THANK YOU!

We made it a close race.  Of the 406,240 votes cast in our race, we lost by only 2,988.  This margin was one of the closest of all of the judicial races in Dallas County.

I'm proud of the way we ran our race.  And, I'm proud of you.  You provided me with a tremendous amount of support.  I have told you how humbling it is to receive your endorsements, your contributions, and your prayers.  That feeling is truer now than ever. 

We left nothing on the table.  We worked hard for the last 11 months meeting people throughout the county and making our case.  We ran a campaign with integrity and honor.  There is nothing to be ashamed of.

Congratulations to my opponent.  I wish him well.

I also want to publicly thank my wife and my son.  They have been tremendous.  Running a campaign is tough on a family.  Campaign commitments required me to be away from the house many evenings and my wife took on additional responsibilities without any reservation.  I am looking forward to a normal household routine and celebrating my son's one year birthday in a couple of weeks.

Thank you for all that you provided to the campaign.  God has blessed me with your friendship and I hope that I represented you well, even though the election did not go the way we would have liked.

Thanks again, and may God bless each of you. He has so richly blessed me and my family with you.

Sincerely,

Gene Roberts

My name is Gene Roberts and I'm running for judge of the 44th District Court in Dallas County, Texas.  I want to earn your support in the election on November 2, 2010.

Judges in Texas are elected by the public, and the 44th District Court Judge will be elected by voters in Dallas County this November.  Elections require judicial candidates to work hard to educate the public about the candidate and the office.  I hope this website will accomplish both of those purposes.

I have had the opportunity to work in a mid-sized law firm, a global law firm and as a solo practitioner.  My clients have ranged from individuals to international companies who have engaged me to file lawsuits for them and to defend them when they were sued.  While I believe strongly that the court system in this country is the absolute best in the world, I also believe that parties to a lawsuit should make every effort to engage in self-determination in resolving their disputes.  That is why, for the past three years, I have been active in mediation and alternative dispute resolution.

The role of judge is a sacred one where the holder of the office recognizes the important power granted by the people.  Judges should not use their position for their own personal gain, instead, a judge should act with humility and reverence for the office.  This campaign will be conducted in accordance with the Judicial Election Creeds. 

Follow campaign developments on this site, on Facebook, and on Twitter.  On behalf of myself, my family, and all those who are supporting me, I say, "thank you," with the deepest sense of gratitude for your support this November.

- Gene Roberts

Dallas Morning News Recommends Gene Roberts

Click here to read the full article in the Dallas Morning News website or continue reading below.

"Think of this as a race between a conflict-resolution specialist and someone whose constant companion is controversy. Which one belongs presiding over a courtroom? Republican Gene Roberts, an experienced business litigator and mediator, strikes us as having the calm demeanor and businesslike focus that the 44th Civil District Court needs after four years under the incumbent Democratic candidate, Carlos Cortez.

Roberts, 41, hasn't been a judge, but what he offers is 12 years of experience as an SMU-educated lawyer trained in conflict resolution. One way to reduce the overall cost of our legal system is to keep potential litigants out of the courtroom to begin with, and in that regard, Roberts has the clear edge over Cortez.

Cortez, 40, a graduate of Texas Wesleyan, certainly has improved his court's efficiency, bringing a cost-per-disposition average of $182 in 2007 down to $124 in 2010. He is confident and unquestionably smart, but his penchant for conflict undermines public confidence in his court. The Dallas Bar Association's 2009 judicial poll gave Cortez unusually low marks across the board – especially for impartiality and judicial temperament.

He has a reputation for partisanship, bullying and displays of temper – exemplified by at least two major controversies that made news in 2009, including an avoidable physical altercation with another judge. Perhaps most illustrative of Cortez's lack of self-awareness: When asked whether in hindsight he might have conducted himself differently in either case, Cortez said no, describing his actions as provoked by the flawed conduct of others.

Where Cortez is sharp and confrontational, Roberts is smooth and measured. Roberts strikes us as someone who knows how a judge should behave."

Courtesy of The Dallas Morning News