Q-Why is the justice system so messed up?
A-I don't agree with that. For the most part, our justice system works well. Having said that, there are some improvements that can and should be made. Most of them will have to occur in the state legislature. In terms of civil justice, too many restrictions and barriers have been raised to prevent citizens from getting a full recovery for damages to them or to their property. Even worse, mandatory arbitration provisions in contracts can prevent citizens from ever having their day in court. In terms of criminal justice, we are filling our jails and prisons with people who are addicted to alcohol, drugs, or who are mentally ill. There is an economic cost as we have to pay to build more and more jails. There is a social cost as we have increasing numbers of young men and women who have a criminal record, thus making it harder to obtain and retain a job. Prisons should be used to lock up those who are dangerous to the rest of us. Those who are not could be diverted to community supervision programs. A-The pledge of allegiance is required in schools by the state legislature, gay marriage is prohibited by the Texas Constitution, and abortion for adult women is legal without restriction in the first trimester. In other words, my position on these issues is to obey the Texas and U.S. Constitutions, and follow the law.
Q-What is your position on abortion, gay marriage, and the pledge of allegiance?
Q-Will you legislate from the bench?
A-No, the legislature in Austin legislates. That is not my role.
Q-What is your position on toll roads?
A-I am not allowed to state a position on matters that may come before the 434th District Court, and since there may be litigation about the Trans Texas Corridor as well as local toll roads, I must respectfully decline to state an opinion.
Q-Why are you running against Jim Shoemake?
A-I am running for the 434th District Court, not against Judge Shoemake. That may seem like a distinction without a difference, but I would be running for this office whether he was the judge or not. James Shoemake was an unelected Associate Judge in the family court when he was appointed to this court last year by Governor Perry. He has not been elected. We are both running to be elected.
Q-Why shouldn't I just vote for Shoemake?
A-You can, but if you have been watching the local newspapers, you will know that Judge Shoemake is currently under investigation by the Texas Ethics Commission. In another instance, he was accused by a litigant of engaging in ex parte communications with the other party in a contested case. A judge from Galveston was brought in to hear the litigant's Motion to Recuse Judge Shoemake and the motion was granted. In a different case, a lawyer filed a Motion to Recuse Judge Shoemake because the judge's wife was hired to work in the District Clerk's office at the courthouse. Because the prosecutor was married to the District Clerk, that put the lawyer in the awkward position of defending a case where the judge's wife worked for the prosecutor's wife.
Q-Do you have any conflicts of interest at the courthouse?
A-No. I do not have have any relatives working at the courthouse, the District Attorney's office, or in the Sheriff's Department.
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