This Just In: Dallas County DA Craig Watkins Names Heath Harris As His New No. 2

By Robert Wilonsky Fri., Jul. 1 2011 at 8:15 AM

Heath Harris

Less than a month ago, the Dallas County District Attorney's Office dropped a small bomb shell amongst those who follow courthouse doings: Terri Moore, Craig Watkins's first assistant, and Mike Ware, head of the Conviction Integrity Unit, would be stepping down July 1. At which point, Watkins promised, he'd announce a new second-in-command "in coming weeks." Well, those weeks have come and gone: A missive from Watkins's office just landed in the inbox naming former gang unit chief Heath Harris as the DA's new first assistant.

Harris has a long history with the DA's office, dating back to his first stint there beginning in '96 in the misdemeanor and felony trial divisions; first I heard of him was in 2000, when we ran "the untold story of Dallas' biggest-ever police corruption scandal," in which Harris played an integral role. After that he went back into private practice, only to return to the DA's office in '07 in myriad roles before taking over the gang unit and then moving to the felony division.

"We have been preparing for this transition for quite some time by grooming a number of experienced prosecutors who have demonstrated the necessary skills to resume leadership roles within the office as needed," says Watkins, who also launched a new website this morning. "I took several factors into consideration in making my decision and ultimately selected Heath Harris because of my confidence in his abilities to take over the administrative reigns and continue moving our office forward."

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BF1kim

It is going to be very entertaining

Dallas_joe_schmo

What a bunch of b.s. CW appointed heath because they are frat brothers and not because of any ability on the part of mr harris, who couldn't try a case without screwing it up overthe last 4 years. He ran and lost the nomination for a felony bench and yet has managed to go from a felony court chief to first assistant in unbelievabke span of 4 years. All the while others with lots more experience and a good conviction rate get passes over simply because they are... Well you know,

Gina

Go Mr. Harris....great job!!!!

J. Erik Jonsson

"administrative reigns?"

Bob

Does anyone have access to his Facebook page? I understand posted something there that said he will make a "special announcement" today on his Twitter page.

The end of the day would be a great day to make a special announcement about his career in the D.A.'s office.

Robert Wilonsky

I think this was the announcement to which he was referring. Because I've spent a week chasing the other "special announcement" to which you're referring, I think, and no one seems to think what I think you're thinking. Why, no, that's not vague at all.