Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney candidates in the Republican primary March 1
Mollee Westfall
Occupation: Attorney
Age: 52
What’s the best way for voters to reach you? mollee@westfallforda.com
Website: westfallforda.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: District Judge, 371st District Court, Jan. 2007-Nov. 2021
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: Not outside my work as an assistant district attorney and District Judge.
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Why are you seeking this office? After 25 years serving Tarrant County as an assistant district attorney and district judge, I want to put my experience and single-minded dedication to criminal justice and community safety to work as the next district attorney. I have worked my entire career and raised my family in Tarrant County; now my retired parents have moved here as well. I want Tarrant County to be the best and safest community for raising a family, working, visiting and retiring. I have a vision for the DA’s office and the experience and background to achieve it. I spent 10 1/2 years in the DA’s office, including 9 years as a felony prosecutor. Close to 4 of those 9 years I was in the Crimes Against Children Unit, dedicated to prosecuting the most serious physical and sexual abuse cases against children.
I was elected as a judge and took a district bench in 2007, handling only felonies, the most serious cases and crimes. I cleared a large felony backlog in three years and then went on to lead two intensive probation programs for all 10 felony courts. In 2019 I started an innovative and successful intensive supervision program for high risk domestic violence defendants on bond in all 10 courts. During my time as a judge I have worked closely with law enforcement, signing thousands of search warrants in complex investigations. I have trained prosecutors, police, probation officers and judges across the state and nationally and been tapped to lead statewide judicial initiatives. I have also been in charge of large criminal justice budgets, both in committee and leadership roles on the Tarrant County Juvenile Board, which oversees the juvenile court and programs, and as chair of the Criminal Justice Council, with responsibility for the Community Supervision and Corrections Department (Adult Probation) budget.
What would your top 3 priorities be if elected? My top three priorities would be (1) to drive down violent crime with both vigorous prosecution and collaborations with police and other partners to address violent crime hotspots in Tarrant County; (2) focus on crimes with vulnerable victims, such as children, domestic violence victims, trafficking victims and the elderly, including financial scams, using collaborative “vertical” prosecution in which the police and prosecutors work together from investigation onward; and (3) retain and train: retain all attorneys, investigators and staff and give the less experienced assistant district attorneys who promoted with little trial experience hands on, consistent, ongoing training to fill in experience gaps.
How do you think the Texas Bail Reform bill will impact the jail population? The Bail Reform Bill requires cash bail for violent offenses. Defendants with these kinds of cases have always had to post cash bail in Tarrant County so I expect the effect on jail population to be negligible.
Do you believe non-violent offenders should be jailed? If so, what types of non-violent offenses do you think people should be jailed for? Some non-violent offenses involve serious crimes against victims who have suffered real and lasting harm. For example, identity theft or financial crimes against an elderly person do not involve violence but the crime could destroy the elderly victim’s financial viability for the rest of their life. A crime like this merits time in prison. Other non-violent crimes might be misdemeanors perpetrated by first time offenders who merit diversion from the criminal justice system. Each case must be judged on the facts and background of the defendant involved to arrive at the most just resolution.
Anything else you’d like voters to know? I live in Fort Worth, in a 1950s era house with my husband of 27 years, Greg, my 20 year old college student son, my high school senior daughter, two dogs and two cats. We are very active as a family in All Saints’ Episcopal Church. My husband was baptized there and we were married there. Greg and I have both served a combined 15 years on the vestry at church. I have served as Senior Warden for 5 years and mission trip leader to our church’s orphanage in Kenya twice. My kids and I have taught kindergarten Sunday school together as well. I have served on the Foundation Board of the Texas Tech Law School for 7 years and been Master-level senior mentor in the Eldon Mahon Inns of Court, a local legal honor society.
My backstory: I was born in Abilene to a cotton farmer and a full time mom, the third of four children. We moved to Lubbock when I was 8 and settled there. In 1988, I enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin on a National Merit Scholarship and graduated with a BA in the Plan II in 1991. I then attended Texas Tech Law School on a full scholarship. I met my future husband Greg in law school during first year mock trial. While I was at Texas Tech I was chosen to be an executive editor for the Fifth Circuit Symposium of the Law Review. I moved to Fort Worth after graduation in 1994 and married Greg. After a year in civil law, I decided to apply at the Tarrant County DA’s office and started there in February, 1996. Our son and daughter were born while I was an assistant district attorney trying felony cases. In January, 2007 I took the bench in the 371st District Court and stayed there until retiring to run for district attorney in November, 2021.
