Mary Lou Keel
Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2
Sept. 2016
HBA Judicial Preference Poll
Keel overwhelmed the Democrat incumbent in the Houston Bar Association's Judicial Preference Poll 609 to 297.
Full results can be found here.
Jan. 2016
HBA Judicial Qualifications Poll
Keel out-polled the Democrat incumbent, earning more "well qualified" votes by a margin of greater than two to one in the Houston Bar Association's 2016 Judicial Qualifications Poll.
Full results here.
2015 HBA Judicial Evaluation Poll
In the Houston Bar Association's 2015 Judicial Poll, Keel was rated most outstanding among her peers in the following areas:
Follows the Law
Rules Decisively and Timely
Demonstrates Impartiality
Works Hard and is Prepared
Full results can be found here.
Endorsements
C Club of Houston
Spring Branch Republicans
Texas Alliance for Life
Llano Tea Party
Spring Tea Party
Kingwood TEA Party
Texas Patriots PAC
The Texas Conservative View
Houston Realty Business Coalition
United Republicans of Harris County
Ed Emmett
Harris County Judge
Hon. Aaron Pena
Former member, House of Representatives
Michael McCloskey
State Republican Executive Committeeman, Senate District 5
Sen. Joan Huffman
Senate District 17
Rusty Hardin
Rusty Hardin & Associates
Tom Phillips
Baker Botts; former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice
Terry Yates
Defense attorney for David Daleiden
Dan Cogdell
Defense attorney for Sandra Merritt
Carolyn Hodges
Past president, TFRW
Jan Ott
TFRW Deputy President, Region II (personal endorsement)
Bob Shults
Past president, Greater Houston Pachyderm Club
Stuart Schwartz
Scott Hulse Law Firm
Bradley Smith
Retired district court judge
Gary Cutler
Hays County Sheriff
Lt. Chris McDonald
State Republican Executive Committeeman,
Senate District 6
Stanley Schneider
Schneider & McKinney
Troy McKinney
Schneider & McKinney
Colleen Barnett
Realtor, Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan; former chief prosecutor, 232nd District Court
Kris Allfrey
The Legal Wizards, Inc.
Chris Daniel
Harris County District Clerk
Larry Finder
Baker & McKenzie; former US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
Don J. DeGabrielle
Chaffe McCall, LLP; former US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
Becky Berger
State Republican Executive
Committeman, Senate District 18
John B. Holmes, Jr.
Retired, Harris County District Attorney
Gilbert Villarreal
Houston attorney
Kent Hance
Hance Scarborough, LLP
Stephen Tyler
Victoria County Criminal District Attorney
Dan Hedges
Porter Hedges, LLP; former US Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
Steve Radack
Harris County Commissioner, Pct. 3
Lee Hon
Polk County Criminal District Attorney
J.T. Edwards
State Republican Executive Committeeman, Senate District 11
Bryan Goertz
Bastrop County Criminal District Attorney
David Riddle
Senatorial District Seven Chairman
Johna Stallings
First Assistant, Victoria County Criminal District Attorney
Lynda and John Greer
John F. Greer and Associates
Brett Ligon
Montgomery County District Attorney
Mike Goldman
State Republican Executive Committeeman, Senate District 21
Shelly Pritchard
State Republican Executive
Committeeman, Senate District 9
Marvin Clede
State Republican Executive
Committeman, Senate District 17
Janet Jackson
State Republican Executive
Committeeman, Senate District 22
Mathew Walbeck
State Republican Executive
Committeeman, Senate District 27
Hector DeLeon
DeLeon & Washburn
Gail McConnell
Assistant District Attorney
Kari Allen
The Choice of Law Enforcement
Judge Keel has been endorsed by the following law enforcement organizations:
* Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas
* Coalition of Police and Sheriffs
* Dallas Police Association
* Harris County Deputies' Organization
* Houston Police Officers Union PAC
* San Antonion Police Officers Association
* Texas Municipal Police Association
Commentary
Keel "continues to bring a zeal for the law to her work. We recommend Keel, who will bring new enthusiasm to the job."
San Antonio Express News, Oct. 18, 2016
"Keel would be tough to beat in almost any judicial race and is a no-contest choice in this one."
Dallas Morning News, Sept. 18. 2016
Keel's experience "would serve Texans well on the Court of Criminal Appeals."
Bryan-College Station Eagle, Feb. 20, 2016
"Judge Keel’s extensive experience in criminal law and her judicial record are stellar, making her the clear choice for the bench she seeks. ... Judge Mary Lou Keel is an exemplar of the type of judge Kingwood TEA Party supports for our Texas courts, and we are proud to endorse her for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2."
Kingwood TEA Party, January 30, 2016
"The Queen of Qualifications, Mary Lou Keel is ready to rise"
Bob Mabry, Courts and Writing, December 19, 2016
Keel "has earned a earned a reputation for being one of Houston's fairest judges."
Houston Chronicle editorial, October 17. 2006
With Julie Turner, President, Texas Patriots PAC
With Harris County CommissionerSteve Radack
"Mary Lou is uniquely qualified to serve on Texas' highest criminal court. Her decades of criminal trial court experience and years of experience as a trial and appellate prosecutor will serve the public well."
John B. Holmes, Jr., retired Harris County DA
"Anyone that practices law in her court knows she's the best at what she does. We need her on the higher court to promote justice."
David M. Stiller, solo practitioner
"Mary Lou is a no-nonsense judge; firm, fair and impartial. She is hard working and demands the same of the attorneys who practice before her. When I tried two death penalty cases in her court, I knew she would give the defendants a fair trial. This is extremely important in every case but especially so in a case where the State is asking the jury to assess the death penalty."
Colleen Barnett, Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan; former chief prosecutor, 232nd District Court
With Kent Hance
"Mary Lou's criminal law expertise and appellate background, combined with her tenure as a felony trial court judge, make her an ideal candidate for the State's highest criminal court."
Brett Ligon, Montogmery County DA
"Judge Keel puts the law above politics."
David Disher, attorney, Schulenburg, Texas
With SREC Committeeman Mike Goldman
"Judge Keel deserves the highest consideration given her history of consistent, fair, impartial, and studious committment in jurisprudence as a judge."
J.T. Edwards, SREC Committeeman, SD 11
"Judge Keel has always ruled fairly and considered both sides, which is all you can ask of a judge."
Pete Justin, defense attorney
With Lee Hon, Polk County Criminal District Attorney
"[Y]ou, over all other candidates, have demonstrated those traits and talents which most closely mirror the concerns and efforts of the members of our Law Enforcement organization."
Burt Springer, C.O.P.S., Local 911
"I've known Judge Keel since we were prosecutors together over 25 years ago. She is a highly ethical, by-the-book judge who knows and follows the law. She will be a tremendous asset to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals."
Terry Yates, Terry W. Yates & Associates
"I have known Judge Mary Lou Keel for almost 30 years. I first met her as an Assistant District Attorney where she was a tough, but fair prosecutor. As a lawyer having appeared in front of Judge Keel for more than 20 years, I have found her to be knowledgeable, straightforward and very well informed. Her experience and expertise make her uniquely qualified to serve on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals."
Dan Cogdell, Cogdell Law Firm, PLLC