SAN ANTONIO -- A local law enforcement group on Thursday challenged the judicial record of San Antonio mayoral candidate and former Judge Phil Hardberger.

During a news conference, a spokesman for the Deputy Sheriff's Association of Bexar County questioned Hardberger's decision to overturn 20 murder and sexual assault convictions while he was chief justice of the 4th Court of Appeals.

"The opinions he wrote overturned the convictions of child molesters (who) had their day in court, that the jury of their peers found them guilty and should be sent to prison," said Hector Garcia Delgado, an association member.

But Hardberger defended his decisions, saying he was not soft on crime when he was on the bench.

"My job was to uphold the laws of the state of Texas and the constitution of the United States and I did that," Hardberger said.

Hardberger, who is facing a June 7 runoff against Councilman Julian Castro, said the group is only looking at a small percentage of 3,700 cases he ruled on.