AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - The Texas Civil Justice League has released a new video of former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips discussing the importance of electing qualified judges in Texas.
The video is the latest effort of TCJL's statewide advocacy campaign to increase voter participation in judicial races, according to a Jan. 29 press release.
As previously reported, the organization, which advocates for a fair and balanced judicial system in Texas, launched the voter education effort earlier this month.
In the video, Phillips says the "main thing" voters should look for in judicial candidates is "honesty, integrity, intelligence and diligence."
"A judge is not like other elected officials," Phillips said. "That is, judges don't have agendas. They don't try to marshal support for ideas ... they're merely interrupting and applying the law."
He added that voters should do their homework beforehand.
TCJL's campaign initially focuses on the upcoming March primaries and will include efforts to educate Texans about the importance of judicial races in addition to providing information about the various candidates who are running.
Founded in 1986, TCJL, an Austin-based group, is the oldest and largest state legal reform organization in the nation.
From Legal Newsline: Reach David Yates at elections@legalnewsline.com.
Former Texas SC justice speaks about qualities voters should look for in judicial candidates
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