Bittersweet Moment

Today I had a rare privilege. I was able to administer the oath of office to my long time friend and Associate Judge, Georgia Akers.

Georgia and I met in 1996 when we had a case opposite each other. She impressed me then as being very smart and very scrappy, which are character traits that I have always admired in other lawyers, even when they were my opponents or when the appear before me and make my life more difficult.

In 1997 and part of 1998, we were on the campaign trail together. Over the course of the campaign, I got to know her very well. I was very impressed with how we were able to campaign against each other hard, but never dirty. Since I do not believe in negative campaigning, I was impressed that she behaved the same way.

Ultimately, the electorate chose me over Georgia and several other opponents. I asked Georgia to work for me, even though I had some doubts that I could survive on a daily basis with someone whose personality was as similar to mine as is her personality.

I made the right call. Georgia and I have great synergy. We managed to work together very well. I was honored to appoint her as my associate judge several years ago. Judge Akers has done a fine job as an associate judge. We have also become very good friends, which was something that I did not expect, but was overjoyed to have develop. For the last ten years or so, we have shared the ups and down of both our careers and our lives. She and I have been together for the best and worst times in our lives. I have always been able to count on her and she has always been able to count on me. It has been a truly wonderful relationship.

Last week Commissioners Court appointed Judge Akers to fill the vacancy created by the sudden death of my colleague, Judge Russ Austin, late last month. This action is good for her and even better for the people of Harris County. I am honored to have played some small part in developing her abilities as a judge.

However, swearing her in this morning was bittersweet for me. Since I took office in 1999, one of the things that I looked forward to every day was seeing her smiling face when I came in. It is going to take me a while to adjust to the fact that she now will be officing one floor below me.

I guess that I probably will adjust to the new situation in time as I have to all of the changes that have happened to me in life, as Judge Sean Riley, the lead male character in my novel, Good Will Win in the End, managed to adjust to the loss of his first wife. My feelings are quite similar to his at the moment. I say this because I am happy and sad at the same time.

Strangely enough–or maybe not–the mood ring on my Google Toolbar is colored Amber, indicating that I am nervous, on edge and uncertain. While I do not pay any heed to that sort of nonsense, I have to admit that at the moment, the mood ring is describing my mood accurately. 

Georgia, I wish you my best!