Why Texas Supreme Court Elections Deserve Your Attention
How SCOTX rulings are shaping your rights.
The question isn’t whether the Republican-dominated Supreme Court of Texas (SCOTX) is corrupt but how long this corruption has led the state’s highest civil court.
For decades, the Texas Supreme Court has overwhelmingly favored big businesses and political allies. From contentious rulings that undermine voting rights to decisions that shield corporate interests over public welfare, the court’s actions have repeatedly shown us the integrity of its justices and the beneficiaries of their judgments.
This systemic corruption is a long-standing issue that has eroded public trust in the judiciary. SCOTX has a history and pattern of troubling rulings, where their legacy of favoritism and political maneuvering continues to impact the lives of Texans today.
Here is a short clip from 25 years ago that shows SCOTX’s long-term corruption and their willingness to take money for favorable outcomes:
Over the last 25 years, the Supreme Court of Texas has only become more Conservative and corrupt. Currently, all nine Texas Supreme Court Justices are Republicans, and most of them have a history of taking money for judgments.
This year, in November, we can replace THREE of these corrupt Republican judges.
While the bigger problem is desperately needed ethics reform for the Texas Supreme Court, Republicans in the legislature have blocked it for years. We can’t expect to see meaningful ethics reform until Texas turns blue. Albeit that day is probably coming within this decade, the quickest way to see reform is to vote the Republicans out.
We’ll discuss all those races, but first, we need to examine why voting in SCOTX races is so important.
Abortion rights.
The Texas Supreme Court has played a pivotal role in upholding restrictive abortion laws, significantly impacting women’s access to reproductive healthcare in the state. In 2022, the court allowed the enforcement of a pre-Roe v. Wade abortion ban, a law that had been on the books but unenforced for decades.
In May of this year, the SCOTX ruled against 20 women who said they were denied medically necessary abortions, saying the medical exceptions in the law were broad enough. This decision by SCOTX has severely limited access to abortion services across Texas, even when the life of the mother is at risk.
Women in Texas face significant challenges if they need abortion care, including the need to travel out of state to obtain abortion services, which can be financially and logistically prohibitive. Those unable to make such journeys are left with few options, potentially turning to unsafe methods to terminate pregnancies.
That’s right, in Texas, we’ve returned to back-alley abortions.
LGBTQ+ rights.
In addition to its restrictive stance on abortion, the Texas Supreme Court has also taken actions that negatively impact LGBTQ+ rights. One example that sticks out occurred in 2017 when the court decided to revisit a lower court ruling that had granted same-sex spouses of Houston city employees the right to receive employee benefits. This lower court ruling was initially celebrated as a victory for LGBTQ+ rights, recognizing the equality of same-sex marriages in the context of employment benefits.
However, the SCOTX’s decision to reopen the case created significant uncertainty and was widely viewed as a setback for LGBTQ+ rights. The court did not outright deny the benefits. Instead, it remanded the case back to the trial court for reconsideration, delaying and complicating the process for same-sex couples seeking equal treatment under the law.
This move reflected the court’s conservative stance on social issues, aligning with the Republican culture war. The decision caused stress and financial insecurity for many same-sex couples who relied on these benefits.
SCOTX’s actions are part of a pattern of rulings that prioritize conservative social values over the rights and equality of marginalized groups.
Voting rights.
Under the conservative influence of the Texas Supreme Court, the state has implemented measures that suppress voter participation, particularly among minority and low-income voters.
One of the most significant rulings came in 2018, when the Texas Supreme Court upheld the state’s voter ID law, one of the strictest in the nation. This law requires voters to present specific forms of photo identification at the polls, disproportionately impacting minority, elderly, and low-income voters who are less likely to possess the necessary IDs.
Additionally, the court has supported purging voter rolls, which has led to eligible voters being mistakenly removed from the lists. This practice has sparked numerous lawsuits and accusations that it is a tactic to disenfranchise voters. For example, in 2019, a court battle ensued over the state’s attempt to remove nearly 100,000 voters from the rolls based on flawed data that inaccurately identified them as non-citizens.
Who is on the ballot?
This year, three Republican Supreme Court Justices of Texas can be voted out. These are statewide elections so everyone can vote all three out of office.
Place 2.
The Republican incumbent is Justice Jimmy Blacklock. Governor Greg Abbott appointed him to the Texas Supreme Court in January 2018. (That should be enough, right?) Later that year, he won an election to the bench for six years.
Blacklock has forced-birther values, which he demonstrated in a 2023 case regarding abortion. He expressed concern that if an abortion was granted for a fetal death, then it could lead to abortions for common pregnancy complications, like high blood pressure.
