Featured Candidate - Scala Byers
My name is Scala D. Byers and I am the republican judicial candidate for County Criminal Court #10. This court is a specialized court which hears only family violence cases.
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
I began my education at Amarillo College in Amarillo, Texas. While there, I was on the Dean’s List for two years, (1980-82), selected as a member of Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges, (1982) and was secretary of the Amarillo College Chapter of Young Conservatives. I graduated from Amarillo College in 1982 and earned an Associate of Science degree in business administration.
In 1982, I transferred to the University of Texas at Austin where I served on the Board of Directors of the UT pre-law association. I graduated in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a major in accounting. Thereafter, I attended Texas Tech University Law School, obtained my Juris Doctor and received my license to practice law in 1987 from the Supreme Court of Texas. While in law school, I participated in mock trial and moot court competitions and was a member of the National Mock Trial Team, (1987), the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Team, (1987), the State Bar Moot Court Team, (1987), and the Texas Tech Interschool Moot Court and Mock Trial Competitions. (1986-87).
After graduating from law school, I moved to Dallas and began working with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office as a prosecutor where I remained for the next five years. During my tenure at the D.A.’s office, I was assigned to the misdemeanor trial division, the felony trial division, the specialized crime division, and the juvenile division. All together, I tried well over one-hundred-and-fifty jury trials as an assistant district attorney.
In 1994, I left the D.A.’s office and started my own practice where I’ve remained for the past fifteen years. I continued practicing in the afore mentioned areas as a defense attorney and expanded my practice to include appellate law and child welfare cases. I have served as a guardian ad litem representing children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect allegations; in addition, I have also represented parents who have had their children removed. I have written many appellate briefs in my career and have been honored to have four opinions published in the South Western Reporter 3d. based on arguments contained in briefs I’ve written.
I chose to run for election to this particular court as I have become deeply concerned about the devastating, generational effects violence in the home produces. If given the opportunity to address this growing problem, I will strive everyday to make a difference with families who live with violence.
