[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 114 (Friday, August 2, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ROBERT PELTON

                                  _____
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 2013

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity 
to recognize the remarkable career and outstanding community 
involvement of a great Texan, devoted public servant and my good 
friend, Robert Pelton. It is an honor for me to recognize Robert, not 
only for his numerous professional accomplishments and many 
contributions to our Houston community and the great state of Texas, 
but also for his service to our country.
  Robert and I met many years ago while I was working in the Harris 
County District Attorney's Office as a prosecutor. Our friendship may 
have seemed unlikely as Robert, a criminal defense attorney, was more 
often than not defending the people I was prosecuting. Even though we 
were on opposing sides, there was a mutual admiration among us that to 
this day, has not wavered. I am grateful to call Robert a friend.
  Robert's humble nature comes from his small town roots and strong 
patriotic upbringing in Abilene, Texas. As a child growing up in West 
Texas, Robert had a passion for reading. The books Robert read made 
Texas history come alive and his fascination with Texas legends and 
lawyers took root. He began to notice how folks less fortunate were 
mistreated and taken advantage of in his small town. So, at the young 
age of 14, he made up his mind to become a great lawyer, like the 
heroes he read about in his books. Robert still likes classic old west 
movies about good guys and outlaws.
  His West Texas roots taught him that his word was his bond. He lives 
by that character trait.
  Like many honorable men, Robert wanted to serve our nation and 
enlisted with the Texas Army National Guard. He trained as a combat 
infantryman, a job that is not for the weak of heart, with the 36th 
Infantry Division. After honorably serving from 1966 to 1972, Robert 
was discharged with the rank of Sergeant (E-5). Still determined to 
become a lawyer, Robert enrolled with South Texas College of Law after 
graduating from McMurry College in Abilene. During law school, he 
served as Chief Prosecutor of the Honor Court and as a Justice on the 
Honor Court. And the rest is history.
  During his internship with the famous attorney Jim Skelton, Robert 
worked on a case where Mr. Skelton represented David Owen Brooks--a 
defendant in the largest mass murder case in the United States at the 
time. After helping with this case, Robert realized that his calling 
was to defend those accused of crimes.
  Since May 1975, Robert has represented numerous people during his 
legal career. Of all of his clients, a highlight in Robert's legal 
career was representing the late Marvin Zindler, as his personal lawyer 
for over 30 years. Marvin Zindler was known for his consumer 
reporting--on ABC News on channel 13--one of the first in the business 
to do so--letting the unsuspecting public in on the down and dirty 
dealings of local businesses throughout Southeast Texas. Marvin was a 
fighter for the little man and defended those who were swindled or 
scammed--seeking retribution the best way he knew how, with a bright 
light, an all-seeing camera lens, and a television audience. It makes 
sense that Robert represented this local legend.
  Robert's extensive knowledge of the justice system and his incredible 
work ethic earned the respect of his colleagues in the law profession. 
Over 50 of Robert's felony criminal cases have resulted in no-bills due 
to the Grand Jury Defense presentations that his team worked on. In 
2012, he helped prove a wrong man had been arrested, which resulted in 
another capital murder case being dismissed. The impact of Robert's 
work is far reaching.
  Over his career, Robert has maintained a strong focus on ethics and 
has received numerous accolades. He is the Founder and Chairman of the 
Ethics Committee for the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and 
the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association. In 2011, he recognized 
a need for criminal defense attorneys to have access to an ethics 
hotline and urged the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association to 
create one. In addition, Robert has been named by H-Texas Magazine as 
one of Houston's Best Criminal Defense Lawyers each year from 2004 to 
2010 and as well as one of Houston's ``Top Lawyers for the People'' 
each year from 2004 to 2010. In 2012 and 2013, Robert received the 
President's Award from the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association 
in recognition of his excellent work during those years. In addition to 
these honors, Robert has recently been named by the College of the 
State Bar of Texas as the recipient of the Jim D. Bowmer 
Professionalism Award for 2012. This high honor is awarded annually to 
an outstanding College member based on achievement or contribution to 
professionalism. Robert continues to contribute to the legal profession 
by authoring monthly columns in The Defender and The Voice for Defense 
Magazines. He also serves on the faculty of the Center for American and 
International Law.
  In addition, there are books written about several of his high 
profile cases, including Ashes to Ashes and another book about Pam 
Perillo, who was eight hours away from execution, but because of a writ 
hearing in Federal Court that Robert filed, her life was spared. 
Several of his well-known cases, were documented on national TV 
specials: ``Women on Death Row'' and ``Caught on Camera''.
  As a former prosecutor and then judge, I know how consuming this 
career can be. But, I also know how meaningful and rewarding it can be. 
Robert's innovation, determination and compassion for helping others 
makes him one of the best attorneys in the nation. I am truly blessed 
to consider him one of my dearest friends and am honored to give him 
the recognition that he deserves.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________