For Immediate Release
December 14, 2007

Travis County District Attorney Ronald Earle today released the following statement:

Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle announced today that he would not seek re-election.

“I want to thank the people of Travis County for entrusting me with the responsibility of this office to see that justice is done. At the end of my term we will have had a 32-year partnership, because doing justice is the job of the community itself.

“If a candidate for district attorney comes forward whose election would in my judgment best serve the interests of this community I will be free to make my opinion known.

“I can only say that I have learned from my service over the decades that the first, last, and most important responsibility of the district attorney is to put the interests of the children first.

“As long as that can be done, I am confident that the district attorney will be fully capable of sorting out everything and anything else that needs to occur in order to see that justice is done. That’s because the bottom line of this job is that if it doesn’t lead toward justice for the children, it is not justice at all.

“This has been for me the best job in the world and I am grateful to the voters of Travis County for this rich and wonderful opportunity and these experiences for all these years.

“I want to thank my splendid staff, and especially First Assistant District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, for making the success of this office over these decades possible.

“There are particular cases pending that are enormously important to this State, this country, and democracy itself. If they are not resolved during the forthcoming last year of my term I will offer my assistance on those matters on a pro bono basis to my successor.

“I look forward to whatever the future may bring.

“I have no specific plans, other than to not go gently into that good night.”

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