Larry Joe Doherty
Encyclopedia
Larry Joe Doherty or LJD (born July 29, 1946) is a Texas legal ethics attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...

 and former television star of the syndicated courtroom show Texas Justice
Texas Justice
Katherine Levine a now Broadcasting Professor at Montclair State University, was the Producer and creator of the show.Texas Justice is a syndicated television program in the U.S. In the program, cases were judged by Larry Joe Doherty, and the program was recorded at the studios of Fox station KRIV...

. He was the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 candidate for the 10th Congressional District of Texas in 2008, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 Michael McCaul
Michael McCaul
Michael Thomas McCaul, Sr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches from Austin to Houston.-Early life, education and career:...

. Born in Hillsboro, Texas
Hillsboro, Texas
Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Hill County in Central Texas. The population was 8,232 at the 2000 census.Hillsboro, located on Interstate 35 where I-35E and I-35W meet south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, is the primary center for trade and commerce in Hill County...

, Doherty is married to Joanne Doherty.

Legal career

Doherty received a J.D. from the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...

 in 1970. He is a member of the Houston Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas. Doherty is a senior partner in the Houston law firm Doherty, Long & Wagner. Doherty specializes in legal malpractice
Legal malpractice
Legal malpractice is the term for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, or breach of contract by an attorney that causes harm to his or her client...

 cases.

Doherty is considered a pioneer in the field of legal malpractice
Legal malpractice
Legal malpractice is the term for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, or breach of contract by an attorney that causes harm to his or her client...

, making a name for himself as the lawyer who sued other lawyers. He built a highly successful practice holding other attorneys accountable for misrepresenting their clients. As a senior partner in the law firm of Doherty, Long and Wagner, Larry Joe specialized in legal malpractice, because, as he explains, "people need to believe that the rule of law applies equally to everyone - and that no one, no matter how powerful, is beyond being held accountable for their actions."

Doherty and his wife Joanne have endowed a Chair on Ethics at the University of Houston Law Center
University of Houston Law Center
The University of Houston Law Center is a law school located in Houston, Texas. It is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1947, the Law Center is one of 12 academic colleges of the University of Houston...

.

Television show

Doherty starred in the show Texas Justice
Texas Justice
Katherine Levine a now Broadcasting Professor at Montclair State University, was the Producer and creator of the show.Texas Justice is a syndicated television program in the U.S. In the program, cases were judged by Larry Joe Doherty, and the program was recorded at the studios of Fox station KRIV...

from 2001–2005. The court show is currently in syndication. Doherty judged cases in the show, making legally binding decisions. The series lasted for 4½ seasons, from January 2001 until it was canceled in September 2005.

Doherty's style on the show drew a contrast with other TV court shows that emphasize conflict between parties. Instead, Doherty was known for focusing on the root causes of the personal conflicts and emphasizing the importance of litigants to accept responsibility for their actions. According to a piece in Slate
Slate (magazine)
Slate is a US-based English language online current affairs and culture magazine created in 1996 by former New Republic editor Michael Kinsley, initially under the ownership of Microsoft as part of MSN. On 21 December 2004 it was purchased by the Washington Post Company...

 by Virginia Heffernan
Virginia Heffernan
Virginia Heffernan is an American journalist. In March, 2011, she began to write regularly about digital and pop culture for the Opinion pages of The New York Times. She is also known as a television critic for The New York Times, and as "The Medium" columnist at The New York Times Magazine. In...

, "In his questioning, he looks for signs of affection and agreement.... He orchestrates things so that each case imparts a small emotional lesson ("be kind," "lighten up")." A 2009 commentary on Texas Justice states, "Judge Larry Joe’s appeal lay in his accent, his double entendres, his ear for the rhythm of people’s speech, his ability to rhyme on a dime, and the way he gently poked fun at the litigants. His lack of actual judicial experience might explain why ruling on the cases was not his strong suit."

2008 Congressional campaign

On April 4, 2007, Doherty announced his candidacy for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

 for the Tenth Congressional District
Texas's 10th congressional district
Texas District 10 of the United States House of Representatives is a congressional district that serves the northwestern portion of the Greater Houston region stretching to the Austin area of Texas...

 of Texas, the seat currently held by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 Michael McCaul
Michael McCaul
Michael Thomas McCaul, Sr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches from Austin to Houston.-Early life, education and career:...

. Doherty entered the race after McCaul's relatively low 2006 win percentage against Democratic opponent Ted Ankrum. The district had been designed to be safe for Republicans, but the Austin Chronicle
Austin Chronicle
The Austin Chronicle is an alternative weekly, tabloid-style newspaper published every Thursday in Austin, Texas, United States. The paper is distributed through free news-stands, often at local eateries or coffee houses frequented by its targeted demographic...

 noted:
Now, here we are five years down the road from Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...

