Kent Walston announces for Criminal District Court Judge

A Nederland attorney has announced his candidacy for Criminal District Judge in Jefferson County.

Kent Walston is in private practice in family and criminal defense law. He's running to replace Judge John Stevens who is expected to be named U.S. Attorney.

Walston is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a former Port Arthur Police Department officer, former assistant city manager in Nederland and also served two years as assistant district attorney in Jefferson County.

"We've been planning this for about one year," Walston told KFDM News. "I feel like I have the qualifications to be Criminal District Court Judge. I was a police officer for eight years in Port Arthur. I was a city administrator for 5 years. I've been a lawyer for 11 years. In that time, I've been a prosecutor, a lawyer, an associate judge. The overall experience has covered the criminal justice system from beginning to end."

Walston talked about his goals for Criminal District Court.

"To keep the backlog down and to put serious offenders away. To be tough on crime. We're going to be very tough on crime but temper that with mercy for those people that need it."

The Democratic primary is set for March. The general election is in November.