Keep Judge
MARC BROWN
In the Fall of 2009, the Honorable Debbie Stricklin announced her retirement as Judge of the 180th Criminal District Court of Harris County. I was urged to run for this important Felony bench by colleagues, friends and family. I know how important qualifications are for the Criminal District Courts, where peoples lives are at stake. In April of 2010, the Republican voters of this county honored me, by selecting me to be the Republican nominee for the 180th District Court. Judge Debbie Stricklin stepped down from the bench in late July of 2010. In August of 2010, I was humbled, when Governor Rick Perry appointed me Judge of the 180th Criminal District Courty of Harris County, Texas.
I began working for justice over twenty-two years ago. In the Fall of 1987, I became an intern at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, during my final semester of law school. I became a prosecutor in 1988, when I was hired by District Attorney John B. Holmes, Jr. In my career at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, I handled thousands of cases. I tried over 100 jury trials, ranging from misdemeanors to capital murders. I am the ONLY candidate in this race that has tried a Death Penalty case. In March of 2004, I was assaulted in the courtroom during a trial, by a Defendant that had been found guilty of robbing an undercover Houston Police Officer at gunpoint. Also, included among my many trials, were the two individuals convicted of killing off-duty Houston Police Officer Ruben Deleon, in 2005. I was a front line prosecutor as well as an administrator in my 22 years with the District Attorney’s Office. My administrative duties included overseeing a million dollar grant from the Governor's Office. For three years I was responsible for supervising approximately 50 lawyers and accompanying support staff in the Misdemeanor Division.
Since 1995, I have been called upon to teach folks around the country about Search and Seizure law. I have been a lecturer for the Texas Center for the Judiciary on multiple occasions where I had the privilege to instruct Judges from around the State of Texas on issues related to the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Additionally I have provided instruction for The University of Houston Law Center, The Texas District and County Attorney’s Association, The Regional Counter Drug Training Academy, The Mid-West Counter Drug Training Academy , Rice University, The United States Drug Enforcement Administration, The Houston Police Department and The Harris County Sheriff’s Department.
In 2003 I was honored by the Texas Narcotics Officers Association as the Texas Prosecutor of the Year. Additionally I have been honored by the Houston Police Department and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration for prosecutorial assistance to those organizations.
I am 47 years old. My wife, Susan and I recently celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary. We have two daughters, Amy and Sara. We are parishioners at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church.
I was raised on a farm in central Texas outside of Taylor. I have three older brothers. Our parents taught us the values of faith, family and hard work. I received my B.A. in Government from the University of Texas at Austin in 1984, earning my degree in just three years. I received my J.D from the University of Houston Law Center in 1987.
I ask that you join the community leaders, business leaders, prosecutors, defense attorneys, peace officers and citizens of Harris County, in supporting me. In 2008 we lost several excellent Judges. We cannot afford to have anymore inexperienced people on our criminal benches. Remember, not all candidates have the same qualifications! I am the most experienced candidate in this race. I believe that I am the most qualified candidate in this race. I hope you will agree. Qualifications Count!