's infamous re-redistricting of Texas. DeLay is gone from Congress, disgraced. Nationally, voters swept the Republican "permanence" away in 2006. Even DeLay's seat is now held by a Democrat, one of the very politicians whose career he tried to end. And here in Austin, another of those supposedly safe seats is under serious threat.

Doherty's challenge generated intense interest among Texas and national political observers, as a seat previously thought to be "safe Republican" looked increasingly competitive. However, Doherty first had to survive the Democratic primary.

Democratic primary

Doherty decisively defeated primary challenger Dan Grant
Dan Grant
Dan Grant is an international affairs consultant based in Austin, Texas.Grant grew up in Austin and graduated from McCallum High School. He graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. with a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service...

 on the March 4, 2008 primary, with 61% to 39% out of 85,000 votes cast.

During the primary, Doherty was criticized by supporters of his primary opponent because his campaign treasurer, Houston philanthropist Jim "Mattress Mac" McIngvale, had participated in a fundraiser for Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...

's presidential campaign. Doherty used the criticism as an opportunity to point out his political independence. "I'm not going to be anybody's rubber stamp, and my treasurer is free to support anybody he wants to," Doherty said. "This is an independent country, last time I checked."

Campaign message

Focusing on his own record in legal ethics, Doherty's critique of McCaul focused on the incumbent's association with former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...

. One mail piece highlighted McCaul's vote to change House ethics rules in a way that would have allegedly benefited DeLay. Doherty's campaign also aired a television ad titled, "The Code," attempting to tie McCaul to the unfolding financial crisis by highlighting McCaul's Wall Street contributions and his vote against capping CEO salaries.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSUnoHwVRSc

McCaul refused to face Doherty in a debate setting. According to the Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...

, "McCaul, an Austin Republican representing the district that includes a chunk of northwest Harris County, steadfastly refuses to debate his Democratic opponent, a colorful lawyer who once served as judge on the TV series Texas Justice." The Austin American Statesman provided three possible dates to McCaul's campaign, which were rejected. Doherty and McCaul are believed to have only met once during the campaign, at a Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
The Houston Chronicle is the largest daily newspaper in Texas, USA, headquartered in the Houston Chronicle Building in Downtown Houston. , it is the ninth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States...

 interview.

The Statesman later endorsed Doherty's candidacy, citing McCaul's refusal to debate.http://www.offthekuff.com/mt/archives2/2008/10/012662.html

National Democratic support

Doherty's strong fundraising efforts and closing polling numbers elevated the race's national profile. Originally considered "Safe Republican" and a long shot at best for a Democratic challenger, the respected Cook Political Report
Cook Political Report
The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan online newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the United States House of Representatives, the United States Senate, Governor's offices and the American Presidency. The Cook Political Report is led by a staff of five...

 eventually upgraded the race over time to "Leans Republican." In mid-October, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...

 (DCCC) designated the district a member of its "Red to Blue" program, directing additional funds and national support to Doherty's campaign. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...

 also recorded a robocall
Robocall
Robocall is a term for an automated phone call that uses both a computerized autodialer and a computer-delivered pre-recorded message. The implication is that a "robocall" resembles a telephone call from a robot...

 urging support for Doherty.

Iraq quote controversy

In October 2008, McCaul supporters criticized Doherty's controversial comments on the Iraq War in an interview with the Austin Chronicle
Austin Chronicle
The Austin Chronicle is an alternative weekly, tabloid-style newspaper published every Thursday in Austin, Texas, United States. The paper is distributed through free news-stands, often at local eateries or coffee houses frequented by its targeted demographic...

 that, "We've killed children for oil [in Iraq]." An Iraq War veteran, James Crabtree, criticized Doherty's comment in a letter, in online postings, on various radio programs, and eventually organized a protest at the Doherty for Congress campaign office. Doherty's statement produced a stern response from various veterans, Vets for Freedom
Vets For Freedom
Vets For Freedom is an American political advocacy organization founded in 2006 by veterans of the Iraq and Afghan wars. Its stated purpose is advocacy of victory in America's ongoing War on Terrorism, and support of candidates with positions consistent with this goal. Vets For Freedom is a...

, and Gold Star
Gold Star Mothers Club
Shortly after World War I the American Gold Star Mothers Inc. was formed in the United States to provide support for mothers who lost sons or daughters in the war. The name came from the custom of families of servicemen hanging a banner called a Service Flag in the window of their homes. The...

 parents that felt his quote was akin to calling troops "baby killers" during the Vietnam War. They called on Doherty to apologize or explain his remarks. Doherty and his campaign never responded to this controversy.

