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Submitted by john wertz on 2016-01-11 18:36:30

Sunday, January 10th, 2016

Thank you for the opportunity to correct Judge Wheless once again.

With his written comments on civil asset forfeiture, Judge Wheless reveals that his claim to be a strict constitutional constructionist is merely pandering.

The Texas Constitution gives the Court of Criminal Appeals no civil jurisdiction. Thus, civil asset forfeiture cases will never land in the Court of Criminal Appeals.

Judge Wheless, however, using a daisy-chain of misrepresentations about the Code of Criminal Procedure, claims he would grant jurisdiction to the Court of Criminal Appeals to hear those cases. He does not even acknowledge the Texas Constitution’s explicit limits on the court’s jurisdiction.

Who is he to ignore constitutional limits on the court’s jurisdiction? The same trial judge who ignores higher court precedent: a law unto himself.

Which leads me to the Cypress Tea Party: First, I spoke. Then, Judge Wheless spoke. The host graciously gave me an opportunity to respond to Judge Wheless’ hostile and false comments.

One of Judge Wheless’ false statements to which I responded concerned my brother Terry Keel. As I stated in my response then, Terry was House Parliamentarian for Speaker Tom Craddick, never for Joe Straus. Terry Keel and Joe Straus have been adversaries since 2007.

Judge Wheless’ continued efforts to deceive on this tangential issue cast him in an unflattering light.

As for my involvement in the Republican Party, I've been elected six times county-wide in Harris County as a Republican, and I've defeated a Democrat in four contested general elections. I have donated money to the Ted Cruz senatorial campaign, Red State Women (founded by Lara Keel, my cousin by marriage), the Harris County Republican Party and other conservative causes.

I am a member of several conservative groups, including Village Republican Women, the NRA, TSRA, and the Federalist Society.

Unlike Judge Wheless, I never belonged to the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.

Thank you for the opportunity to set the record straight. More information at www.maryloukeel.com.