Judge Gregory takes charge at 90th District Court
As a former defense attorney and prosecutor, Judge Phillip Gregory made changes to operations at the 90th Judicial District starting on Oct. 25, the day he was sworn in. The Enterprise talked to Judge Gregory about how change serves justice.
The Enterprise: What is your overarching goal in implementing these changes?
Judge Gregory: The whole purpose of this is not to be hard on attorneys or hard on litigants, the whole purpose is to make this process as efficient as humanly possible. People still need to have their day in court. They still need to be able to seek justice with an unbiased judge. But if there’s a place to make it more efficient and make it work quicker for everybody that’s the stuff that I’m looking at implementing.
The Enterprise: What exactly is the Children’s Bill of Rights and why is it important in family law cases?
Judge Gregory: We added a children’s bill of rights to the existing standing orders.Those are kind of injunctions that more or less protect the interests of children during contested litigation. They’re enforceable, and as new suits affecting parent-child relationships and new enforcement actions come in … all parties will be forewarned that these orders are in effect.
This is something I think is important: Let’s keep kids out of contested family issues involving adults as much as humanly possible. If the appropriate motions are filed by the attorneys for the various litigants, you could hold somebody in contempt for [violating it]. That could be jail. It could be fine. It could be all sorts of things. This is just a floor - a set of rules of behavior for everybody that’s involved in it and I’m not talking about the kids. This is for the adults. I think it’s a good first step.
The Enterprise: Young County has underfunded indigent defense for a number of years. What steps are you and County Judge Win Graham taking to bring compensation in line with the rest of the state?
Judge Gregory: We have a common interest in getting compensation rates for defense attorneys up here but it’s just going to have to wait for the next budgetary cycle.
In the intervening time … we’re looking at doing things that make it a little bit easier for [defense lawyers] to practice out here. We’re utilizing a lot of electronic conferencing equipment that we were granted money for back during the COVID crisis that’s been sitting idle. Last week, with the input of Sheriff [Travis] Babcock of Young County and Sheriff [Kevin] Roach of Stephens County, we were able to begin implementing a plan where defense attorneys can have scheduled teleconferences or video conferences with their clients who are incarcerated and cannot get out of jail for whatever reason. They have set aside one area in the jails for scheduled visitation so that might prevent somebody from Tarrant County having to spend a whole day driving out here just to talk to one person or two people. They could spend more time actually attending to the needs of the criminal defense client instead of driving. That notice will go out this week. We hope that helps outof town attorneys and even local attorneys who maybe don’t quite have enough time.
The Enterprise: What else are you working on?
Judge Gregory: We’re clearing a backlog of criminal cases that I am conflicted on. Judge Bristow has been assigned to handle those cases. They will try to move as many of those cases as possible. As far as the defendants, as to whether you want to accept something or you want to try your case … your cases are going to be tried rather quickly. The whole purpose is to get rid of the conflict of interest cases that I have, so I can start handling more criminal matters as I go forward.
The Enterprise: How do you like your new job?
Judge Gregory: I love it. I’m having fun. When you start thinking about what a judge can actually do with a pen and a signature it really humbles you. As a judge, you really need to make sure that the law is correct when you’re applying it because you can put a person in prison for life. You can split up a family. You can create a family through an adoption. Those are pretty heavy subjects and I’m ready to do it but I also understand the importance of doing it.