The Supreme Court decision is sending
shockwaves through another branch of
government, the judiciary, the newest
ground for controversy is a Dallas
County courthouse.
County Judge Tom Price may fall under the
high court ruling.
He ran for district judge in 1980
against James Zimmerman.
He lost that race, but he did not quit
his job as county judge to run for the
district judgeship.
That's because of an El Paso court ruling
striking that provision from the state
constitution at that time.
But some politicians say price may be
subject to the Supreme Court ruling,
which means he could lose his job.
But the county's legal adviser doesn't
think so.
It's highly unlikely that
although it's possible that
the courts could hold, that it has a
retroactive effect.
Price was unavailable for comment, but
like many other judges around the state,
could fall into the controversy if
one of them is removed from the bench.
There is also a possibility their
legal decisions could be challenged that
would
cause a turmoil, that
courts are very slow to
pass on a criminal justice system.
You know, we've got enough of a load on
the criminal justice system already, and
that would really put one on edge.
There are many questions about the
Supreme Court's actions.
A clearer explanation may have to
come when new court cases are filed.
Victor Solis, Channel 5 Action News, Dallas.