How can voters pick between two good choices for Tarrant DA? Here’s what we recommend
There’s plenty of work ahead for Tarrant County’s next district attorney.
Tackling a rise in violent crime. Slogging through years of backlogged cases. Boosting office morale. Recruiting and retaining top-notch legal talent.
The good news is that voters have two strong choices to follow retiring Republican DA Sharen Wilson. Republican Phil Sorrells, a longtime misdemeanor court judge, and Democrat Tiffany Burks, a former high-ranking official under Wilson, both bring experience and advance planning and would need no time to learn on the job.
It’s a close call, but we recommend Sorrells. Public concern about crime is higher than in years, and the top prosecutor must inspire confidence in the criminal justice system without losing sight of the importance of rehabilitation and justice, not just toughness.
Sorrells could bring a judge’s eye to clearing up the thousands of cases pending, the lingering result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Close calls will have to be made on which cases to take to trial. Setting up the right process to evaluate them will be crucial, and in our interview with the candidates, Sorrells described a plan to bring back experienced prosecutors to lead the charge.
Sorrells, a 58-year-old North Richland Hills resident, should remember that the DA must strive to have a staff that reflects a diverse county.
And while voters are in the mood for toughness on crime and robust support for police, few want to see excesses take hold. Focusing on the most serious crime and supporting smart programs to divert young offenders from descending further are paramount. Ensuring police are accountable when they err is a vital part of the job.
Burks’ record suggests she would also do well as DA. She’s run as a moderate Democrat who would focus on curbing violent crime. And her knowledge of the office would prepare her to tweak its operations.
Burks, 51, of Fort Worth, is also a vocal proponent of marijuana legalization. Their approach to the issue might be a key difference between her and Sorrells. Burks would use prosecutorial discretion to step down prosecutions of low-level pot offenses. Sorrells doesn’t necessarily seem zealous about such cases, emphasizing programs to clear charges if offenders can stay clean. But he wouldn’t categorically rule out such prosecutions.
There’s broad agreement that jail time for marijuana possession isn’t useful. And while the long-term outcome might well be legalization, Texas isn’t anywhere near that yet. Just as prosecutors need not make a point of over-punishing nonviolent drug offenders, they shouldn’t try to rewrite the law from the DA’s office.
Voters should look for a district attorney who will address fears about crime with smart deployment of resources and maintain the pursuit of justice as the office’s ultimate goal. Too many times, voting feels like choosing the least worst option. That’s not the case with these two thoughtful, experienced candidates.
We recommend Sorrells as the best bet to improve the office’s operations and assuage concerns about crime and support for law enforcement.
The DA is elected for a four-year term. Early voting is Monday through Nov. 4. Election Day is Nov. 8.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHey, who is behind these endorsements?
Members of the Editorial Board, which serves as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s institutional voice, decide candidates and positions to recommend to voters. The members of the board are: Cynthia M. Allen, columnist; Steve Coffman, editor and president; Bud Kennedy, columnist; Ryan J. Rusak, opinion editor; and Nicole Russell, opinion writer.
Members of our Community Advisory Board may also participate in candidate interviews and offer their views, but they do not vote on which candidate to recommend.
Read more by clicking the arrow in the upper right.
How does the process work?
The Editorial Board interviews candidates, asking about positions on issues, experience and qualifications, and how they would approach holding the office for which they are running. Board members do additional research on candidates’ backgrounds and the issues at hand. After that, members discuss the candidates and generally aim to arrive at a consensus, though not necessarily unanimity. All members contribute observations and ideas, so the resulting editorials represent the board’s view, not a particular writer.
How do partisanship and ideology factor in?
We’re not tied to one party or the other, and our positions on issues range across the ideological spectrum. We tend to prefer candidates who align with our previously stated positions, but qualifications, temperament and experience are important, too.