Qualifications
What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?
Having been a prosecutor, defense attorney, professor, and court attorney with broad jury trial and appellate experience, I’ve seen the system from all sides. I will work for just and fair rulings.
Ethics
How will you ensure your rulings remain impartial and free from both political pressure and the interests of your campaign donors?
Judges must perform their duties without bias or prejudice, yet those who are not wealthy must raise money to campaign for office—often from lawyers who practice before them. The system needs to be reformed. Only a small number of my donations came from lawyers that practice in this court. I will recuse from any case where I served as counsel or where there is any possibility of bias or prejudice.
Equity
What barriers prevent Texans from accessing the court system, and what can courts do to reduce those barriers?
The judicial system is complicated and intimidating. Lawyers are expensive yet self-representation is not a good option for most. The appointment system in criminal cases can lead to overloaded lawyers and inadequate representation. Poor and minority litigants are disproportionately impacted. A crucial first step is to sufficiently fund indigent legal and interpretation services.
Precedent
What factors should the Court of Criminal Appeals consider when deciding whether to change a past court ruling?
Following past rulings promotes stability and helps ensure that litigants with similar facts are treated fairly. When deciding whether to change a ruling, the court should consider the impact of new laws and high court cases, protection of constitutional rights and freedoms, the extent other courts have relied on the ruling, and its workability. The court should not act merely due to disagreement.
Philosophy
What is your judicial philosophy?
I am dedicated to upholding a justice system that is: independent, impartial, and not beholden to special interests; grounded in the constitution and the rule of law; free of bias based upon race, sex, religion, or other unconstitutional factors; respectful of due process and other constitutional rights; and fair, just, and compassionate to litigants, victims, and others before the court.
