Texas Justice, 5th Court of Appeals, Place 8
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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Nicholas Palmer
(Dem)
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Andrea D. Plumlee
(Dem)
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?
I have 16 years of legal experience. I am a board certified specialist in Civil Appellate Law and Labor & Employment Law. I now serve as the chief appellate attorney for the 9th largest U.S. city.
I will approach every case with a neutral mind and faithfully apply the law to the facts of each case. I will apply the law without any political agenda. In the unlikely event that I feel that I cannot be 100% neutral on a particular case, I will recuse myself.
When I worked as an attorney for Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, I provided legal advice and representation in civil cases to individuals who could not afford an attorney. This experience instilled in me a passion for ensuring all Texans have access to justice. I vow to give equal thought and attention to the legal arguments presented by pro se parties as those made by lawyers.
I am most concerned with the increased politicization of the courts. Most judges try to apply the law fairly, but our federal courts in particular have gotten more political. I am running because, more than ever, our courts need judges who will not bow to political pressure. I will not do so. In all cases, I will apply the law fairly without a political agenda.
"Equal Justice Under Law." Anyone appearing before the court deserves to have her arguments seriously considered and the law faithfully applied to the facts of her case. I will approach each case neutrally and apply the law fairly and without an agenda. It is also important to apply the law pragmatically to the specific facts before the court on a case-by-case basis.
I was a trial lawyer for 17 years handling federal and state litigation. I have served 15 yrs as a District Judge. I currently serve as the Local Admin Judge for Dallas County 39 district courts.
I will ensure my rulings remain impartial and free from bias by a careful and thorough reading of the trial record and then applying the law to the facts. I will also be sure to determine points in the appeal according to precedent; being careful to consider the nuances that may make a case distinguishable. I will also adhere to the Judicial Code of Conduct that requires fairness and impartiality.
The 5th District Court of Appeals is the only intermediary court that must take up your appeal if it is statutorily perfected. The other appellate courts are not required to do so. That fact alone elevates Court access to the underserved population. We could also train staff when engaging with pro se litigants on how to provide necessary and helpful information without providing legal advice.
The most pressing issue facing the courts today is the independence of the judiciary. We address the issue by continuing to speak about it publicly, by adherence to Article 3 of the Constitution and by remaining steadfast and resolute that our democracy is dependent upon the concept of checks and balances that requires each co-equal branch of government to operate as our founding fathers imagined.
My judicial philosophy can be summed up in one word: service. Service to all who appear before the court. Service in rendering the opinions after a thorough reading of the record. Service in staying abreast of the current status of the law applicable to cases before the court. Service in providing well- reasoned opinions consistent with precedent. And service in issuing opinions timely.
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