Three Republican attorneys are vying for a civil court judgeship in Tarrant County left vacant by Ken Curry's decision not to seek re-election.
Two of the candidates have practiced civil law for years, largely defending those who have been sued, and two have held office. Each pledges to rule conservatively from the bench if elected.Civil lawyers Kevin Carey and Susan McCoy and former Justice of the Peace and Mansfield Mayor Tom Corbin will face off in the May 29 Republican primary. No Democrat has filed for the seat.Kevin CareyCarey, 48, of Fort Worth, has been a civil trial lawyer in Tarrant County for 23 years, largely defending clients who have been sued. He's board-certified in personal-injury and civil trial law and is a past legal counsel to the Tarrant County Republican Party.He has been cited as a top attorney by Fort Worth, Texas magazine and as a super lawyer by Texas Monthly. He's also a past director of the MS Society of Tarrant County and served on the Crowley City Council about 10 years ago.Carey says he's the person for the job."You need somebody ... who has significant experience, somebody who has been recognized by his or her peers as having a level of excellence, and someone who has the temperament to treat everyone fairly and listen to their positions before making decisions within the boundaries of the rule of law," Carey said.Tom CorbinCorbin, 67, of Mansfield, served as the Precinct 7 justice of the peace for one four-year term before being defeated in a 2010 GOP primary runoff.He was Mansfield's mayor in 1979-83 and 1992-94. As an attorney, he has represented the United Educators Association and worked as a professional mediator.Before getting his law degree, he was a residential builder and developer."I'm running because I have a passion for judicial office and enjoy being of service to the public, and I believe I'm good at it," Corbin said.Corbin received a public admonishment as a justice of the peace from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.The commission, which released its results after he lost his re-election bid, said he "exceeded the scope of his judicial authority and misused his position as judge" in a case in which he forced a driver he had seen speeding to turn over her license and talk to him in his chambers before allowing her to go.The commission said he also exceeded his authority by allowing his staff to accept payments from defendants for judgments on behalf of plaintiffs.Corbin said he disagrees with the commission's conclusions."My way of looking at it is looking at the law and public policy," he said. "I would say their way of looking at it is looking at policy preferences they would like."Susan McCoyMcCoy, 45, of Colleyville, spent 10 years at a large law firm defending hospitals and doctors in malpractice cases. She now has a small private practice that handles business disputes, commercial matters and personal injury.She has also been cited as a top attorney by Fort Worth, Texas and is a former adjunct professor at Texas Wesleyan Law School.McCoy said a good and fair judge doesn't put one side's interests above the other."I've had a broad practice," she said. "I've been in the shoes of a big defense firm and in a small firm where you carry all the burden. ... I know what it's like to hire and fire people, but I also have the big-firm practice in my background."Dianna Hunt, 817-390-7084Twitter: @DiannaHunt