He also voted against Kate Cox. If you don’t remember the case, her fetus was diagnosed with trisomy 18, a rare chromosomal abnormality that can lead to severe heart, neural, and digestive disabilities if the baby survives the pregnancy. Cox’s life was also at risk, as her uterus was at risk of rupturing.
With the Kate Cox case, the Republican SCOTX told Texas women that their only option during pregnancy complications was to die or leave the state for abortion care.
During a case regarding gender-affirming care for transgender youth, Blacklock said, “Discussions about the rights of transgender children are ones of philosophy, morality, and religion, but not science.”
Running against Blacklock for Place 2 is Democratic Judge DaSean Jones.
Judge DaSean Jones, a decorated combat veteran and Army Reserve officer with over 22 years of service, currently serves as a Texas district court judge. Inspired by his veteran father and motivated by his experiences abroad, including visits to historical sites of social injustice, Judge Jones pursued a career in law after returning from combat tours in Iraq. He is committed to ensuring fairness and impartiality in the courtroom, emphasizing that justice should be free from far-right ideologies and caustic beliefs. His diverse experiences and dedication to equity underscore the importance of applying the law with meaningful fairness for all.
You can learn more about Judge DaSean Jones on his website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Place 4.
The Republican incumbent is Justice John Devine. Devine has served two terms on SCOTX and recently made headlines for some leaked audio where he called his Republican SCOTX colleagues “brainwashed.”
Earlier this year, he barely survived a primary election with 50.4% of the vote, showing that he’s lost popularity with at least half of the right.
He’s also an election denier. At a speech earlier this year, he accused Democrats of trying to steal the future election in November. Why? It sounds like he’s brainwashed, too.
Devine has also received a lot of criticism for absenteeism and other ethical concerns.
Running against Devine for Place 4 is Democratic Judge Christine Vinh Weems.
Judge Christine Vinh Weems serves as the 281st Civil Judicial District Court judge in Harris County. She is a double board-certified trial attorney in Personal Injury Trial Law and Civil Trial Law, with extensive experience representing individuals and multinational corporations. Elected in 2018, Judge Weems has presided over 80 jury trials despite Hurricane Harvey and COVID-19 challenges. A child of Vietnamese immigrants, she pursued a robust education and legal career, including roles in New York and Houston. She also directs the Mock Trial Program at the University of Houston Law Center and remains active in the Houston theatre community. Judge Weems is an American Board of Trial Advocates member and has received numerous accolades, including the 2023 Outstanding Mentor award from the Asian Pacific Interest Section of the State Bar of Texas.
You can learn more about Judge Christine Vinh Weems from her website and Instagram.
Place 6.
The Republican incumbent is Justice Jane Bland. She was appointed to office by Governor Greg Abbott in August 2019, and this is her first time running for this seat.
Despite being a woman, she voted against women in the Kate Cox case. Some Texas women may have a hard time understanding why Justice Bland told us we could die during pregnancy complications, but it’s likely due to her religion.
It should be noted that all three of these justices are now the target of the Find Out PAC. As you can see in their ad:
Running against Bland for Place 6 is Democratic Justice Bonnie Lee Goldstein.
Justice Bonnie Lee Goldstein serves on the 5th District Court of Appeals, Place 3, in Dallas, the largest appellate court in Texas. Elected to this position in 2020, she served as the Presiding Judge of the 44th Civil District Court in Dallas County. With three decades of legal and judicial experience, Justice Goldstein has a diverse background, including roles as a solo practitioner, municipal court judge, and city attorney. She earned her law degree from George Washington University and has worked extensively in construction litigation, state and local government law, and complex commercial litigation. Additionally, she has been recognized for her efforts in professional development and mentorship within the legal community.
You can learn more about Justice Bonnie Lee Goldstein from her website.
The upcoming election offers Texans an opportunity to restore integrity and fairness to the Supreme Court of Texas.
The current Republican-dominated court has repeatedly demonstrated its bias toward big businesses and political allies, undermining the rights and well-being of everyday citizens. From restricting abortion and LGBTQ+ rights to suppressing voter participation, the court’s conservative rulings have had a detrimental impact on the state.
By electing justices who prioritize justice over political agendas, we can address these deep-seated issues and ensure that the law is applied with meaningful fairness for all Texans. Voting out the incumbents and supporting the three Democratic candidates, Judge DaSean Jones, Judge Christine Vinh Weems, and Justice Bonnie Lee Goldstein is a significant step toward achieving a more just and equitable judicial system in Texas.
Vote early, vote often, just vote.
August 19: Last day for write-in candidates to declare their candidacy.
October 7: Last day to register to vote.
October 21: First day to early vote.
October 25: Last day to apply for a mail-in ballot.
November 1: Last day to early vote.
November 5: Election day!
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