Television show controversy

Attempting to generate press late in the campaign, Doherty's opponent McCaul recycled attempts by supporters of Doherty's primary opponent to insinuate Doherty was racially insensitive. McCaul's campaign released a series of clips from Doherty's show, Texas Justice, claiming Doherty mocked African-American participants. Also, Doherty was endorsed early in his campaign by the Black Austin Democrats and the Houston Black American Democrats, and independent polling showed Doherty with a 7-to-1 advantage over McCaul among African-American voters.

Doherty's campaign spokesperson responded, “He gets a great response to it. People still identify him with it and they truly loved watching that show. What he always worked to do through each episode was to let people know what they did wrong and that there’s hope.” And one entertainment reviewer directly refuted McCaul's attack:

But, the criticism of a political opponent that he mocked African-Americans on the show was entirely undeserved. When it came to mocking litigants, Larry Joe was equal opportunity all the way.
Ironically, McCaul's use without permission of material from a blogger who supported Doherty's primary opponent led to McCaul's website being blocked from the Internet.

Election results

Doherty lost to McCaul by a 54% (179,493) to 43% (143,719) margin with the Libertarian
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...

, Matt Finkel, taking the remainder of the votes. McCaul won majorities in six of the eight counties in the district and overcame Doherty's 77,043 votes (60%) in liberal Travis County by running up 98,122 votes (68%) in the conservative northwest portions of Harris County
Harris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...

.

Doherty failed to join former illustrious actors Ben "Cooter" Jones
Ben Jones (US)
Ben Lewis Jones is an American actor, politician, playwright and essayist, probably best known for his role as Cooter Davenport in The Dukes of Hazzard. Jones was elected to be a member of the United States House of Representatives in 1988 and re-elected in 1990. He served for four years, until Jan...

 and Fred "Gopher" Grandy
Fred Grandy
Fredrick Lawrence "Fred" Grandy is a former actor best known for his role as 'Gopher' on the sitcom The Love Boat and who later became a member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Iowa...

 in going from acting to a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Instead, he joins Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...

 and Noble Willingham
Noble Willingham
Noble Henry Willingham, Jr. was an American television and film actor.-Career:Willingham had appeared in more than thirty feature films, including Harry's War , Up Close and Personal , City Slickers , The Last Boy Scout , City Slickers II , Ace Ventura: Pet Detective , Chinatown...

 in the ranks of actors that failed to win their House campaigns.

Doherty would be named by the Austin Chronicle
Austin Chronicle
The Austin Chronicle is an alternative weekly, tabloid-style newspaper published every Thursday in Austin, Texas, United States. The paper is distributed through free news-stands, often at local eateries or coffee houses frequented by its targeted demographic...

as the "biggest loser" for the fact that he received more votes than nine other candidates that won their congressional elections.

Continued political activism

In December 2008 Larry Joe Doherty emailed his supporters and pleaded for them to support the runoff election of Chris Bell
Chris Bell (politician)
Robert Christopher "Chris" Bell is a Democratic Party politician. He last served as a one-term congressman in the United States House of Representatives from Texas's 25th congressional district in Houston from 2003 to 2005 before being defeated in the Democratic primary by Justice of the Peace Al...

 for a Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...

 area state senate seat. Doherty stated that, "I'm asking you to make a difference in another important battle: Chris Bell for Texas Senate.... This is the last battleground of 2008, and Chris’s victory is important to all Democrats and Texans who want change in Austin.... My friend Chris is the type of Democratic leader Texas needs -- a true visionary who will fight for real reform in the Texas Senate." Bell would earn only 43% of the vote and lose the election on Tuesday, December 16, 2008.

Doherty organized the South Central Texas Water Conservation Conference at Brenham, TX on October 3, 2009 under the auspices of the Texas Wildlife Association.

On August 10, 2009, Doherty publicly endorsed Jack McDonald's Democratic candidacy for McCaul's congressional seat.

Environmentalism

Larry Joe Doherty is a former president of the Washington County Wildlife Society and a former board member of the Texas Wildlife Association, as well as a past member of the Texas Quail Council, an official advisory group to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Doherty maintains the "Long Star Ranch," near Brenham, Texas
Brenham, Texas
Brenham is a city in east-central Texas in Washington County, Texas, United States, with a population of 16,147 according to the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...

, as a 270 acres (1.1 km²) wildlife habitat and native grass restoration project.

External links


The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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