Changes

One of Berchelmann's most visible cases was in 2009, when as 37th District judge he was named "special master" over an  ethics hearing involving Court of Criminal Appeals Chief Justice [[Sharon Keller]] of [[Dallas]]. He told ''The San Antonio Express-News'': "None of it's ever easy. ... We affect somebody's life."<ref name=saen/> Berchelmann ruled that "there is a valid reason why many in the legal community are not proud of Judge Keller's actions." However, he said that she had violated no law or ethical rule, and recommended no further sanction against her "beyond the public humiliation she has surely suffered".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scjc.state.tx.us/pdf/skeller/MastersFindings.pdf|title=Special Master's Findings of Fact|accessdateFebruary 14, 2010}}</ref>

One of Berchelmann's most visible cases was in 2009, when as 37th District judge he was named "special master" over an  ethics hearing involving Court of Criminal Appeals Chief Justice [[Sharon Keller]] of [[Dallas]]. He told ''The San Antonio Express-News'': "None of it's ever easy. ... We affect somebody's life."<ref name=saen/> Berchelmann ruled that "there is a valid reason why many in the legal community are not proud of Judge Keller's actions." However, he said that she had violated no law or ethical rule, and recommended no further sanction against her "beyond the public humiliation she has surely suffered".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scjc.state.tx.us/pdf/skeller/MastersFindings.pdf|title=Special Master's Findings of Fact|accessdateFebruary 14, 2010}}</ref>

Berchelmann remained on the 37th District Court until January 2013. He did not seek a sixth term in 2012. A Democrat, Michael Mery, defeated Art Rossi, who had been unopposed as the Republican nominee to succeed Berchelmann. Mery polled 267,338 votes (54 percent); Rossi, 227,401 (46 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 6, 2012.</ref> In 2013, as he stepped down, Judge Berchelmann advised new judges: "Be open-minded and be as fair as [you] possibly can. Just listen. There's less black and white the longer you've done this."<ref name=saen/>

Berchelmann remained on the 37th District Court until January 2013. He did not seek a sixth term in 2012. A Democrat, Michael Mery, defeated Art Rossi, who had been unopposed as the Republican nominee to succeed Berchelmann. Mery polled 267,338 votes (54 percent); Rossi, 227,401 (46 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 6, 2012.</ref> In 2013, as he stepped down, Judge Berchelmann advised new judges: "Be open-minded and be as fair as [you] possibly can. Just listen. There's less black and white the longer you've done this."<ref name=saen/>

After he left the bench, Berchelmann joined the law firm of Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee,  in which he maintains a mediation practice. He is also a visiting judge on call. Berchelmann is a past president of the Catholic Lawyers Guild and has served on the boards of St. Mary's University Alumni Association, the Downtown San Antonio [[YMCA]], Alamo Kiwanis International, and the St. Mary’s Youth Drop-In Center.<ref name=bio/>

After he left the bench, Berchelmann joined the law firm of Naman, Howell, Smith & Lee,  in which he maintains a mediation practice. He is also a visiting judge on call. Berchelmann is a past president of the Catholic Lawyers Guild and has served on the boards of St. Mary's University Alumni Association, the Downtown San Antonio [[YMCA]], Alamo Kiwanis International, and the St. Mary’s Youth Drop-In Center.<ref name=bio/>

   

   

Upon his death, Berchelmann will be interred at the Texas State Cemetery in [[Austin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?pers_id=6090|title=David Adolph Berchelmann|publisher=cemetery.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 4, 2015}}</ref> His father and grandfather are interred at San Fernando Cemetery No. 2 in San Antonio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSfn=&GSmn=&GSln=Berchelmann&GSbyrel=all&GSby=&GSdyrel=all&GSdy=&GScntry=4&GSst=46&GScnty=2534&GSgrid=&df=all&GSob=n|title=Berchelmann

Upon his death, Berchelmann will be interred at the Texas State Cemetery in [[Austin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?pers_id=6090|title=David Adolph Berchelmann|publisher=cemetery.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 4, 2015}}</ref> His father and grandfather are interred at San Fernando Cemetery No. 2 in San Antonio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSfn=&GSmn=&GSln=Berchelmann&GSbyrel=all&GSby=&GSdyrel=all&GSdy=&GScntry=4&GSst=46&GScnty=2534&GSgrid=&df=all&GSob=n|title=Dr. David Berchelmann, Sr.|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 30, 2020}}</ref>

title=David Berchelmann, Sr.|publisher=findagrave.com|accessdate=July 30, 2020}}</ref>

==References==

==References==