Qualifications
What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?
I bring 20+ years of criminal justice experience, including six years as a Criminal District Judge, nearly a decade as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, and work as a correctional officer.
Ethics
How will you ensure your rulings remain impartial and free from both political pressure and the interests of your campaign donors?
My oath as a judge comes before any campaign contribution or political pressure. Every person who comes before me deserves a fair and impartial decision based on the law and the facts. Campaign contributions do not buy access, influence, or favorable rulings. That has been my standard on the bench, and it will remain my standard on the Court of Criminal Appeals.
Equity
What barriers prevent Texans from accessing the court system, and what can courts do to reduce those barriers?
A person’s ability to understand and participate in the criminal justice system should never depend on income, language, or circumstance. Courts can reduce barriers by ensuring timely access to qualified interpreters and counsel and by making court procedures and legal rights clear and understandable. Meaningful access to justice means understanding the process and being heard.
Precedent
What factors should the Court of Criminal Appeals consider when deciding whether to change a past court ruling?
Precedent provides stability and consistency in the law, but a prior ruling should not stand simply because it came first. The Court should consider whether the original ruling got the law right, whether the law has changed, how it has worked in practice, and the consequences of overturning it. Precedent deserves respect, but so does the Court’s responsibility to correct the law when necessary.
Philosophy
What is your judicial philosophy?
My judicial philosophy is simple: follow the law, be fair, and treat every person with dignity and respect. Justice should never depend on who you are, or who you know. A judge must be impartial and consistent, while never losing sight of the people affected by each decision. The law must guide the outcome, but fairness, sound judgment, and humanity should guide how justice is administered.
