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PETER SAKAI

Texas GOP candidate denounced for repeatedly calling Asian American opponent ‘Dr. No’

A coalition of Asian American advocacy groups is condemning the reference made by a Republican Bexar County judge candidate against her Japanese American Democrat opponent during a candidate forum earlier this month. At the Deputy Sheriff’s Association candidate forum on Oct. 10, Trish DeBerry was debating against her political opponent, Peter Sakai, over a county jail issue when she referred to him as "Dr. No," a pop culture reference that the Asian American Alliance of San Antonio (AAASA) has deemed racist. “And we will have better conditions at the jail and my opponent, 'Dr. No' – he said nothing about these issues,” DeBerry, a former Precinct 3 county commissioner, said.

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DeBerry claims attorney Thomas J. Henry, head of ad agency behind ‘dark money’ attack ads in county judge race

Trish DeBerry, a former county commissioner and public relations specialist, cited “multiple sources” tying Henry and Bob Wills, the head of the PM Group, to the “dark money” sponsor of recent television attack ads against her, Friends of Bexar County LLC. DeBerry also accused the Democratic candidate Peter Sakai of “lying” about not having anything to do with the negative ad campaign.

Judges divided on extension of jury trial moratorium in Bexar County

SAN ANTONIO – The moratorium on jury trials ordered in March over concerns about the spreading of COVID-19 will end on Dec. 31. The decision on whether to extend the moratorium is up to Local Administrative Judge Ron Rangel. “We know that we are in a current surge of COVID cases.”Jury service resumption in Bexar County gets closer lookSeveral judges in the criminal, civil and misdemeanor courts at the Bexar County Courthouse are anxious to begin conducting in person jury trials. “I believe that we should consider resuming jury trials on a case-by-case basis,” County Court 11 Judge Tommy Stolhandske said. Stolhandske also noted that Harris and Kendall counties have already resumed in-person jury trials.

Bexar County judge proposes new specialty court amid domestic violence case spike this year

SAN ANTONIO Citing an 18% spike in domestic violence cases this year, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff wants to include funds for a special Protective Order Court in the countys budget. It provides them with an associate new judge, court manager, program assistance and crime advocates, all the back-up support system they need to have the court work, Wolff said. Senior Civil District Court Judge Peter Sakai praised the creation of the Protective Order Court. This was the countys side of putting in its contribution on the prevention and the fight against domestic violence, Judge Sakai said Wednesday. Hopefully, this will help stem the tide of domestic violence, Wolff said.

Civil district courts in Bexar County prepare to reopen after months-long closure

SAN ANTONIO After closing in mid-March amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Bexar County courts complex will reopen next week, according to District Court Judge Peter Sakai. Were probably 60-to-70(percent) capacity of what we were hearing, Sakai said. Were easily back on, and all 14 judges are hearing cases remotely.But like their criminal court counterparts, the civil judges are facing a big problem. Bexar County criminal district courts operating under new orderWe have a backlog in the sense of responding to attorneys who are asking for in-person hearings," Sakai said. He said he is optimistic about reopening since remote hearings will continue to be an option for resolving civil matters.