(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. This is intended to help introduce the candidates and their experiences to those who plan to vote in March. I am running these responses in the order that I receive them from the candidates. You can see other Q&As and further information about judicial candidates on my 2018 Judicial page.
Michele Chimene
1. Who are you and what are you running for?
My name is Michele Chimene. I’m a long-time resident of Houston, Katy, and Sugar Land. I am running for Place 8 on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals. The Fourteenth Court is the intermediate court, hearing civil, criminal, and family appeals in 10 counties centering around Harris County.
2. What kind of cases does this court hear?
This court hears criminal, civil, and family law appeals from the trial court. It also hears special cases called “original proceedings.”
3. Why are you running for this particular bench?
I am running for this bench because, as a 25-yr appeals lawyer, I read the opinions that are issued by the incumbent, and I believe that he sometimes deletes parts of the law, substituting in his own words instead of the law, to make the results of the case different than they would be if the actual law was applied. I believe that the law should be predicable and fair, with a “level playing field” for everyone.
4. What are your qualifications for the job?
I have been an appellate attorney for twenty-five years. While I also have trial experience, I believe that experience as an appellate attorney, researching the law and writing common sense arguments clearly and understandably is the best experience for becoming an appellate justice. I also believe that I am a good listener, and that everyone who comes into my court will get listened to politely and courteously.
5. Why is this race important?
Because the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals do not hear every case that petitions them. For many cases in this large chunk of Texas, the Fourteenth Court will be the highest court that hears them, and their final chance to receive unbiased justice. Voters should not skip voting in this race, because it is a chance to elect someone who is not a professional politician but who has the legal skills to give the thousands, (yes, thousands), of parties who come before her during her term the predictable, law-based justice they seek.
6. Why should people vote for you in the primary?
Experience and character matter. My twenty-five years of appellate experience are more relevant experience than the incumbent had before he was elected to the bench. Most candidates for the Court of Appeals come to the Court with only civil case experience. My broad experience includes all the types of law the court handles. Additionally, my prior career as a geologist gives me the technical background that will be helpful to the Court as it takes on technically-challenging cases. My character matters. I will follow the law as long as the Constitution allows, and if Texas law differs from the Constitution, I will follow the Constitution. Our country was founded as a nation of laws. We need to get back to that. I will be predictable.