Published Monday, June 22, 2009 6:05 AM
Search for new county JP begins
By ERIKA JARAMILLO
erika.jaramillo@theeagle.com
Brazos County Judge Randy Sims said Sunday that it's too early in the process to decide from the small pool of applicants who will take over an unexpired term for Justice of the Peace in Precinct 4.
He said he's sure of one thing though: He wants to do background checks on those who apply.
"I need to check with the commissioners but I don't want to have the same situation like this one to happen again," Sims said.
Precinct 4 JP Ramiro Quintero resigned Friday morning, less than 24 hours after he was arrested on a felony charge of tampering with evidence and two misdemeanor charges -- unauthorized practicing of law and accepting gifts as a public service.
Quintero -- who is not an attorney and, as a judge, is not allowed to give advice to people in his courtroom -- is accused of giving legal recommendations to a woman trying to file a small claims suit in his court. He's also charged with accepting a payment from the woman and then later -- after being confronted by authorities -- flushing the evidence down the toilet.
Sims said he's received at least five phone calls inquiring about the position, but he anticipates more since Quintero's resignation isn't official until 5 p.m. Monday.
"[Today] we will post a meeting with the commissioners and discuss what kind of qualifications the court is looking for," Sims said, adding that the selection will be made by the commissioners court, not just by him. He said the qualities he's looking for include honesty and integrity.
All applicants must be at least 18 years old and have lived in the U.S. for 10 years and in Texas for seven years, but also must reside in Precinct 4. A justice of peace in Texas is not required to have a law license, nor do he or she have to have a high school diploma.
Sims said he hopes the commissioner's court can pick a new judge by the end of next week. In the meantime, other JPs are sharing the job duties.
Comments
19 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:34 AM
Comment Title:
Most of the good folks in this precinct have moved out. That is why it will be difficult to find a good replacement.
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Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:38 AM
Comment Title:
Are the people Bryan elected to office the result of smoking bad Bryan crack?
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 8:21 PM
Comment Title:
Well, this would be a good time to get a responsible person in that office. The commissioners can scrutinize and then appoint. If the appointee does well he/she would have the upper hand for the next election. Here is hoping the commissioners do the right thing.
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 9:57 AM
Comment Title: Good Idea
I think it is a really good idea to run a background check on those being considered for JP. Good grief.
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:05 AM
Comment Title:
I feel sorry for the people in Bryan they have so much corruption.
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:58 AM
Comment Title: AKA
Sorry, that was Bryan AKA "Ben" Dover . . .
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 12:57 AM
Comment Title: Jamie was . . .
. . . locked up with Bryan, in Bryan. "hello Mr. Dover . . ."
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Posted by:
Willie On:
Monday, June 22, 2009 11:04 PM
Comment Title: Jamie For JP
How about Jamie for JP? No wait - then it would not have time to make nasty comments about Bryan. Plus - it might have to (hold on) come into Bryan to work (ok let it out). JCTBCLL - Jamie Crossed The Bryan City Limit Line.
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Posted by:
John-CSTX On:
Monday, June 22, 2009 9:22 PM
Comment Title:
From the criminal activity i would say yes.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 22, 2009 9:21 PM
Comment Title:
Is this JP-office all COB?
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Posted by:
Rocky Patel-Brazos County On:
Monday, June 22, 2009 9:20 PM
Comment Title:
Finding a BISD and Bryan product with a education. Look outside the city.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 22, 2009 9:17 PM
Comment Title:
I agree
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 22, 2009 9:17 PM
Comment Title:
Get someone that is honest and not from Bryan.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 22, 2009 8:23 PM
Comment Title:
Kid's get hauled into court for missing school or being tardy. Yet you are not required to have a high school diploma to be a Judge, What's wrong with this picture? I guess they could always become a Judge should they not graduate...
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 22, 2009 4:38 PM
Comment Title: Boyett's next
Let's finish the job and oust Boyett now. He's gotta be as bad or worse than Qball. Has any judge in the history of this fine county ever been reprimanded as much and retained their seat? What a complete tool, this redneck has soiled our community long enough.
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Posted by:
anonymous On:
Monday, June 22, 2009 2:10 PM
Comment Title:
I am really sick of some of the racist comments on this matter. This Hispanic Community is also very dissappointed by Judge Quintero's actions, he is not the "role model" we had hoped for. That being said this talk of "his peeps" & "Deportation" and "Hipanic this" and "Hispanic" that is why this town is not represented by it's population. This town and county remain prejudice and these ignorant people with thier ignorant comments are representative of the population of this county. You cannot clump all Hispanic people and the constituents of Mr. Quintero's precinct together and these comments of: "The majority of the precinct people are idiots, they have known all along what he was doing" & "I guess LULAC will be marching around Brazos Valley demanding FAIR TREATMENT! THis guy needs to be deported! Hey Q, this is America, not MONTEREY! I guess LULAC will make sure he can get his goat taco and watch his bull fights in prison! Cannot use the word c@ck on here so I had to use bull! These are just a few of the ignorant things being said by ignorant people. Call Mr Quintero out on his bad behavior and actions but not all minorities and Hispanics. Thank you very much!
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 22, 2009 1:53 PM
Comment Title: No HS Diploma for JP Job?
You should have a high school diploma at a minimum in order to be a judge of any sort. Some college would be preferable.
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Posted by:
Proteus On:
Monday, June 22, 2009 1:32 PM
Comment Title:
I agree, the requirements need to be raised. Of course, if a law degree were required, you would have to pay alot more than $62K per year. You could require a para-legal education, but the number of qualified applicants would be very limited
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Posted by:
Sabrina On:
Monday, June 22, 2009 12:45 PM
Comment Title: Nor do he or she have to have a high school diploma.
I think that the requirements for this position should be raised and can't believe that the person who is given all this power/autority doesn't even have to have a high school diploma. Ridiculous.
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