Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
'AC' Stands by Endorsement Though Error Was Made
RECEIVED Fri., Oct. 22, 2004
Dear Mr. Black,
While we respect your right to endorse whomever you choose, we wanted to point out some inaccuracies in your depiction of Justice Bob Pemberton that appeared in your last edition ["Endorsements," Oct. 15].
You indicate that Justice Pemberton was appointed off of Gov. Perry's staff. That is simply not true. At the time he was appointed, Bob was senior counsel with our firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. He was our Texas appellate specialist. He successfully spearheaded appeals in the Texas Supreme Court and several courts of appeals, as well as advising trial teams in complex litigation in the event of an appeal in many high profile cases.
In addition, Bob was named to the prestigious Texas Supreme Court's Rules Advisory Committee, comprised of 50 of the best lawyers, judges, and legal experts in the state.
Although there was no discussion of community service in your article, you should also know that Justice Pemberton was elected by his peers in Austin as the president of the Austin Young Lawyers' Association, during which time he focused his efforts on helping the youth in our community through such award-winning programs as "Aspiring Youth," "College for a Day," and many others. These programs were very well received by the schools and the children alike.
While we respect your right to endorse whomever you choose, we wanted to point out some inaccuracies in your depiction of Justice Bob Pemberton that appeared in your last edition ["Endorsements," Oct. 15].
You indicate that Justice Pemberton was appointed off of Gov. Perry's staff. That is simply not true. At the time he was appointed, Bob was senior counsel with our firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. He was our Texas appellate specialist. He successfully spearheaded appeals in the Texas Supreme Court and several courts of appeals, as well as advising trial teams in complex litigation in the event of an appeal in many high profile cases.
In addition, Bob was named to the prestigious Texas Supreme Court's Rules Advisory Committee, comprised of 50 of the best lawyers, judges, and legal experts in the state.
Although there was no discussion of community service in your article, you should also know that Justice Pemberton was elected by his peers in Austin as the president of the Austin Young Lawyers' Association, during which time he focused his efforts on helping the youth in our community through such award-winning programs as "Aspiring Youth," "College for a Day," and many others. These programs were very well received by the schools and the children alike.
Sincerely,
Edward F. Fernandes
Edward F. Fernandes
[News Editor Michael King replies: Edward Fernandes is correct; we should have described Gov. Perry as Pemberton's "former boss" rather than his "then boss." After serving as the governor's deputy general counsel, he was briefly senior counsel at Akin Gump, until Perry appointed him to a vacant seat on the 3rd Court of Appeals. The Chronicle regrets the error, but otherwise we stand by our endorsement of Diane Henson.]
