| |
Laurie English, 112th District Attorney, announces for re-election
Laurie English, 112th District Attorney, announces her intent to run for re-election. English took office January 1, 2005. The 112th Judicial District is comprised of Crockett, Pecos, Reagan, Sutton and Upton Counties.
Born in San Angelo, Texas, English lived in McCamey as a young child. She attended public schools in Fort Stockton, graduating from Fort Stockton High School in 1981. She is the daughter of Larry and Nancy Lay. English is a 1997 graduate of San Angelo State University and she graduated from Texas Tech School of Law in December 1999. English has been a resident of the 112th Judicial District for 37 years and has lived in Ozona since 1989.
Laurie has been married twenty-five years to Lyndon, who owns Adios Wrecker Service in Ozona. They are blessed with two sons, Logan, who serves in the United States Air Force and is currently stationed in Iraq; and Layne, who attends Texas Tech University.
"The District Attorney's statutory duty is to 'see that justice is done, not just to convict.' Justice can be accomplished in many ways. No two cases are alike and it is important that each defendant and offense be evaluated on its own merits. Wrongdoers need to be held accountable for their crimes and to the victims they create. I am committed to doing my best to see that justice is done in every case."
English serves the District as a full-time prosecutor, with no private practice. Early in 2005, English requested and legislation passed into law that made the 112th District Attorney's Office part of the Professional Prosecutors' Act. District Attorneys under the Act are prohibited from having a private practice. "This District is geographically large (encompassing more than 200 miles of Interstate 10) and it is important to me that prosecution is my primary professional focus."
English has also implemented some important changes to provide law enforcement with more efficient assistance by the DA's office. She utilized forfeiture funds to purchase digital cameras for every officer in the District. Forfeiture funds were also used to send law enforcement officers to special schools across the country and to provide training within the District for law enforcement in drug interdiction and DWI investigation. "I intend to continue working closely with our great law enforcement officers to improve their investigative skills and provide them with equipment that benefits both law enforcement and prosecution."
Since taking office, English has increased the number of jury trials within the District. Jury trials have been conducted in all five counties and English and her staff strive to resolve old cases and move new cases toward completion.
Cases tried since January 2005 include a capital murder, drug possessions and sexual assaults.
|
