Endorsement watch: Supreme Court

The Chron makes the same endorsements for the Texas Supreme Court as the Dallas Morning News.

Sam Houston, Place 7. A highly experienced trial lawyer, Houston has been an attorney practicing mostly civil law at the state and federal level for 20 years. He says the high court is stacked with justices who take a "results-oriented" and "activist" approach to the cases they review and cites legal studies showing large corporations are far more likely to win favorable rulings than the individuals who challenge them. A Baylor Law School graduate, Houston says he will work to restore balance by working hard and following the law. If he wins in March, Houston faces Republican incumbent Justice Dale Wainwright in the November general election.

Linda Yanez, Place 8. Currently a senior justice on the 13th Court of Appeals, Yanez pledges to work to bring the court, which is often criticized for being ideologically conservative to the detriment of justice, back to the center. She says that will happen through discussions emanating from her position as a centrist, rather than from a far left perspective. Yanez has a strong work ethic, is widely respected in the legal community and has the practical experience formulating legal opinions that is the mainstay of a job on the state's highest court for civil matters. A win in March will pit her against Republican incumbent Justice Phil Johnson when voters go to the polls in the November general election.

That's two for two for Houston and Yanez. And comparing the Chron endorsement to the DMN's, I prefer the latter's style, in which they give their reasoning behind their choice, instead of simply stating what that person says he or she is for. I like the fact that they directly compare the contenders, which is something the Chron hardly ever does. Whether I agree with the choice or not, I like knowing why that choice was made.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on February 08, 2008 to Election 2008