WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5,2009 ——~ wwwlubbackoniine, ‘om Medina leaves bench for city LUBBOCK/State district judge takes job as city attorney Judge Sam Medina Lubes en Tues hed Sate Ostict ge Somber oe ine VELUOTTaLAcraLaN tote. Too Tesh Senet sehr ei 1e78 een te eb Sara ecg Stato District Judgo Sem Medina, a jurist with doeadorof trial experience fn attomey and frem behind the bea, ‘vill become. Labbosks lly attorney Teter this AIL ina surprise. hire that erter ey mise Alce Bagtit Curch ane came together vituin the past week. ‘Medina, #9, il Isave the 27th Sate Dis ‘eit Courthe eonductedfor13year, ruling on eave that include a stillongoing legal ‘hallenge ty ety aleoholondinaaees ‘The spb opportunity hed come up ‘quickly, he sald — he was formally ap proached last week But he liked the ea of « new challeage waiting when he ‘aris work Oct 1, ond ran through the INOTHER BUSINESS, Libbock City CCourcilapproveda land purchase to buld ar animalsretter PAGE BT ‘ong is of Fea issues that can entansle adit, "Looked down there and sai, dort think, theres anything there that Tm afraid of" Mediaa said. ‘SEE MEDINA, PAGE A7NEWS © wwebocrkeninecam MEDINA: Evx-judge should be busy at city ig riteer a " east named ae inter lonty of work witod at city city altorney® during the hall He works well ale ‘pressure and soarch to the fill the position Sone wes familar, Medina Burgess left last fall. Neither granieg a restraming order he's not casily flustered, He's not jateram wanted the fulltime ‘apis essed aeohel per 4. oh nits sought by Liquor retailers enor i Don Vendiver, who worked indune i case gonsigered ty easily persuaded, either. for Lubbock for 97 of the 38 all sides resolved but still open 4 years he spent as a lawrer, in the jacge's court, a stepped in soon afier Burgess edna said Tuesday the case Tommy Turner let vas nol a conflict, Neither side Lubbock attomey Vandiver served longer than contacted had objections — the expected as the city searched, Store owners could drop the oul aliomey Bill Barriger in a judge. His background would and stepped down in June for case early next week primary baitle to take the 237th make him a good diplomat end heslth. rexsons. Mitch. Sa ‘ell have had muck le District im 1098, swell suited to working with « terwhite, another assistant with other, bigger eases le spent almost two decades city council and Lubbock attor- city atiomey who has worked the city following his graduation from neys, hesaid, for Lubbock for five years, re- ‘Years of litigation against a the Texas TechSchool of Lawas Medina said he didn’t feel ceived a bump in pay to lead former insuranee carrier, whis- atrial lawyer, and mach ofthat like he was escaping work as a the department when council pers of a fedoral investigation time partnered with Lubbock judge. appointed him in early July. ‘anid miles of prop- attorney Torumy Turner “Tdon' really see tas leeving "Even couneil members. ex- erty transactions Tumer, 61, said Medina was that behind, but as coming into pressed some surprise Tues- MG along a vital water a good friend and a skillful another challenge,” Medina day aftor hiring Medina. City Gq pipeline trom a speaker who won over juries said “I'm looking more to gel Manager Loc Ann Dumbaald ba city reservoir have with ease. on the front line of litigation.” said-she had ‘tested the wa- ap © lar outlasted “Everything you want to have He takes over an office facing ters” in June and then asked 7 ¥ two interim city Ina persuasive speaker, hehas some uncertainty, along with last week ifhe wes interested. ee ome: ity Tumer said the workload, and couneil will "Phat was kind of a long. “Tthini he's go- "Tumor romembered two. look to the litigator to reshape shot,” she said. ing to work alot more as a city tough capital murder cases Me- it. Balt Medina liked the oppor autorney than asa judge,” Coun- dina took despite a despicable Council members have eriti- tunity, and the council seemed cilwoman Linda DeLeon said. client in one and community cited both Lubbock’s use of pleased to find a loval hire for ‘Medina will carn more, too, outrage that he would defend outside altorneys and the size the position Lubbock will pay the new city’ another. of the city attorney stall. The "We have absolute con. attorney 8210.40 with ao ben- Medina workedthroughdeath department once bad more dence in your ability to be a its threats and unruly clten's, than 10 attorneys — on tues top rate ailomey for this cl" ‘The salary sits $18,000 below Keeping one from the death day; ithad five Marlin told Medina as he an- the salary and bonefits Lub- ponalty azd winning another’ He said Tuesday he favored nounced the hire. “We looked Dock peid former city attorney his eedom, limited use of outside attor oat of towa for many, rin Anita Burgess ut vell above "He works well under pres- neys and growing more expe- many months, aud ve found the maximum $145000 annual sire anc he’s not easily flus- rience inside the city. But he the person that is right for the salary the state and county pays ered. He's not easily persuad- was impressed with the work job here in Lubbock, Texts,” administrative state distriet ed, either,” Turner sad of the eurrent staff and would judges Tie believed Medina had ac- need time to understand Toconmenconi sor Medina was a county court complished what he wanted to how the office might need to etuttciamatetovornes 975 572 of law judge before edging cccomplish as a siaie district change, he said. rreteurateakeeacarines 6755475