US Vote Smart Candidate Path

Candidate Path

Submitted by john wertz on 2016-01-31 13:12:58

PROS:

• Stated God-centric "I'm in need of Divine Grace"
• US Constitution paramount in guiding his decisions
• Conservative Incumbent - for 17 yrs on bench 
• Strict constructionist "like Scalia", whom he agrees with; Alito and Thomas also.  
• Board Certified. On the Court of Criminal Appeals since 1999. 
• Prior - senior felony chief prosecutor in the Career Criminal Division - tried over 400 cases in Dallas Cnty DA's office(12 yrs);
• Currently serves on State Bar Judicial Sect. Board of Directors.
• Teaches judicial ethics, constitutional criminal law, standards of appellate review, and statutory construction to judges nationally. 
• Have written noteworthy opinions(Medellin, that Sen Cruz often cites that he argued before SCOTUS that state law cannot be overruled by the World Court’s international law opinions). 
• Agrees that securing border would enhance safety. 
• Endorsed by:  Grassroots of America (JoAnn Flemint)    

CONS: 

• Avoided certain questions, such as regarding parental rights outside of his jurisdiction.
• Does not appear to have experience on both sides of the criminal bar