The Collin County Observer™

This is part of a series of interviews of those candidates who are running for elected office in Collin County, Texas. The information in this article is based on materials and interviews provided by the candidate. If you would like to be interviewed by the Collin County Observer, please email your request to bill@baumbach.org.

Barnett Walker, 50, is a candidate for the bench of Collin County Court at Law #2. A seasoned criminal attorney, for both the prosecution and the defense, as well as a decorated military veteran, Walker believes he is the best candidate for judge.

Walker, a Texas native, and a Prosper resident. His wife Jackie, have two children, Barnett (27), and Nicole (26). He is a member of Prestonwood North Baptist Church, the VFW and American Legion. He is active and spends much of his time giving back to the community as a Volunteer for the Special Olympics, Feed the Homeless Shelter, Christian Children’s fund, and the Salvation Army.

A committed Republican, he is involved in many local Republican organizations including the Lincoln Society, Collin County Golden Corridor Republican Women, Collin County Conservative Republicans, and the Collin County Republican Men’s Club, and a delegate for the upcoming Republican convention.

Walker graduated from Carter High School in Dallas Texas. At the young age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He ultimately earned the rank of Senior Master Sergeant, which Congress limits to the top 3% of the armed forces. He served in 12 different countries and is a Gulf War Veteran. He supervised 80 personnel and a $100 million nuclear detonation detection facility, led troops in the Gulf War, was named Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year (selected from 5000), and was decorated 47 times upon his retirement.

During his service, Walker graduated Summa Cum Laude, from Columbia College. He obtained his law degree from Southern Methodist University. He was a member of the moot court team that won the national championship and Walker was named “Best Oral Advocate” which is given to the best Advocate among all of the participants.
After graduating from law school, Walker began his legal career as a prosecutor for the Collin County District Attorney’s Office. While there, he served as chief prosecutor for two courts. He obtained convictions on some of the most challenging and high-profile cases in the office, including Albert Sterling, the Allen resident who hired a hit-man to kill his eight-month pregnant wife and unborn child. He has also worked closely with victims, their families, and law enforcement to incarcerate dangerous sexual predators.

Walker is now in private practice and serves as a criminal defense attorney. As a defense attorney, he has earned a reputation for being a strident advocate to protect the rights of all who are before the court system He has waived his fee for some of his most indigent clients.

In addition to his legal practice, Walker serves as the Mental Health Hearing Judge

Walker has earned the trust of both prosecutors and the private bar. He has been the lead attorney in over 100 criminal cases in Collin County. This, asserts Walker,is a testament to his qualification for this bench. Collin County Courts at Law are over 90% devoted to criminal law. The County Courts of Law are where Walker has and continues to actively litigate criminal cases; and he is intimately familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of these courts. Of all of the candidates, he is the attorney of record on the most criminal cases filed in Collin County. He is familiar with the criminal justice system from top to bottom – from the police stations to the court rooms.

Walker plans to use his knowledge and expertise to provide exceptional service and bring cost savings to the Collin County citizens. Walker states that one way he can save the taxpayers of Collin County money by streamlining the process for admonishing non English speaking defendants.

Walker is proud to have earned the endorsements of many members of the private and defense attorneys as well as the Collin County Conservative Republicans, the Collin County Deputies Association, Frisco Police Association, Plano Police Association, Coalition for Better Government, and Tea Part Approved. The diversity of his endorsements demonstrate, according to Walker, the regard in which he is held and the confidence that citizens have in him as to his ability to be impartial and apply the law to all equally. Walker states that he will apply the law to the facts presented to him. He will not legislate from the bench and will thoughtfully consider and listen to all of the parties to arrive at a fair verdict.

Barnett Walker asks for your vote and believes that he is most qualified for the County Court at Law #2 because he:

• has the most experience practicing criminal law in Collin County;
• has continually practiced in the Collin County Courts at Law and is intimately familiar with criminal law and procedure;
• is currently a mental health judge in the Collin County Courts at Law.
• is a decorated USAF veteran with experience managing a $100 million operation;
• has the endorsements of the Collin County Deputies Association, the Plano Police Association, and the Collin County Conservative Republicans as well as defense attorneys; and
• has ideas and concrete plans to save the citizens of Collin County tax dollars by improving the efficiency of the courts.

For more information about Barnett Walker and his candidacy for CCL#2, please see his website at http://walkerforjudge.com/index.html .