Candidates for Texas Supreme Court Place 3 on Nov. 8 ballot
Debra Lehrmann
Political party (if applicable): Republican
Age as of November 8, 2022: 65
Education: A member of Phi Beta Kappa, I received a B.A. with high honors from The University of Texas in 1979, a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 1982, and an LL.M. from Duke Law’s Master of Judicial Studies in 2016.
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought)
I am seeking a 3rd term on the Supreme Court of Texas, having been elected twice after being appointed to the Court in 2010. As the Senior Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas, I am the Court’s longest-serving woman Justice in Texas history. With a total of almost 35 years of judicial experience, I was a trial judge in Tarrant County for 23 years prior to my appellate service, having been elected twice to the 360th District Court in Tarrant County.
Please list highlights of your civic involvement:
I am past chair of the Family Law Section of the ABA, a commissioner on the Uniform Law Commission, a member of the American Law Institute, and a fellow of the ABA. I served as the inaugural chair of the State Bar of Texas Child Protection Law Section, am emeritus members of Inns of Court in Fort Worth & Austin, a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, & a charter member of the Tarrant County Bar Foundation.
Who are your top three campaign contributors?
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, Hunton Andrews Kurth Texas PAC, Bracewell PAC
What is the most important distinction between you and your opponent(s)?
Experience. Having served on the bench for almost 35 years, I have a proven record of strictly enforcing the rule of law & never legislating from the bench. I am the Senior Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas and am the longest serving woman jurist in the Court’s history. Prior to my appellate service, I served as a trial judge in Tarrant County for 23 years & am the only person to serve on the Court from Tarrant County in 50 years. Serving the public by dispensing justice fairly, and ensuring that the jurisprudence of our state evolves in accordance with the rule of law, is a privilege I take very seriously. I have tried my very best to serve with honor & integrity for over 3 decades. As the Senior Justice, I have the experience necessary to carry on the important work of the Court without interruption. My record reflects my dedication to fairly and impartially applying the law in every case, and I believe that the public will benefit from my continuing to do so.
What are the three biggest issues in this race?
Experience, scholarship and integrity. My many years of judicial experience has resulted in a proven record of fairly and impartially applying the law in every case. It is critical that judges consistently and rigorously enforce the rule of law across the board. With over three decades of judicial experience, and as the recipient of numerous awards for exemplary judicial service, I am uniquely qualified to do the job. Lawyers and non-lawyers have recognized my scholarly, consistent, efficient and responsible approach to judicial decision-making. During my tenure on the Court, we have made great progress in improving access to justice for all persons. I have devoted much time and effort towards increasing public and private support for expanded representation of underprivileged Texans. Proud of these efforts, I intend to expand upon this important work. I have the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience that is required to grow this access to justice initiative.
Erin A. Nowell
Democrat Erin A. Nowell did not respond to a questionnaire.
This story was originally published October 23, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
