Raymundo Aleman defies the televised stereotype of the ostentatious, histrionic lawyer. Dressed in a brown and khaki suit and olive tie, Aleman is unobtrusive and restrained, except for a left leg that tends to jiggle when he's enthused about an issue.

The issues that get him jumping: economic injustice and oppressive drug laws. As the Libertarian candidate for district attorney and a criminal defense lawyer, he's up against a Texas Criminal Justice System that houses 150,000 prisoners, the most of any state. In the November 5 general election he will battle Republican incumbent Susan Reed -- the Democrats haven't fielded a candidate -- for the right to set the tone of the Bexar County justice system.

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