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Texas Chief Justice, 14th Court of Appeals

Chief Justice & Justice, Court of Appeals: Six-year term. There are 14 Courts of Appeals in Texas located in 14 cities throughout the state. Each of these Courts includes a Chief Justice and at least two other Justices. These Courts hear appeals on civil and criminal cases from lower courts in their districts. Current annual salary range: $154,000 to $184,800

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    Connie Gonzales
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Sarah Beth Landau
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

Qualifications: What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?

Ethics: How will you ensure your rulings remain impartial and free from both political pressure and the interests of your campaign donors?

Equity: What can be done to improve access to justice for all, including persons or groups who may be underserved?

Issue: What do you see as the most pressing challenge facing the courts today, and how would you propose addressing it?

Philosophy: What is your judicial philosophy?

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Campaign Website http://landauforjustice.com
I served six years as a court of appeals justice (2019-2024) and held a leadership role in hiring staff &creating and running the law student intern program. I have both civil and criminal experience.
Twelve years as a public defender is good practice for being independent and not being influenced by pressure or criticism. When I was elected, I did not accept special interest donations but after Elon Musk dumped millions of dollars into this local judicial race, that seemed quaint. When I work on cases, I block out the names of the attorneys so that I will not let unconscious bias affect me.
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I think access to justice and timely justice are the largest issues facing the courts. I think our court could partner with the county law library to be a hub for resources for self-represented litigants and promote the Houston Bar Association's pro bono program. For timeliness, the court could implement internal deadlines beyond what the state requires and offer education.
I take to heart the words of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Get it right and keep it tight. Beyond this, I strive to write for the loser to explain as thoughtfully and clearly as I can how I have reached my decision. If there are two ways to decide a case, I choose the one that does the least harm to the parties, the law, and the legal system.