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First Court of Appeals, Place 8
Richard Hightower (Democrat) | Michael C. Massengale* (Republican) |
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SOCIAL |
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CAMPAIGN CONTACT | |
Justice Michael Massengale Campaign P.O. Box 684281 Austin, Texas 78768 |
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CURRENT OCCUPATION |
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Attorney & Mediator Richard F. Hightower PC | Justice, 1st Court of Appeals Place 7 2009 - present |
UNDERGRAD SCHOOL/YEAR |
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B.A. English Baylor University 1978 | B.A. Government Dartmouth College 1994 |
JURIS DOCTOR |
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Baylor Law School 1980 Notes and Comments Editor, Baylor Law Review | University of Texas School of Law with honors 1997 |
YEAR STATE BAR LICENSURE |
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1981 | 1997 |
JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE - APPELLATE |
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Justice, First Court of Appeals 2009-present |
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JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE - OTHER |
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LEGAL EXPERIENCE - NONJUDICIAL |
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| Former partner of Baker Botts L.L.P. in litigation department. Primarily practiced commercial litigation representing plaintiffs and defendants, including disputes involving mergers and acquisitions, fiduciary duties, securities, fraudulent transfer, and antitrust. Also handled a broad scope of electric utility matters, including defense of personal injury and property damage suits. Pro bono work in a variety of areas including consumer protection counseling and other advice to hurricane victims, representation of nonprofit organizations threatened with tax foreclosures, and various constitutional law matters.
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BOARD CERTICATIONS |
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Criminal Trial Advocate National Board of Trial Advocacy (1999) | Civil Appellate Law |
COURTS ADMITTED TO |
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HONORS & AWARDS |
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PRIOR ELECTION RESULTS |
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2018 Texas Democratic Primary First Court of Appeals, Place 8 100%; unopposed | 2018 Texas Republican Primary First Court of Appeals, Place 8 100%; unopposed 2012 Texas General Election First Court of Appeals, Place 8 53.70% v. Nile Copeland (D) Largest margin of victory of any of the 5 contested races for the First Court that year 2012 Texas Republican Primary 100%; unopposed |
MOST RECENT BAR POLL RESULTS |
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584 of 1,143 votes 51.09% | 559 of 1,143 votes 48.91% |
KEY ENDORSEMENTS |
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JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY |
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Judges must be independent and the courts must be fair to all litigants. The role of a judge is to neutrally apply the law to each case. Judges must be actively engaged in their work, fearlessly enforcing the federal and state constitutions and safeguarding the rights of citizens. But constitutional law must not judicially expanded to override legislative policy judgments. The judge must not manipulate legal doctrines to undermine statutes—and likewise must not stretch statutes beyond their text to advance the judge’s policy preference. This is what it means to avoid “legislating from the bench.” The judge puts no thumb on the scale of justice. Judges must serve with humility and be constantly vigilant that they do not overstep their role. Texas deserves to have well-qualified, hard-working judges who actively practice this understanding of judicial restraint—particularly on our Supreme Court.In addition, I believe in that judges have an ethical responsibility to hear and decide all assigned matters except those in which disqualification is required or recusal is appropriate. Judges have as much of an obligation not to step down from a case when there is no reason to do so as they have to do so when there is a reason. |
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INFORMATION APPROVED BY CANDIDATE ON: |
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Sourced from public information | Sourced from public information |
Last Updated: |
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10/3/2018 | 10/3/2018 |
Please send any corrections to info@tcjl.com |