Free Speech, Due Process and Trial by Jury
Is Eduardo Rosendi dead or alive? Was he a Mexican tech CEO worth $70 million or a custodian who earned $12 a day? Those are the $26 million questions brought by two of the world’s largest insurance companies, a question they will put before a federal jury in Houston next week. “It’s the most interesting trial I have ever been involved in,” said trial lawyer Mikal C. Watts of San Antonio.
After finding last week that the insurance giant acted with malice, oppression and fraud in setting low reimbursement rates for claims submitted by the plaintiff physicians, the jury reconvened Tuesday to decide punitive damages.
Texas’ system of selecting judges by partisan elections and campaign fundraising is fraught with problems and ought to be changed. That is the opinion of the current and past chief justices of Texas, as well as the findings of a statewide blue-ribbon commission. What are the chances that Texas sees substantive judicial elections reforms? The two chiefs and two prominent trial lawyers - David Beck and Chip Babcock - have the answer.
Democratic incumbent Maricela Moore of Dallas County’s 162nd District Court faces a challenge in this year’s election from Republican Jordan Montgomery Lewis, in-house counsel and Texas Area President for First Guaranty Bank.
In the race for judge of the 14th District Court in Dallas County, incumbent Democrat Eric V. Moyé is being challenged by Republican Jessica Voyce Lewis, who is running for office for the first time. Moyé has held the seat since 2008.
The race for judge of the 215th District Court in Harris County is a rematch from 2016. Republican Fred Shuchart, an insurance defense lawyer and shareholder in the Houston office of Cooper & Scully, is challenging the incumbent judge, Democrat Elaine H. Palmer.
The race for Dallas' 95th District Court pits Republican Mike Lee against Democrat Monica Purdy. Both have significant experience but in different regards. This Q&A with both candidates explains more.
The RRC race pits Dallas energy litigator Chrysta Castañeda against South Texas businessman Jim Wright and has featured colorful ads, and in the final stretch, a multimillion-dollar endorsement by the former New York City mayor.
The race for the 164th district court features incumbent Michael Landrum, a mediator and arbitrator from Clark Hill Strasburger, against Cheryl Elliott Thornton, a senior assistant attorney for Harris County who is passionate about public service.
The race in Harris County pits incumbent Ursula Hall against Bruce Bain, a litigator and mediator who worked in the White House under President George H.W. Bush.
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