(Note: I am running a series of Q&As for judicial candidates in contested Democratic primaries. There are a lot of judicial races on the ballot in Harris County this election, and so 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. I will also be conducting some in-person interviews of candidates who will be involved in contested primaries for non-judicial offices. Please see my 2010 Election page for a full list of Q&As and interviews.)
1. Who are you, and what are you running for?
My name is Andy Pereira. I am a Houstonian, trial lawyer, committed public citizen, and longtime Democratic activist. I am running for Judge of the 189th District Court (Civil).
2. What kind of cases does this court hear?
These courts have plenary, or full, jurisdiction, handling both state and federal matters. Generally, District Courts can hear all matters with certain minimum amounts in controversy unless the jurisdiction for that matter has been placed with another court. Specifically, examples of the types of cases this court might hear include commercial cases, contract disputes, premises liability or “slip and fall” cases, consumer and some class-action litigation, employment disputes, medical malpractice cases, and motor vehicle accidents. This court does not hear family, criminal, probate, or juvenile justice matters or specialized federal cases like bankruptcy.
3. Why are you running for this particular bench?
I chose to run for the office of judge because I believe in the power of the judiciary and the jury system–the ability of twelve ordinary citizens to resolve conflicts and find the truth in a civil and orderly way. I chose to run for District Court as opposed to Justice or County Court because the nature of the cases and the procedures are slightly more complex and most like the cases with which I have the most experience. In speaking with other lawyers, the current judge of the 189th has a mixed record of responsiveness and respect for those that appear in the court.
4. What are your qualifications for this job?
I worked as an attorney for twelve years in a nationally known litigation firm handling complex multi-million dollar trial work for clients around the world. I have represented tens of thousands of plaintiffs against large corporate interests. I opened my own practice in 2007, primarily handling multi-district product liability litigation. I have represented individuals, businesses, and governments, have argued cases at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts, and have argued cases before the Texas Supreme Court. I was recognized in law school for outstanding legal research and writing, and I clerked for Texas Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Doggett.
I am fluent in Spanish, which is an important communication skill in Harris County. Having a parent from Latin America also makes me bi-cultural which allows me to understand and identify with our multi-cultural population.
5. Why is this race important?
In my opinion, the judiciary is the most important branch of our government because it is the backstop for our rights as citizens and places the power of the government in a jury of our peers. The 2010 elections will determine the direction our courts will take, which will in turn determine how our laws are interpreted and applied for decades.
Currently, about half of the Harris County District Court seats and all but one of the appellate court seats in our area are occupied by Republicans. Before 2008 all were occupied by Republicans. The result has been a highly politicized judiciary that in many cases favors special interests over the public interest, the erosion of individual rights, and a wholesale attack on the principle of trial by jury. I have spent my entire professional career providing a voice to individuals against large corporate interests, but I am concerned that those voices are becoming increasingly more difficult to hear. We need to change the direction that our entire legal system is headed before many of the rights we once took for granted are no longer available to us as citizens.
6. Why should people vote for you in the Primary?
People should vote for me because I truly care about people and about justice. I have ample litigation experience in the most complex kinds of cases, which has prepared me for the most complicated cases that may come before me in this court.
As a judge, I will always elevate principles above divisive politics and partisanship, because real justice knows no political party. Personally, I am committed to serving every citizen of Harris County who appears in my court with the respect that s/he deserves from a public servant. I always try to be thoughtful, intellectual, passionate about the law, respectful and courteous.
Most importantly, I am genuinely dedicated to finding the best result in each case by carefully synthesizing all of the information provided to me by the counselors and litigants that appear in my courtroom. In short, I will be the kind of judge who will not just listen, but who will actually hear, not just with my ears, but with an open mind and an open heart.