(Seguin) — A state district judge is seeking another term in office. William “Bill” Old is seeking re-election for Judge of the 25th Judicial District. Old hopes to again pick up the Republican nomination during the March 3 Primary Election.
Old says it’s been his honor and privilege to serve the people of Guadalupe, Gonzales, Lavaca and Colorado Counties and wants to continue moving the courtroom forward.
“Well, there’s things that I haven’t accomplished still. In the past seven years, we’ve been successful. Just this last legislative session getting a new district court. That goes into effect Jan. 1, 2021. That is to primarily have civil cases because we have had a 38 percent increase in the civil cases since I’ve been on the bench. I want to help the new judge come on board. They are going to be appointed by the Governor. I worked hard. I drafted the legislation for that. I appeared before the commissioners court — got them to endorse the idea — and so I’m feeling vested in that. That’s also going to free up a lot of my time. I won’t be doing as much civil. I will continue to do some civil but there are some things that we need with respect to specialty courts primarily a felony veterans court. We have a misdemeanor veterans court and a mental health court. I think those are needs that we have in the county and I would like to see those come to fruition,” said Old.
Old was first elected in 2012 following a three-way race in that year’s Republican Primary and runoff. Without a Democrat in the race, Old was sworn in the following January. He is now currently serving his second term as judge.
Old says he not only has the experience but has already demonstrated a proven track record of carrying out the law.
“I do tell people a lot of times you don’t know who your district judge is and quite honestly, you don’t want to know who your district judge is because we hear felony cases. We hear civil cases, family law cases. My experience is what matters in this case. I’ve been a lawyer and a judge for 32 years. I’ve was a trial lawyer for 25 years doing both civil as well as criminal cases prior to taking the bench. You need that experience being in court on a daily basis. Since being on the bench, I’ve resolved 10,000 cases. I’ve had thousands of hearings between my lawyer days and my judge days, I’ve tried over or presided over that many and so I’m very hardworking and very aggressive in getting the dockets under control and we’ve done a great job in the last seven years getting the dockets under control,” said Old.
Old believes understanding the law is just as important as understanding the everyday lives of those who come into his courtroom.
“One of the things is just being able to be a good listener. I don’t always agree with one side or the other. Obviously, I have to make a decision one way or the other but I let people have their say in court. I realize and I understand that a lot of times, that’s that one person’s day in court and they just want to be heard and while I may not agree with them and I may not rule in their favor, I do my best to let them be heard and let them say their peace and so I think that’s an important skill. I have good days and bad days just like anybody else but I keep an even keel and even demeanor — they call it judicial temperament — for all cases and I’m complimented frequently on the fact that I do listen well. I make informed decisions and that I listen to the parties and their attorneys,” said Old.
Over the past six and a half years, he says he’s not only provided fair and impartial justice but has worked well with those throughout the various counties.
“The key is the experience. It really is and 32 years of experience says a lot and again, it’s 32 years in the same areas and in the same types of cases that are practiced in my court on a daily basis. I could go on and on about the experience and I have the temperament and like I said I work well in all four of my counties with the staff in those four counties,” said Old.
Old faces challenger, Jacqueline Phillips Ott, a Guadalupe County prosecutor for the position. Old and Ott are the only two candidates appearing on the ballot.
The Republican Primary Election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3. The winner of the primary election would essentially earn the position as there are no candidates for the state district judge position on the Democratic ballot in November.