Judge Drum to remain in office until end of term
After previously announcing her retirement earlier this year, Van Zandt County District Judge Teresa Drum of the 294th District Court has now decided to remain in office until the end of her term.
Drum released a statement June 29 that she would be retiring from office after 16 years on the bench. She was waiting to hear from the Governor’s office regarding someone to be appointed to fill out the remainder of her term as she could not leave office until someone was appointed to step in.
VZC District Attorney Chris Martin was elected as the new VZC District Judge in a Republican Primary runoff election May 22. There is no Democratic Party opponent in November in that race. Martin is scheduled to be sworn into office as the new VZC District Judge Jan. 1, 2019.
In her latest statement released Sept. 12 rescinding her retirement, Drum said, “I tendered my resignation to the Governor. Because of the rather lengthy qualification process for the appointment of a successor and due to the short period of time until the end of my term, I agreed to continue my service until the end of my term, Dec. 31, 2018. On Jan. 1, 2019, after Mr. Chris Martin is sworn in as the 294th District Court, I will begin private practice with my son, David Spradling.”
Martin also issued a statement Sept. 12 following Drum’s decision to rescind her retirement plans.
“I am thankful that Judge Drum will be fulfilling her term until December,” said Martin. “It is helpful to the DA’s office to have an experienced district judge that is familiar with our county and our county processes in prosecuting cases, so I am thankful that she is going to stay and finish her term.”
Martin said he had no anticipation of seeking the office of district judge prior to his scheduled swearing in on Jan. 1, 2019.
“I wanted to make sure that I was able to fulfill my obligations as DA in resolving some key cases where I have developed relationships with victims who have entrusted their faith in me and I have spent time developing a rapport with them and I have given them my word that I would try to resolve these cases before I left the office of DA,” pointed out Martin.
Martin said that there is plenty of work for him to take care of in the DA’s office before making the transition to VZC District Judge.
“Over the next few months, I will be trying several important cases in hopes of resolving those for the victim’s families,” said Martin.
Martin also discussed his successor in the DA’s office as VZC assistant DA Tonda Curry will be taking over the position of VZC DA after she was elected by the VZC voters in March.
“I want to make sure that I give Tonda Curry as much time as she needs to get ready to take over the DA’s office,” pointed out Martin. “I am thankful that I am able to stay and finish working on some unresolved cases that I have been involved in. I am also thankful that I will have time to work with Tonda Curry and that the DA’s office is fully staffed and that there will be no delay in prosecuting cases.”
Martin said that he has not had any recent conversations with Drum about her decision to finish out her term as VZC District Judge.
“I was aware through an e-mail she sent to me and our regional judge that she was going to finish out her tenure there,” said Martin. “I am not surprised about her rescinding her decision. I know she understands the lengthy screening process that the Governor’s office has to go through to fill vacancies and I think she took all of that into consideration. She has the best interest of the county in her heart.”
Martin expressed his appreciation to Drum for her 16 years of service as VZC District Judge. “I am thankful that she is staying and I appreciate the fact that we have an experienced judge handling criminal cases while I finish my tenure as DA because I know she understands the law and the processes in VZC with inmate housing and the scheduling of cases so it is nice to have her wisdom and experience to lean on for these final few months rather than having to bring in visiting judges.”
In her previous retirement announcement June 29, Drum gave no effective date at that time for her retirement. Her June 29 statement read as follows:
“At least once a week, someone asks me how I like retirement and I have to tell them, first, I’m not retired and second, I’m not going to retire.
“You see those people that ask couldn’t wait to quit work, to relax and work in the garden.
“Me, if I’m going to get up at five in the morning, it will not be for gardening. It will be for something more important, more lasting.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love to sit on my front porch and drink coffee but it would drive me bonkers to do that all day, every day.
“The successor to the 294th District Court has finally been settled and very soon I’ll be stepping down from the lofty bench back into the arena.
“As a judge for the last 16 years, I have been unable to advocate for people. I can’t even give legal advice
“Going from attorney to judge is like going from quarterback to referee so I am stepping back into the arena to defend one of the most important parts of the Constitution, our First Amendment which begins:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridging the freedom of speech…or the right of the people peaceable to assemble…
“The first clause prohibits the government from establishing a religion (including preferring one religion over another or over no religion). A side note: there is no separation of church and state in the Constitution. The second clause guarantees the free practice of religion.
“In July 2016, I obtained my Biblical Counseling certificate from Liberty University. With this additional tool, I’ll also be representing individuals going through divorce, child custody, adoptions and child support enforcements.
“In addition, as a retired Senior District Judge, I will be able to assist the parties in reaching amicable resolutions through mediation.
“And most exciting, I’ll be zealously advocating with my son, David A. Spradling, Esq. in representing individuals who have been injured by the negligence of others. He left a large firm in Houston to practice personal injury law here in East Texas with me.
“Over the last two weeks, the wife of a friend has recently been diagnosed with a debilitating disease and I have attended two unanticipated funerals, one the brother of a very dear friend and the other of a precious child.
“It has brought to mind that none of us knows the number of our days. Jesus’ half-brother James asks ‘How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog, it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.’
“I am ready to begin my new adventure. Thank you again for allowing me to preside over the 294th District Court for these 16 years. It has been an honor.”
