Note: This entry is part of a series of written Q&As with judicial candidates who will be on the ballot in Harris County. I am also doing recorded interviews with non-judicial candidates.
1. Who are you, and what are you running for?
I am Larry Weiman, the Returning Democratic Candidate for Judge of the 80th Civil District Court.
2. What kind of cases does this court hear?
General civil litigation cases. This includes: Personal Injury cases such as auto and truck accidents, slip and falls, dangerous products, work-related accidents, as well as consumer cases, Medical/Professional Malpractice, business disputes, Insurance Law, Employment Law, Toxic Torts, Construction and Real Estate Litigation and more.
3. Why are you running for this particular bench?
Because I want to bring balance, fairness and justice to our court system where currently we do not have a single Democrat serving on any of the 82 county-wide trial courts in Harris County. I was the Democratic Candidate for the unexpired term of the 80th District Court in the 2006 general election and I came close with 263,507 votes (approximately 48%) and I won the 2008 Democratic primary.
As part of my campaign, I am advocating reform of current campaign financing laws that so that everyone will be treated equally and impartially in our courts regardless of their financial status.
While present Judicial campaign finance laws do not prevent judges and candidates from accepting campaign contributions from attorneys or parties with active cases in their respective courts, this practice should be changed to eliminate or avoid the appearance of impropriety and/or injustice. As a candidate for judge I have already taken this position by requesting that attorneys or parties who have cases presently pending before the 80th District Court not make cash contributions to my campaign while they are an attorney or party of record in the 80th District Court.
In addition, I will provide oral hearings on any motions that any party wishes to be heard by the 80th District Court and make prompt rulings. Further, I will streamline court procedures, consistent with the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, to reduce if not eliminate waste of attorneys’ time and their clients’ money.
Also, I will ensure that cases go to trial in a timely manner in accordance with the Rules and Texas law so that both sides can seek justice at the earliest, practical date. This will also minimize litigation costs.
In addition, I will be professional, impartial, fair, courteous and respectful of all who come before this court.
4. What are your qualifications for this job?
I have a Juris Doctor Degree from South Texas College of Law, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Boston University and Mediation Certification from the A.A, White Dispute Resolution Center from the University of Houston.
In addition, I have over 17 years of experience representing clients in trial and appellate courts in Harris County and all over Texas. My areas of practice include: Personal Injury, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Medical/Professional Malpractice, Employment Law, Breach of Contract, DTPA, Toxic Torts, Construction, Real Estate Litigation, Products Liability, Premises Liability, Dram Shop. This includes trials, mediations, appeals, administrative hearings, EEOC hearings, etc.
5. Why is this race important?
This is the only re-match in the judicial races from the 2006 election (since that race was for the unexpired term of the 80th and now the full term is up). I only have to close a small gap of a little over 2% to win this race and become among the first Democratic judges elected in Harris County in over a decade in an effort to bring balance to our courts. This will ensure that all who come before this court are treated with courtesy, respect, fairness and equality.
If elected, I will set an example in the 80th District Court to stop the current practice of cash campaign contributions being solicited or accepted by judges from attorneys or parties with cases pending before them.
Also, I will make sure that more cases go to trial and that the juries are fair, balanced and impartial.
6. Why should people vote for you in November?
I have the most diversified experience in handling the broad range of cases that come before this court. I have represented both Plaintiffs and Defendants in trial courts in Harris County and through Texas during my career and I am a certified mediator. Therefore, I am able to objectively understand and listen to both sides of a case fairly and impartially.
I am committed to the principle that everyone in our community is entitled to be treated with courtesy, respect and fairness in our courts regardless of their race, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, financial status, sexual orientation or political affiliation. I am the proud father of two grown, successful children and I’m a person who cares about others and tries to give back to the community.
I will continue to work to bring about campaign finance reform to judicial races beginning with eliminating direct contributions from attorneys or parties to judges with whom they have active cases pending in this court. There should never be even the appearance or perception that a party or an attorney has an advantage or disadvantage because of contributions made or not made to the presiding judge, at least while they have a case pending in this court.
I believe that the Civil District Court Judges can help speed up the dockets of the Family Law Courts for citizens who need to get hearings and trials sooner then the current backlog allows. Since there is presently a much higher case load in the 9 Family Law Courts than that of the 25 civil district courts, if elected as Judge of the 80th, I would volunteer to serve at the Family Law Center as needed to hear discovery, enforcement and other routine motions that any civil district judge can rule on. While attorneys for the parties would have the right to object, I believe that many would agree to have their routine motions heard more quickly by a visiting civil district court judge rather than waiting a much longer period to appear before the presiding judge or associate judge. This would help move the dockets of these courts by allowing the presiding Family Law Judge and the Associate Judge of each Court to get to the more difficult Family Law hearings and divorce and custody trials much sooner and speed up access to these courts for Harris County citizens.
If elected, I will work to help establish programs to encourage voluntary jury duty participation so that we can ensure fair, balanced and unbiased juries that are representative of the population of Harris County.
It has been reported that currently, less than 20% of people who receive summons for jury duty are appearing to serve as required under Texas law. I will encourage and assist in promoting the use of public service announcements that will raise public awareness of this civic duty and the importance of eligible citizens performing this public service which is the foundation and lifeblood of our constitutional right to a trial by a jury of our peers. If more people view jury service as extremely important, honorable and patriotic, I believe that more citizens would appear for jury duty whereby they can proudly serve their community and country.
I have been endorsed in this race by: The Jewish Herald-Voice, The Pakistan American Counsel, The Mexican American Bar Association of Texas, AFL-CIO, GLBT Caucus and many others. Also, I was endorsed in the primary by The Houston Chronicle, Off The Kuff and many others. Please go to my website: www.larry4judge.com for more information and endorsements.
PREVIOUSLY:
Dion Ramos, 55th Civil Judicial District Court.
Shawna Reagin, 176th District Criminal Court.
Al Bennett, 61st Civil Judicial District Court.
Judge Jim Jordan, Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court.
Mike Miller, 11th Civil Judicial District Court.
Andres Pereira, 190th Civil Judicial District Court.
Steven Kirkland, 215th Civil Judicial District Court.
Martin Siegel, Court of Appeals, 14th District, Place 7.
Randy Roll, 179th District Criminal Court.
Leslie Taylor, Court of Appeals, First District, Place 5.
Kyle Carter, 125th Civil Judicial District Court.
Hazel Jones, 338th District Criminal Court.
Bert Moser, Court of Appeals, 14th District, Place 4.
Peter Rene, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5, Place 1