(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 all of my interviews as well as finance reports and other information on candidates on my 2016 Election page.)
Daryl Moore
1. Who are you and what are you running for?
I’m Daryl Moore, and I’m running for Judge of the 333rd Civil District Court in Harris County, Texas.
2. What kind of cases does this court hear?
This court hears almost every type of civil dispute you could think of, with the exception of family-law cases, probate cases, and eminent domain.
3. Why are you running for this particular bench?
Because I believe it is time to elect a qualified Democrat to this bench, to ensure that every individual who seeks access to justice in the 333 walks into court comfortable with the knowledge that he or she is entering a level playing field and is appearing before a judge that has not predetermined the outcome of the dispute and who has no desire to engineer a result.
4. What are your qualifications for this job?
I have more than 25 years trial-and-appellate experience handling exactly the types of cases this court hears. I’ve represented medical-malpractice plaintiffs and doctors; injured individuals and product manufacturers; labor unions and corporations. I’ve tried cases to juries and to judges, and have handled cases in both state and federal courts at trial and on appeal. I have handled cases at every level of our judicial system, from the filing of a lawsuit through final judgment in the Texas Supreme Court, and in federal cases from district courts to the United States Supreme Court. I believe that the breadth and depth of my experience makes me uniquely qualified to serve as Judge of the 333.
5. Why is this race important?
This race is important because it provides Harris County voters an opportunity to elect a judge who: (1) respects the 7 Amendment and our right-to-trial-by-jury system; (2) respects jurors, their service, and jury verdicts; and (3) is committed to keeping his finger off of the scales of justice and letting our judicial system work as it was intended to, by allowing parties to have their day in court and by allowing parties’ lawyers to try their clients’ cases.
6. Why should people vote for you in the primary?
Because I’m the most qualified candidate and the only lifelong Democrat in this race who has a 20+ year record of supporting Democratic causes and candidates at every level, local, state, and national.