Election '98

The quality of our judges is crucial to our community. Unfortunately, most voters know little about the candidates. For this reason, we have put together the following comparison in four key areas: (1) bar preference (2) qualification (3) impartiality (4) application of the law . Learn about the candidates and take time to vote. This comparison was developed from three Houston Bar Association polls:
1998 Judicial Preference Poll
1998 Judicial Candidate Qualification Poll
November, 1997 Judicial Evaluation Results

Names in the boldface print indicate winners of the Houston Bar Preference Poll. Neither boldface print nor ratings constitute endorsement. Party affiliations were not part of the HBA polls. Party affiliations are indicated by (D) for Democrat, (R) for Republican or (L) for Libertarian, and Incumbencies are indicated by (I). Some races have no incumbent. Early voting begins October 17th and ends October 30th. The General Election is November 3 .
Votes from the judicial preference and candidate qualification polls have been converted into percentages for easier reading. Additional information about judicial candidates is available through:
League of Women Voters
2650 Fountainview, Suite 328
Houston, Texas 77057 (713) 784-2923

APPELLATE RACES

Supreme Court Justice Houston Bar
Preference Poll Well
Qualified Properly Applies the Law Demonstrates Impartiality

Outstanding Average Poor Outstanding Average Poor

Place 1
Craig T. Enoch, R (I)
Mike Westergren, D
70.1%
29.9%
58%
12%
31.6%
N/A
28.1%
N/A
40.3%
N/A
31.8%
N/A
24.9%
N/A
43.3%
N/A

Place 2
Harriet O'Neil, R
Rose Spector, D (I)
* Rated as Houston Court of Appeals Judge
61.49%
38.51%

64%
46%

60.1%
29.9%

25.7%
38.5%

14.2%
31.6%

60.1%
32.6%

27%
34.6%

12.9% *
32.8%

Place 3
Greg Abbott, R (I)
David Van Os, D
81.03%
18.97%
79%
24%
69.1%
N/A
18.4%
N/A
12.5%
N/A
65.1%
N/A
19.8%
N/A
15.1%
N/A

Place 4
Deborah Hankinson, R (I)
Jerry Scarbrough, D
74.48%
25.52%
64%
24%
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Judge, Criminal Court of Appeals Houston Bar
Preference Poll Well
Qualified Properly Applies the Law Demonstrates Impartiality

Outstanding Average Poor Outstanding Average Poor

Place 1
Charles F. Baird, D (I)
Mike Keasler, R
72.53%
27.47%
57%
49%
66.9%
N/A
5.9%
N/A
27.2%
N/A
68.1%
N/A
5.8%
N/A
26.1%
N/A

Place 2
Winston Cochran, D (I)
Cheryl Johnson, R
61.78%
38.22%
46%
13%
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Place 3
Lawrence Meyers, R (I)
Larry S. Perry, L
76.15%
23.85%
33%
N/A
22.9%
N/A
37.1%
N/A
40%
N/A
24.3%
N/A
32.4%
N/A
43.3%
N/A

Justice/1st Court of Appeals Houston Bar
Preference Poll Well
Qualified Properly Applies the Law Demonstrates Impartiality

Outstanding Average Poor Outstanding Average Poor

Place 1
George Ellis, D
Dave L. Wilson, R (I)
*Nov. 1993 Judicial Evaluation Results
39.95%
60.05%

33%
50%

25.8%
36.2%

36.3%
42.2%

37.9%
21.6%

26.3%
36.2%

40%
43.7%

33.7%*
29.9%

Justice/11th Court of Appeals Houston Bar
Preference Poll Well
Qualified Properly Applies the Law Demonstrates Impartiality

Outstanding Average Poor Outstanding Average Poor

Place 1
Geoffrey (Jeff) Hutson, D
Don Wittig, R
*Rated as Harris CountyCivil District Judge
26.27%
73.73%

22%
49%

N/A
32.1%

N/A
44.6%

N/A
23.3%

N/A
30.4%

N/A
39.7%

N/A
29.9%*

Attorney General Houston Bar
Preference Poll Well
Qualified Properly Applies the Law Demonstrates Impartiality

Outstanding Average Poor Outstanding Average Poor

John Cornyn, R
Jim Mattox, D
*Rated as a Supreme Court Justice Nov. 1995 Judicial Evaluation Results 65.5%
34.5%

61%
22%

48.7%
N/A

27.3%
N/A

24%
N/A

43.8%
N/A

30.4%
N/A

25.8%*
N/A

Back

Next