Matt Krause
Occupation: Attorney
Age: 41
What’s the best way for voters to reach you? www.mattkrause.org
Website: www.mattkrause.org
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: State Representative House District 93 (2013-Present)
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: In 2014, in my capacity as State Representative, I sued members of the Texas Racing Commission for circumventing the Texas Constitution and taking actions outside of their authority.
Why are you seeking this office? When the current District Attorney, Sharen Wilson, announced she was not planning on running again, she was asked who she would like to see succeed her. This was before any declared candidates had announced for the position. Her response was, “Matt Krause.” I was honored she would think of me, and reached out to her about the response. She indicated my record in Austin of proven leadership would serve the DAs office well. This is especially relevant in light of the fact that the District Attorney office has evolved over the years into more of a policy position. And my near-decade long service in the Texas House has given me the insight and perspective to be successful in the position. Tarrant County is the 15th largest county in the country and needs a proven leader to helm the office. As the county’s next District Attorney, I want to ensure due process, mete out justice fairly, stand with law enforcement, and keep our community safe.
What would your top 3 priorities be if elected?
- Stand with Law Enforcement - it’s critical that the District Attorney work with law enforcement to keep our communities safe. It’s important that there is constant communication with our law enforcement, and they need to know we are partners in the effort to keep Tarrant County safe.
- Election Integrity - with the recent decision of the Court of Criminal Appeals, the responsibility for prosecuting election fraud is on the shoulders of District Attorneys. It’s important that Tarrant County be proactive on this front to ensure the integrity of the ballot box. Thankfully, SB 1, which I helped support as a legislator, has made it easier to vote and harder to cheat in Texas. Even with those new measures in place, Tarrant County must be vigilant here.
- Continue the work of Sharen Wilson in regards to child abuse and elder abuse. Our current DA has done a terrific job of focusing on prosecuting crimes against children (including human trafficking) and against the elderly. Unfortunately, these attacks are only increasing here in Tarrant County. It is incumbent upon the next District Attorney to build upon these efforts and do all we can to eradicate the violence/abuse towards our children and the elderly.
How do you think the Texas Bail Reform bill will impact the jail population? As a member of the Texas House, I was proud to support the bail reform bill this past year. The bill will give more information to the judges deciding on the bail amounts of those offenders appearing in court. Too often we have seen violent criminals be given low bail, which allows them back on the streets to commit more crime. Although the District Attorney does not set bail amounts, the DA can be in communication with our courts to stress the importance of ensuring violent individuals are not allowed back on the street. As Tarrant County’s next District Attorney, I will do all I can to see proper bail amounts set to keep our community safe. As a member of the legislature, I was also in favor of a constitutional amendment which would have revoked bail in certain, limited circumstances. Although we were not able to get that policy to the finish line, I would encourage those in the 88th Legislative Session to revive the idea and get it on the ballot for voter approval. As a sitting District Attorney, I would work with my former colleagues in Austin to make it happen.
Do you believe non-violent offenders should be jailed? If so, what types of non-violent offenses do you think people should be jailed for? My record as a legislator is fairly clear here. I have co-authored and joint-authored legislation in the past that would have prohibited jail time for certain non-violent offenses. I believe there are other ways for those individuals to pay their debt to society. I am a big proponent of our diversionary courts. I think our Veterans Court is especially instructive. In this program, offenders are able to receive education, accountability, and pay their debt to society. And they do all of this without being incarcerated. The recidivism rates are extremely low, and this is a model for our criminal justice system as we seek areas of reform.
Anything else you’d like voters to know? It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve HD 93 in the Texas House. For nearly a decade, I have enjoyed the privilege of serving some incredible constituents and working on important issues for all Texans. During my five sessions, we have accomplished much. I look forward to taking that same proven leadership to the District Attorney’s office. I would be honored to have your support in the upcoming primary on March 1st. You can find out more about my campaign and ways to get involved at www.mattkrause.org.
