Qualifications
What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?
I have served on the Supreme Court since 2018 and as Chief Justice since 2025. My experience, judgment, work ethic, and commitment to the Rule of Law qualify me to continue serving.
Ethics
How will you ensure your rulings remain impartial and free from both political pressure and the interests of your campaign donors?
My oath requires me to support and defend the U.S. and Texas Constitutions and follow the law wherever it leads. The text of the law and the Constitution’s original meaning are my guides. If following the law costs me an election or angers a supporter, so be it. I would rather lose my job than violate my oath. Impartial courts are essential to liberty and justice.
Equity
What role should the Supreme Court play in expanding access to justice for persons or groups who may be underserved?
SCOTEX leads the way in promoting access to justice for every Texan. We’ve developed forms that allow Texans to create basic documents like wills without expensive legal fees. We’ve promoted funding for legal aid programs. And we are always working to make Texas law clearer and simpler so that Texans can know their rights. There is much more to be done, but I am proud of the Court’s steadfast work
Issues
What do you see as the most pressing challenge facing the courts today, and how would you propose addressing it?
Lawsuits should be decided by who is right under the law, not who can better endure the expense and burden of litigation. Too often, costs keep injured plaintiffs from court or force innocent defendants to settle. We should make procedural rules more efficient, while judges apply the law consistently and predictably. The Supreme Court works to promote clarity, consistency, and adherence to the law
Precedent
What factors should the Supreme Court of Texas consider when deciding whether to change a past court ruling?
Precedent promotes stability and predictability, so prior decisions should not be changed lightly. My oath, however, is to defend the Constitution, not Supreme Court decisions. Courts throughout Texas must follow our decisions, so if a Supreme Court precedent is clearly wrong, we may be the only people who can fix it. We must be open to doing so, guided as always by prudence and humility.
