Michelle Mangum-Merendino for 253rd Judicial District Court LIBERTY, January 7, 2010 - After prayerful consideration and encouragement from the community, I am pleased to announce my candidacy for Judge of the 253rd Judicial District Court.

I am a lifelong resident of Southeast Texas. My husband, Jared, is a Math teacher at Hull-Daisetta High School. We have three wonderful children. I graduated from Hull-Daisetta and worked my way through college, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Houston, Clear Lake. I worked as a tax manager for Clear Channel Communications prior to graduating Summa Cum Laude (top 1%) from South Texas College of Law. At South Texas I was an editor of the Law Review and worked on the preparation of federal and state appeals.

I am the first female attorney to begin her legal career as a sole practitioner in Liberty County and the first woman candidate for District Judge in Liberty County. Throughout my fourteen-year career, my work ethic and diverse experience have prepared me for service as a judge. My legal career encompasses both civil and criminal law, including juvenile law, family law, child protective services litigation, criminal defense, mental health law, probate law, tort law, real estate law, and bankruptcy law. I have tried cases in 12 Texas counties, including Chambers and Liberty. I have served as president and vice president of the Liberty County Bar Association.

I strongly believe that an individual’s ability to take his or her legal matter before a fair and impartial tribunal is essential to preserve the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution. Without open and fair courts, our freedoms cannot be protected. Liberty and Chambers counties need impartial judges who are committed to the letter of the law in every case.

I have filed as a Republican candidate because I believe in conservative principles. My opponent changed parties for political reasons, citing the preference for Republican officials in Chambers County in his Christmas Eve announcement. If elected, I won’t let political expediency guide me … and I won’t taint Christmas with politics.