Larry Joe Doherty
| Larry Joe Doherty | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 29, 1946 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation | attorney, judge, TV show host |
| Years active | 2001-2005, as host of Texas Justice TV program |
| Spouse(s) | Joanne, 1960s-present |
Larry Joe Doherty or LJD (born July 29, 1946) is a Texas legal ethics attorney and former television star of the syndicated courtroom show Texas Justice. He was the Democratic candidate for the 10th Congressional District of Texas in 2008, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Republican Michael McCaul. Born in Hillsboro, Texas, Doherty is married to Joanne Doherty.
Doherty received a J.D. (Juris Doctor) from the University of Houston in 1970. He is a member of the Houston Bar Association and the State Bar of Texas. Doherty is a senior partner in the Houston law firm Doherty, Long & Wagner. Doherty specializes in legal malpractice cases.
Doherty is considered a pioneer in the field of legal malpractice, making a name for himself as the lawyer who sued other lawyers. He built a highly successful practice holding other attorneys accountable for misrepresenting their clients. As a senior partner in the law firm of Doherty, Long and Wagner, Larry Joe specialized in legal malpractice, because, as he explains, "people need to believe that the rule of law applies equally to everyone - and that no one, no matter how powerful, is beyond being held accountable for their actions."
Doherty and his wife Joanne have endowed a Chair on Ethics at the University of Houston Law Center.
Doherty starred in the show Texas Justice from 2001–2005. The court show is currently in syndication. Doherty judged cases in the show, making legally binding decisions. The series lasted for 4½ seasons, from March 26, 2001 until May 20, 2005. It was officially cancelled in September 2005.
Doherty's style on the show drew a contrast with other TV court shows that emphasize conflict between parties. Instead, Doherty was known for focusing on the root causes of the personal conflicts and emphasizing the importance of litigants to accept responsibility for their actions. According to a piece in Slate by Virginia Heffernan, "In his questioning, he looks for signs of affection and agreement.... He orchestrates things so that each case imparts a small emotional lesson ("be kind," "lighten up")." A 2009 commentary on Texas Justice states, "Judge Larry Joe’s appeal lay in his accent, his double entendres, his ear for the rhythm of people’s speech, his ability to rhyme on a dime, and the way he gently poked fun at the litigants. His lack of actual judicial experience might explain why ruling on the cases was not his strong suit."
...
Wikipedia