Meet the Democrats running for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4
The Star-Telegram sent questionnaires to all candidates. Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Steve Miears
Occupation: I am Steve Miears and I am running for judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4, as a Democrat. I grew up in Houston and graduated from Madison High School. I graduated from Austin College and finished law school at the Texas Tech University School of Law. I was a prosecutor after finishing law school. For the last thirty-five years I have been in private practice representing people in criminal cases who were indigent. My office is in Grapevine, Texas.
Age: 60 years old
Website: SteveMiearsForJudge.com
Public offices you’ve held or run for, with years: N/A
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: N/A
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: N/A
Why are you seeking this office? I am running for this position because I want to bring my values and understanding of the law to the Court. I am a Democrat and I identify with the values of the Democratic Party. Currently, the Court consists of nine Republican judges. It’s time for a different set of ideas about the rule of law to come to the Court. These ideas include respect for a woman’s reproductive rights, sensible gun regulations, an understanding of society’s evolving views on the death penalty, respect for LGBTQ rights, enforcement of the open meetings laws, and the injustice of long prison sentences for non-violent drug offenders.
What would your top 3 policy priorities be? To assure every case coming to the Court gets a fair and impartial review, especially where DNA testing was not available or not done at the time of trial and could determine innocence.
To advocate respect for individual liberties under the Constitution.
To hold trial judges and the judges on the 14 courts of appeal across Texas accountable to give all persons due process.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent(s)? I am Board Certified in Criminal Law and Criminal Appellate Law. I have been named a “Super Lawyer” in criminal law by Texas Monthly magazine for the past 7 years. I have handled as lead counsel the trial and appeal of death penalty cases.
My primary opponent was elected in 2018 to a four-year term as a Dallas County judge. Voters expect that the person will fulfill those duties before seeking another office.
Because I have actually handled appeals, writs, and death penalty cases, I am more qualified by experience. I am committed to changing the Court for the better.
Tina Clinton
Tina Clinton did not respond.
This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 11:12 AM with the headline "Meet the Democrats running for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4."
