Patrick sworn in as federal prosecutor
The newly appointed U.S. attorney took his oath of office Monday in Houston, assuming the duties of chief federal law enforcement officer for a swath of Texas that stretches from East Texas to Laredo.
Ryan K. Patrick, 38, a private attorney, former state district court judge and son of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, was long considered the frontrunner for the post. He is new to the federal court system, having submitted his credentials to the federal bar one week before President Donald Trump’s inauguration last January.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal presided over a brief ceremony in her stately, wood-paneled courtroom where formal portraits of current and former judges line the walls. She thanked Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez for his service “despite the uncertainties of the comings and goings” of a predecessor, who was asked to resign by Trump along with other Obama appointees, and a successor, who endured a typical holding pattern during the confirmation process.
Challenges ahead
Martinez stood beside Patrick during the oath while five judges, the clerk for the district, probation officials, several federal public defenders, a couple dozen assistant U.S. attorneys and support staff also watched from the gallery.
None of Patrick’s family members were in attendance. A formal investiture ceremony will likely be held late February or early March, Patrick said.
Referencing an injury that forced her to use a walker, Rosenthal warmed up the crowd by noting that the new U.S. attorney is ready and able.
“Mr. Patrick brings energy, enviable youth ... a strong set of legs and a willing heart to the task that lies ahead,” she said. “It’s never true that a U.S. attorney has an easy path. There are difficult situations, hard issues and challenges. We are by geography, by time, by accidents of history, by politics with the big p and the little p, we’re on the front lines. That puts you in really interesting position.”
Recognizing the seasoned federal court players on hand, she said, “We are ready to assist you and make life harder for you when we should,” eliciting chuckles.
Patrick, in suit with a red, white and gray-blue tie, did not make a statement beyond telling Rosenthal he was ready to begin the oath.
“I’m excited to be back to work for the people of Texas,” he told the Houston Chronicle after the ceremony. “Except for last year, I’ve spent my whole professional legal career in public service, and I was eager to get back to it.”
Patrick said the structure to perform the work before him is mostly in place.
“Nothing needs to be blown up and reinvented,” he said. “This is a great district with great people ... with very interesting challenges, and with the resources and people we have, we’re going to meet every one of those challenges.”
‘An independent judgment’
The position previously held by career prosecutor Ken Magidson handles civil cases and criminal matters amid one of the busiest dockets in the nation. The region includes an international border, a major city and a major port. Magidson noted the federal government touches everything in those sectors.
Magidson, who was not in attendance, explained that the job of chief law enforcement officer calls for a mix of collaboration and administrative judgment.
“He’s going to have to determine the priorities for the office,” Magidson said. “He will make the final decision of what cases get prosecuted and prioritized. He will render an independent judgement, which is always tempered by priorities of the Justice Department and the attorney general.”
Patrick was narrowly defeated in his bid for re-election, making him one of several GOP state district judges swept out of office by Democrats in 2016.
Patrick spent the past year running his own law firm and doing criminal defense work as senior counsel for the firm HooverSlovacek. He was a district court judge between 2012 and 2016, and before that served as an assistant district attorney for Harris County trying narcotics traffickers and illegal pill mill operators. He graduated from Baylor University and South Texas College of Law Houston.
Patrick lives in Houston with his wife and three children.
The Southern District of Texas includes not only Houston, but growing cities including Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo.