Changes

In 1989, Governor Clements in his second nonconsecutive term appointed Berchelmann as the first Republican to serve on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in more than a century. Berchelmann was defeated the next year in his bid for a full term on the appeals court. In the same election, the Democrat [[Ann Richards]] won the governorship over Republican Clayton Wheat Williams, Jr. (1931-2020) Berchelmann later said that his loss was a "blessing" because he found that he preferred district court trial work to sitting in three-judge panels for appeals. The Court of Criminal Appeals has since become all Republican.In the 1992 [[general election]], Berchelmann was elected judge of the Texas 37th District Court in Bexar County, having narrowly unseated the Democratic incumbent, Ann-Marie Cerda Aaron, 187,681 votes (50.6 percent) to 183,588 (49.5 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 3, 1992.</ref>

In 1989, Governor Clements in his second nonconsecutive term appointed Berchelmann as the first Republican to serve on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in more than a century. Berchelmann was defeated the next year in his bid for a full term on the appeals court. In the same election, the Democrat [[Ann Richards]] won the governorship over Republican Clayton Wheat Williams, Jr. (1931-2020) Berchelmann later said that his loss was a "blessing" because he found that he preferred district court trial work to sitting in three-judge panels for appeals. The Court of Criminal Appeals has since become all Republican.In the 1992 [[general election]], Berchelmann was elected judge of the Texas 37th District Court in Bexar County, having narrowly unseated the Democratic incumbent, Ann-Marie Cerda Aaron, 187,681 votes (50.6 percent) to 183,588 (49.5 percent).<ref>Texas Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 3, 1992.</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; material no longer on-line}}</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|publisher=scjc.state.tx.us|accessdateFebruary 14, 2010; material no longer on-line}}</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/>