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Names of lawyers who may be considered to become one of Texas' four U.S. attorneys when Barack Obama becomes president are being discussed in the state's legal community.
Competition for the spot in the Northern District is intense, seven politically connected lawyers say. Four lawyers in particular are being mentioned as possible successors to U.S. Attorney Richard Roper.
Roper says he is interviewing with law firms but he has not yet announced that he is leaving the post.
"I've been with the government nearly all my career, and I'm ready for a new challenge," Roper says. "And I've enjoyed running the office. It was a tremendous opportunity."
Paul Coggins, who preceded Roper as U.S. attorney in the Northern District and now is a partner in the Dallas office of Fish & Richardson, says the list of people interested in taking the post is "the strongest field of candidates I've seen since I've been practicing here. . . . Every one of those folks I've heard of have had substantial experience as assistant U.S. attorneys and have all been stars there."
A contender for the position is Terri Moore, Dallas County's first assistant district attorney. Moore — who previously was an assistant U.S. attorney in Fort Worth, a criminal-defense solo and a longtime prosecutor in the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office — ran twice unsuccessfully for Tarrant County district attorney as a Democrat. She was mentioned as a possible U.S. attorney candidate in 2004, had Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, a U.S. senator from Massachusetts, won the White House.
"It's politics. It's hard to know what's going to happen," says Moore, who is interested in the U.S. attorney job. "I would be very honored" to be considered, she says.
Another person mentioned for the spot is Sarah Saldana, who currently is an assistant U.S. attorney in Dallas. Saldana says she has made inquiries as to whom she needs to talk to about the job.
"The process is a mysterious one. I'm just trying to find out myself. I'm not even sure there's an apparatus in place yet," says Saldana, a former partner in the Dallas office of Baker Botts who ran unsuccessfully for a Dallas County district court bench as a Democrat in 2002.
Mike Snipes, judge of Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 7, also is interested in becoming U.S. attorney. Snipes was elected to the bench in 2006 as a Democrat after years of serving as an assistant U.S. attorney in Dallas.
"I do want the job. I think it would be a tremendous job to have. But at the same time, I love the job I have," Snipes says.
Snipes says he's familiar with his competition for the post. "They're all friends of mine. If I wasn't going for the job, I'd be rooting for them."
Larry Jarrett, a Richardson criminal-defense solo who was an assistant U.S. attorney in Dallas before leaving the job for an unsuccessful run for Dallas County DA in 2006, also would like the post.
"Who wouldn't be interested in being a U.S. attorney?" Jarrett says. "I've met with the right people to make it happen. I've met with certain political figures in Dallas to see whether or not they would support me for U.S. attorney. . . . I think I'm going to be the selectee."
In the Southern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle resigned his post on Nov. 8 to become a partner in Fulbright & Jaworski in Houston. Tim Johnson, DeGabrielle's former first assistant, is now acting U.S. attorney for the district. Johnson says he is not interested in pursuing the appointment.
One lawyer mentioned as a contender to take over for Johnson is Larry Veselka, a partner in Houston's Smyser Kaplan & Veselka who practices criminal defense. Veselka sought the U.S. attorney position in 1993 after Clinton was elected president, but the job went to Gaynelle Griffin Jones.
"I think it would be fun," Veselka says of being U.S. attorney. "They could tell me 'no' if they want to, but I'm going to ask."
Veselka says he plans to call the office of U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi — the most senior member of the Texas Democratic congressional delegation — to express his interest in the position as well as call U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, who Obama considered as a possible running mate before selecting U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del. Many lawyers believe Edwards may be influential in helping the Obama administration select nominees. Edwards did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
Philip Hilder of Houston's Philip Hilder & Associates sought the U.S. attorney position unsuccessfully during the Clinton administration. Hilder is a former U.S. Department of Justice attorney who was in charge of the Houston field office and a former assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District. He did not return a telephone call seeking comment on whether he is currently interested in the U.S. attorney post. Neither did Susan Strawn, a former DOJ attorney who now is an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center. Strawn ran as a Democrat for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals this year but was defeated in the Nov. 4 general election.
"It's common when you make a strong showing in a statewide election, you get an appointment," says Susan Hays, a Dallas solo who formerly was chairwoman of the Dallas County Democratic Party. "And she's got a long career in the Department of Justice." Harris County Democratic Party chairman Gerry Birnberg could not be reached for comment.
Several lawyers are being touted as possible replacements for U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton in the Western District of Texas.
"I love my job as U.S. attorney, and I will continue to do my job the best I can until I am no longer U.S. attorney," says Sutton, who declines to discuss his future plans. Sutton says he will serve out his term, which ends next year "or until the next president of the United States says 'thank you very much' or a new person is confirmed."
One possible contender for Sutton's job is San Antonio City Attorney Michael Bernard, a former Bexar County first assistant DA.
"That would be a pretty cool position," says Bernard, who has not inquired with congressional officials about the job. "Certainly any lawyer would consider it and be flattered by it."
Another lawyer mentioned for the post is Travis County Attorney David Escamilla.
"I certainly am flattered to be mentioned and certainly I'm going to talk to people in the community and leadership to see what would best serve their needs," Escamilla says. "I can't speak to any of the details. It's still all very preliminary. These things are best handled by the incoming administration."
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Pitman of Austin is being mentioned as a contender for the post, too. Pitman is a former Department of Justice attorney and was the chief assistant U.S. attorney in charge of the Western District's Austin office before taking the bench.
"I can tell you this: I love the job I have, but it's certainly an honor to have your name mentioned for such an important position," Pitman says.
In the Eastern District, most of the lawyers who could be in the running to replace U.S. Attorney Becky Gregory are from Beaumont. Tammy Reno, who serves as the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District in the Plano office, declines to comment on whether she is seeking the job. Gregory did not return a telephone call seeking comment.
One contender has held the post before: Bob Wortham. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush each appointed Wortham U.S. attorney for the Eastern District, a job he held from 1981 to 1993. Wortham subsequently became a partner in Beaumont's Reaud, Morgan & Quinn before he was elected to the 58th District Court bench in Beaumont in 2006 as a Democrat.
"You never say never, but I sure am happy where I am," says Wortham.
Keith Giblin, a U.S. magistrate judge in Beaumont who formerly was an assistant U.S. attorney in charge of the Eastern District's Beaumont office, also may be a possible candidate.
"I've got a great position now, and it's early in the process," Giblin says. "It's something I'd have to think about and discuss and go from there."
