In the last edition of The Prosecutor, I mentioned the newly elected board members. But I forgot one: Nelson Barnes, an assistant DA in Belton, will be taking over for Catherine Babbitt of San Antonio as the Assistant At Large. Nelson had been off our radar for awhile only because he was in Afghanistan. I am confident that his service on our Board will be much less, let’s say, exciting, than his experiences “in country.” Thanks, Nelson, and not just for serving on our board.

I have bragged about our TDCAA website before. We are also mighty proud of the weekly case summaries you get by e-mail. (If you don’t get them now, go to www.tdcaa.com today and sign up!). And we have a great legal assistance team:  research attorney Sean Johnson and law clerk Emily Sitton.

In 2008, we will enjoy the leadership of David Williams (CA in San Saba) as our Chairman of the Board, and Bill Turner (DA in Bryan) as our President. In addition, the membership elected new executive committee members and regional directors: Barry Macha (CDA in Wichita Falls), President-Elect; Scott Brumley (CA in Amarillo) Secretary-Treasurer; Cheryll Mabray (CA in Llano), Region 3 Director; Chuck Rosenthal (DA in Houston), Region 5 Director; Elmer Beckworth (DA in Rusk), Region 6 Director; and Elizabeth Murray-Kolb (CA in Seguin), Region 8 Director.

Way! Judy Bellsnyder, who has been a meeting planner for TDCAA for 10 years but part of the TDCAA family for more than 20 years, hung up her rooming lists and banquet orders on August 15. Judy’s immediate plans are to take care of grandkids, Claire, age 9, and Ally, age 31⁄2.