Wednesday, Nov. 9 was a special day for the Bonham Rotary Club. They had as their guests and program Chief Justice Josh R. Morriss III and Justice Bailey C. Moseley of the 6th District Court of Appeals in Texarkana. Both judges told of their duties and responsibilities of their jobs serving the people of their district.
There are only 14 courts of appeal districts in the State of Texas. There are 3 judges in the 6th District which are the 2 who gave the program and Justice Jack Carter.
They stated that their job consists of 2 things: finding the truth and doing justice. Some misunderstandings about their court are that they are part of the judicial branch, not the executive nor legislative branch of Texas government. They do not set policy. They are not a court of last resort, but are the intermediate court. They are not a trial court. They are a state court, not a federal court, therefore they are on the state pay scale and not the federal pay scale.
In their endeavor to find the truth and do justice they must follow rulings the higher courts make and must follow the law. They must uphold 4 things: 1) U. S. Constitution, 2) State of Texas Constitution, 3) Statutes from the legislature and rules, and 4) case law. Their cost to the State of Texas is 1/3 of 1% and is one of the most time efficient appellate courts in Texas.
The meeting was attended by many guests of the Bonham Rotarians. The Bonham Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 12:00 noon at the Family Life Center.
(L-R) Chief Justice Josh R. Morriss III, Fannin County Criminal District Attorney and Rotarian Richard Glaser, and Justice Bailey C. Moseley