Opinion

A court case trial watchers are sure to follow

Susan Reed went from judge to district attorney, but lost re-election in 2014 to Nico LaHood. Now, she has been appointed to preside over a capital case that will be prosecuted by LaHood’s office. Here, then-Judge Reed adminsters the oath of office to Judge Patrick Boone. less Susan Reed went from judge to district attorney, but lost re-election in 2014 to Nico LaHood. Now, she has been appointed to preside over a capital case that will be prosecuted by LaHood’s office. Here, ... more Photo: Express-News File Photo Photo: Express-News File Photo Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close A court case trial watchers are sure to follow 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A 2015 capital murder case that has been under the radar as it makes its way through the criminal justice system just got a bit more interesting.

Former District Attorney Susan Reed was appointed this month to preside over the case of Brian Flores in Bexar County’s 187th District Court.

It’s Reed’s first bench assignment in Bexar County since losing her bid for re-election for district attorney to Nico LaHood in 2014.

It is uncertain what role LaHood will play in the case.

“District Attorney LaHood personally participates in the prosecution of every capital murder case. At this time, a decision has not been made whether or not he will be involved in the courtroom proceedings in this case,” was the email response from his public information officer about the matter.

Since losing her re-election bid, Reed, a former judge of the 144th District Court, has been presiding in cases outside Bexar County.

Reed was offered the case because Steve Hilbig will be retiring at the end of the month, and lawyers on both sides of the case were pushing to expedite hearings on motions and wanted a trial date set.

Fourth Judicial Region Administrative Judge Sid Harle said the former district attorney was the best qualified candidate for the Flores case, noting Reed’s extensive experience as a trial judge and prosecutor.

Former judges who volunteer to serve as visiting judges get to limit the scope of their appointments, the newly appointed administrative judge said. Some judges only want to preside over civil or criminal cases, some only want cases in county court or district court, or to sit for a limited number of days a month. There are a limited number who are qualified to preside over a capital murder case in which the death penalty is a possibility.

Retired District Judge Ray Angelini is one of the rare judges who is open to a variety of assignments. He could have taken the capital murder case, but Harle said he did not want to lose Angelini from the rotation because of his versatility. Another eligible judge commutes to San Antonio court dates, and a third considered a good candidate for the job chose not to preside in capital murder cases.

Harle said he sees no problem with the district attorney’s former political foe presiding over a case. LaHood also stated he had no problems with Reed’s appointment.

Trial is set for Jan. 8.

Flores, 35, is charged with capital murder in the shooting deaths of Joshua Rodriguez, 18, and Victoria Dennis, 17.

Police were summoned to an apartment complex in the 1200 block of Patricia Drive on Sept. 29, 2015, by Dennis. Rodriguez was dead when police arrived, and Dennis died later at University Hospital.

“Family members told police that Rodriguez received threats via Facebook because of an alleged sex tape involving a female not identified in the (arrest warrant) affidavit. The female denied that there was a sex tape, saying it was only a photograph, but that her boyfriend did not threaten Rodriguez,” the Express-News reported.

The legal community is sure to watch this case closely as it goes to trial, not so much for the witness testimony but for the behavior among the officers of the court.

The last time LaHood was involved in a high profile murder case, it resulted in a mistrial.

Defense attorneys Mark Stevens, Joe D. Gonzales and Christian Henricksen alleged LaHood threatened to destroy their law practices and careers if they brought up a sexual relationship between a prosecutor and a key witness in the case.

Those allegations later resulted in a court hearing, during which LaHood denied making the threats and State District Judge Lori Valenzuela testified he had.

Incumbent district attorneys always seek a sure-win, high profile case going into campaign season. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out as LaHood, a Democrat, makes his bid to win his party’s nomination in the spring primary for an opportunity to seek re-election.

gpadilla@express-news.net