The Meaning of America

Friends-

I readily admit that I am an outspoken critic of the criminal justice system. I think it our duty as participants to do our best to make the system better. To me, that means I should do my best on my cases and I should speak honestly about problems I see in the system.

To be sure, not everything about the system is bad or wrong.In fact, I would say that many parts of our criminal justice system are outstanding. I would also say that many participants in our system do an outstanding job.My ongoing criticism of the system should never be interpreted as a complete rejection of the American Criminal Justice System. I dont reject our system, I just want it to be as fair and impartial as I know it can be.

It has been suggested that I just dont like judges. That makes me laugh, because I like people, and I like most judges that I know. I am critical of our State and County Court judges for some of the policies they impliment and perpetuate. That does not mean that I personally dislike these folks. Ilike most people, and I dont discriminate against folks just because they wear a robe to work.

I think being a good judge must be very hard. President Abraham Lincoln said if you want to test a man’s charachter, ” Give him power”. I certainly agree with President Lincoln. Over the years we have all seen judges who have failed the charachter test. We have all seen judges who let the power go to their head. We call it “Robitis” or the ” Dreaded black robe disease”. We have all seen it and we have all suffered it.

One is imbued with enormous power on the bench. To be a great judge, one truly must be a great person.I have known good and great judges in my life. They have served as an inspiration tome in my practice. They have also served as a measuring stick,when I amin front of a not so great judge.

I will give you an example of a greatJudge. It is easy for me to talkabout him as, I tried my longest case everin front of him.The trial was in 1994 and I was 37 years old. It was a Federaldrug conspiracy case involving 10co-defendants. The trial lasted nine weeks.My client was charged with 5 federal drug counts. At the end of the trial my client wasacquited on all counts. I recall in celebration, as he heard the ” Not Guilties” announced, he poured a cup of water his head. 5 other defendants were acquitted as well.I learned a lot during that trial.As much as anything, I learned what it took to be a greatjudge. I learned this by watching the Honorable John Rainey.

Judge Rainey is a Federal District Court Judge sitting in Victoria. I rarely get to appear in front of him anymore. Butin years past, I had several trials in front of him. Judge Rainey was always pleasant. He was patient withall of us. He listened to our arguments and stayed open-minded.He was confident inhimself, but never arrogant or demeaning to any of us.He kept a good-senseof humor.He knew the law and if he didnt know it, he took the time to learn it before ruling. Finally, he was fair. He did not involvehimself in the case. That is to say, if he had a side, itcertainly was never apparent.He let both sides try their case and he never tried to sway the jury. In my opinion- for all the reasons I just stated, Judge John Raineyis a great judge. I believe he is a great judge because, he is a great man. He has humility. I think humilty is key to greatness.

We have great and good judges in Houston. We also have “the other kind”. I hope more judges, especially new judges in state and county court will try more to emulate Judge Rainey. I also hope that the great and good judges that we have within the Harris County Criminal Courthouse, will join me in my efforts to reform the system.

Robb Fickman, Houston.