Detaining someone solely because he’s poor is against the law.”
Hecht is asking State lawmakers to appropriate money for new validated risk assessment computer programs that have proven to be successful in predicting who is a flight risk or danger to the community.
Hecht challenged the current system of electing judges. He said partisan election is among the worst methods of judicial selection. “Voters understandably want accountability, and they should have it, but knowing almost nothing about judicial candidates they end up throwing out very good judges who happen to be on the wrong side of races higher on the ballot.”
Hecht believes a merit-selection followed by non-partisan retention elections would be better.
Hecht also called for pay raises for judges to help keep the best from stepping down. “Adjusting for inflation, Texas judges are paid less than they were in 1991, 28 years ago, experienced judges are just not encouraged to stay.”
Chief Justice Nathan Hecht is the longest serving member of the State Supreme Court in Texas history.