Carl Reynolds, administrative director of the Texas Office of Court Administration, marks his last day at OCA

Carl Reynolds (pictured), administrative director of the Texas Office of Court Administration, says today is his last day at work, and he plans to play a round of golf tomorrow to celebrate his retirement.

On April 16 he starts work as a senior legal-policy adviser with the Justice Center at The Council of State Governments, a national nonprofit with an Austin office. He also will be collecting an annuity and pension for 27 years of state service. His new office is just two blocks from the OCA, where he’s worked since 2005.

“I’ve been mostly excited about the new gig and having two incomes. . . . But I’ve been experiencing kind of a backlash of emotion this week,” Reynolds says, noting he feels “sadness” at leaving a “great group of people.”

Reynolds says in his tenure he’s most proud that the OCA: helped create the Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families to address child abuse and neglect issues; is collaborating with other governmental entities to address access-to-justice issues for the poor; and launched successful information-technology projects including, among other things, an appellate court electronic-filing system and an automated registry database, so judges can research litigants’ criminal backgrounds and other information.

Starting Monday, OCA general counsel Mena Ramon will be interim director until the Texas Supreme Court hires a new permanent administrative director.

“We’re very happy for Carl. He’s been in state government a very long time. He’s moving onto a new chapter in his life. But we’re very sad to see him go. . . . [H]e expanded our horizon and helped us grow as an agency and as individuals,” she says.

Ramon says Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson and other justices are already interviewing applicants. Reynolds notes that he expects the court to name his successor sometime in April.

Jefferson didn’t immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.

-- Angela Morris

Comments

[Rose moorefield]

Iam a concerned grandmother I was raped several times back in the 60s and I thought things had changed but I guess not because my Granddaughter was forced to have sex buy a boy that she thought was a friend he was 17 and she was14 and to my understanding in the state of Texas the Mother can charge him of statgetory rape and they put my Granddaughter through all kinds of things and said the state would pay the bill and haven't and said she had a good case and 6month later didn't do anything and the boy got away with not having to do anything and I beleave justice was not served does that mean that just because you have someone that works in the police department their family member can get away with anything ? Just a very councern Grandmother and I really believed what the shireffs told me that the law has change since years ago but Justice was not served and I don't like him dring real slow in front of my house very concern...and I do hope we can get a DA in the office that will put a stop to this happying to so other little girl ..

[Charles Thielemann]

For what it's worth I believe Mr. Ted Woods is very capable and I believe he would be an excellent replacement for Mr. Reynolds. He has one thing that many Attorney's lack, that is common sense and the desire to help . I also believe he understands the Intnet of the Texas Court System.

[Charles Thielemann]

Reference 82nd Texas Legislative H. B. 79, as relates to it's intent to make the jurisdiction of Statutory Courts at Law more uniform, the real problem is many of the Trial Judges in County Courts at Law and many of the Appeal Court Justices somehow believing that Texas Gov't Code Section 26.043 which limits the jurisdiction of Constitutional County Courts also limits the jurisdiction of Statutory Courts at Law!!!! In my opinion, whether 26.043 limits the jurisdictio of Statutory Courts at Law or not needs to be cleared up once and for all. Also see H.B. 66, 1991.