Phil Sorrells
Occupation: Retired Judge
Age: 57
What’s the best way for voters to reach you? Phil@philsorrells.com
Website: PhilSorrells.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: Judge County Criminal Court Ten 1996-2021
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: As a member of the Tarrant County Board of Criminal Judges, I was sued for an incident that occurred at the boot camp facility. The case was resolved by a settlement. As an assistant district attorney, a defendant sued me and 29 others for RICO violations. The court entered judgment in my favor.
Why are you seeking this office? I have been working to keep our community safe for 30 years in Tarrant County—first as a prosecutor and then as a criminal court judge. I have spent my entire career serving the people of Tarrant County in the criminal justice system. I am seeking this office so I can have an even greater impact serving as the District Attorney. After 25 years as judge, I am ready to take off the black robe of impartiality and once again be an advocate for the people.
My experience makes me the best-qualified candidate for this position. As an Assistant District Attorney, I worked to ensure that criminals are punished for crimes they commit. An experienced felony prosecutor trying cases from theft to murder, I learned how to use the laws passed by our legislature to ensure maximum jail time for the violent, career criminals who prey upon our families.
My tenure as a criminal court judge has been marked by excellence. In just over a year, I took the court from having the largest backlog to the smallest. I managed the taxpayers’ money efficiently, consistently operating one of the lowest-spending criminal courts in Tarrant County. In 2001, I asked the Texas legislature to expand my court’s jurisdiction to take on more responsibility and hear all appeals from the municipal courts in Tarrant County. Because I believed that every defendant claiming indigency was not in fact indigent, in 2019 I decided to review every request for a court-appointed, taxpayer-funded attorney in the county criminal courts. I conducted this inquiry for just over a year, reducing appointments by 10% and saving the county hard-earned tax dollars.
What would your top 3 priorities be if elected? The District Attorney’s responsibility is to keep the community safe. To further community safety, my top three priorities will be to support law enforcement, address criminal conduct by illegal aliens, and work to end the low cash bail release of violent criminals onto our streets.
I support law enforcement. Officers will know I have their back. I will fight to make our officers a priority in every local jurisdiction in the county. In Tarrant County, we do not defund the police; we support the police.
Illegal immigration is not just a problem on the border. It impacts Tarrant County. Joe Biden’s reckless policies have allowed human and drug trafficking to go unchecked. I will aggressively prosecute criminal conduct by illegal aliens and will make every effort to detain them on state charges until they are deported.
COVID restrictions on our courts wrecked the criminal justice system. Courts were unable to have jury trials, but criminals continued to commit crimes. Thousands of criminals released on low cash bail amounts are now out on the streets with active warrants free to commit more crime. I will work to end the low cash bail release of violent criminals.
Across America, crime rates are soaring. The next District Attorney for Tarrant County must be a tough and experienced advocate for the citizens. I will be that advocate.
How do you think the Texas Bail Reform bill will impact the jail population? My concern is the safety of the community, which cannot be sacrificed. We cannot let violent offenders out of jail free to commit more crimes. My hope is that when criminals see Tarrant County is serious about consequences for criminal conduct, the criminals will change their behavior.
Do you believe non-violent offenders should be jailed? If so, what types of non-violent offenses do you think people should be jailed for? Every criminal law from a class B misdemeanor to a first-degree felony carries a possible jail sentence. Each individual case is judged on its own merit. If the facts justify a jail sentence, then that is what I will seek. I will enforce the law. Those offenders wanting a chance at rehabilitation through probation will be given that opportunity if appropriate. But to be clear, non-violent offenders are breaking the law; if they are not interested in following the law, then jail is the appropriate punishment.
Anything else you’d like voters to know? The biggest challenge facing the District Attorney’s office is the overwhelming backlog due to COVID restrictions. COVID restrictions in place for over a year wrecked the criminal justice system. The courthouse was closed for actual jury trials. The criminals did not get the memo and continued to commit crimes, resulting in a backlog of incredible dimension. I will ask the judiciary to employ visiting judges to hear cases along with all of the current judges, increasing the number of jury trials and decreasing the backlog.
