Qualifications
What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?
10 years as a justice on the 14th Court of Appeals; 23 years practice at a major Houston law firm (6 yrs on the firm’s executive board); Board Certified Civil Appellate Law for 28 years; even-keeled.
Ethics
How will you ensure your rulings remain impartial and free from both political pressure and the interests of your campaign donors?
The best evidence that I will continue to comply with my duty to issue impartial, neutral, and fair rulings is my 10-year service on this court, where I have authored hundreds of opinions steadfastly applying the law as written without fear or favor. Not a single complaint has been lodged alleging that any of my opinions were improperly influenced by factors other than the law and the evidence.
Equity
What barriers prevent Texans from accessing the court system, and what can courts do to reduce those barriers?
The most persistent barrier is the frequent financial inability of aggrieved individuals to access attorneys, particularly in family, debt, or housing matters. Unrepresented individuals simply do not have the necessary knowledge and skill to effectively secure legal relief in most cases. Courts should continue working with the bar to incentivize attorney participation on a pro bono basis.
Precedent
: What factors should the Court of Appeals consider when deciding whether to change a past court ruling?
Changes in the law by the Legislature or the Supreme Court; the nature and significance of the past ruling and whether it has been perceived as error or become a minority view; the quality of the reasoning in the prior case; whether the prior ruling has proven unworkable; whether it has conflicted with other areas of the law; and the absence of reliance on, or support by, other courts.
Philosophy
What is your judicial philosophy?
I interpret and apply the law as written by the Legislature or as stated by relevant court precedent to the facts at hand. I adhere to Aristotle’s principles of decision-making, which are objective, rational, and non-partisan. These principles include fully examining all relevant facts, considering all precedent, evaluating expert evidence (if any), and considering viewpoints of all parties.
