Board-Certified Appellate Attorney. Lifelong Democrat.
Dear fellow voter,
I’m running for office to return a Democrat to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals and restore balance to that Court. The law is the foundation of a peaceful, democratic society, protecting our freedoms and holding our communities together. The Fourteenth Court used to have judges from each side of the political aisle working together towards justice, but now all of its judges are members of the Republican Party. Especially at this time in our nation’s history, our local courts should not be one-sided in this way. They need accountability.
As an experienced appellate attorney, I’m highly qualified to be a justice on this Court. And while most lawsuits are apolitical, some are not. The Fourteenth Court needs a strong independent voice when political pressure arises. That judge should spar and persuade his fellow judges when the time calls for it but vigorously dissent if people’s rights are disregarded. I am well equipped to do that job, and I would be proud to serve my community while seeking justice in every case.
I hope I can earn your vote.
Thank you,
Michael
Michael is a native Houstonian, lifelong Democrat, and experienced appellate attorney hoping to add a fresh perspective to the judicial decisions made by Texas’s 14th Court of Appeals.
Michael first began advocating for his community decades ago, when his former middle school debate teacher ran for Congress. Now, he is a partner at a premier appellate law firm in Houston, and he is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Following the lead of his teachers and other mentors, Michael hopes to use his expertise to serve his community.
Judicial Perspective
Judicial candidates love to say they will just “follow the law,” but that is not always so simple. While that is the principal responsibility of any judge, almost every case an appellate judge decides has a bona fide dispute about the meaning or application of “the law.” On close questions, judges inevitably call upon their values and experiences to come to a conclusion.
Michael understands that his job as a judge would be to read the law in the context of our democracy. As the Supreme Court of Texas has long recognized, laws often must be read in favor of the people exercising their democratic rights.
As a justice, Michael will comply with his duty to follow the law. Where the law is clear or precedent compels a certain result, Michael will adhere to it. But Michael will always bear in mind the context of his job—as a mere cog in our democracy, simply interpreting and applying laws passed by and for the people.
The Fourteenth Court of Appeals
The Fourteenth Court of Appeals is one of the Houston area’s appellate courts, hearing appeals from trial court decisions and jury verdicts throughout Houston and the surrounding counties. Specifically, the Fourteenth Court decides civil, criminal, and family-law appeals from ten counties: Harris County, Fort Bend County, Brazoria County, Galveston County, Waller County, Chambers County, Washington County, Austin County, Grimes County, and Colorado County.
Nine justices sit on this Court, and all nine are currently members of the Republican Party. Each case is decided by a random panel of three out of the nine justices, and the Court has historically benefited from a greater diversity of perspectives that it lacks now.