Qualifications
What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?
Our Court handles business and constitutional appeals. I was an appellate partner at a top business litigation boutique. I am chair elect of the State Bar Constitutional Law section.
Ethics
How will you ensure your rulings remain impartial and free from both political pressure and the interests of your campaign donors?
I take my oath to defend the constitution seriously. A judge has the obligation to rule without fear or favor. I have already developed a strong reputation for impartiality and fairness, even when criticized by powerful interests. Judicial campaign contribution limits are low in Texas. I have donors from both parties and divergent interests who believe in my ability to fairly interpret the law.
Equity
What barriers prevent Texans from accessing the court system, and what can courts do to reduce those barriers?
Texans often know very little about the legal system. Our court is a new court that many Texans may not know about. I have spoken at many legal and civic functions to inform people about the Fifteenth Court of Appeals and what it does. The judge that I clerked for taught me to personally review pro bono cases and not rely exclusively on staff attorneys to analyze them.
Precedent
: What factors should the Court of Appeals consider when deciding whether to change a past court ruling?
Factors include the constitutional soundness of the prior ruling, the workability of the prior ruling, and whether there have been any sweeping changes in technology that might not have been accounted for in the prior ruling.
Philosophy
What is your judicial philosophy?
I am a textualist. I believe that words have meaning, and that meaning can be interpreted from statutory context and tools like dictionaries. My role is to call balls and strikes. It is not to rewrite the law to suit my policy preferences.
