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 $187,800 Presidente del Tribunal y Juez, Tribunal de Apelaciones: Mandato de seis años. Hay 14 Tribunales de Apelaciones en Texas ubicados en 14 ciudades en todo el estado. Cada uno de estos tribunales incluye un Presidente del tribunal y al menos otros dos Jueces. Estos tribunales conocen de apelaciones en casos civiles y penales de los tribunales de primera instancia de sus distritos. Rango de salario anual actual: $154,000 a $187,800 Chánh Thẩm & Thẩm Phán, Tòa Kháng Án: Nhiệm kỳ sáu năm. Có 14 Tòa Kháng Án ở Texas tại 14 thành phố trên toàn tiểu bang. Mỗi Tòa Án trên bao gồm một Chánh Thẩm và tối thiểu hai Thẩm Phán khác. Các Tòa án trên thực hiện điều trần các kháng cáo về các vụ án dân sự và hình sự từ các tòa án cấp dưới thuộc địa hạt của họ. Mức lương hàng năm hiện tại: 154.000 USD đến 187.800 USD上诉法院首席法官和大法官: 任期六年。德克萨斯州有 14 个上诉法院，分布在全州 14 个城市。 每个法院都包括一名首席大法官和至少两名其他大法官。这些法院审理来自其辖区内下级法院的民事和刑事上诉案件。当前年薪范围：15.4万美元至 18.78万 美元
I have handled thousands of cases and hearings in court as a judge, a civil, criminal, and appellate prosecutor, and as an attorney representing individuals in five of the counties this court serves.
Experience working on cases from all sides is a good indicator of a candidate’s likeliness to be fair and impartial. I have handled thousands of cases from all sides, including: presiding over cases as a judge; defending individuals at risk of losing their liberty, their children, and their homes; and advocating for justice as a prosecutor in cases such as murder, robbery, and sexual assault.
The courts role of interpreting laws created by the legislature and signed into law by the governor is critical. If elected, I will be the first openly queer woman on a Texas appellate court. Two examples of the court’s role that are meaningful to me are Lawrence v. Texas, where the court struck down the state’s sodomy laws, and Obergefell v. Hodges, which gave gay people the right to marry.
I will bring my lived understanding of growing up transient and homeless to this bench. With about 15% of Texans living below the poverty level, access to justice is crucial. I have been awarded for my work helping our most vulnerable have access to and be successful in the court system through drafting legislation, establishing pro bono clinics, and advocating for the use of remote hearings.
These courts will remove voter input within local jurisdictions and will remove the ability to have cases heard by local and regional justices. The judges of the business courts will be appointed by the governor rather than elected, and the justices of the 15th Court of appeals will ultimately be elected statewide rather than district-wide like the current appellate courts.
As the incumbent I have over 5 years experience doing this job. In 2018, I successfully flipped the seat from Republican to Democrat. I approach each case with impartiality, integrity, and fairness.
Ensuring the impartiality of judges in the face of campaign donations is a critical concern for maintaining the integrity of the judicial system. When voters prioritize candidates with a commitment to upholding the rule of law over those with significant financial backing, they contribute to the creation of a judiciary that is both competent and free from undue influence.
The role of courts relative to the other branches of government is to act as a check and balance, ensuring that legislative and executive actions adhere to constitutional principles and protecting individual rights. The judiciary's independence is paramount. This separation of powers is fundamental to the stability and fairness of democratic governance.
Improving access to justice requires a holistic approach encompassing legal aid, education, technology, cultural competency, and legal reforms. By addressing these aspects comprehensively, we can strive towards a more inclusive and equitable justice system that serves the needs of every individual, regardless of their background or socio-economic status.
It is yet to be seen what the effect new business courts and a statewide court of appeals will have on the administration of justice in Texas. Anytime there are changes to the judiciary it takes time for the dust to settle and this will be no different. One thing that is for sure is that in the short term there will be uncertainty for litigants.
