W. C. (Bud) Kirkendall
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
W. C. (Bud) Kirkendall
Party
Republican
Election Year
2014
Election
Primary
Race
Judge, Court of Crim. Appeals, Place 9
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Texas School of Law, Austin, JD, 1974
Iowa State University, Ames, IA, BA, 1971
WORK & MILITARY
State of Texas, District Judge, 2005-present
State of Texas, District Attorney, 1984-2004
Kirkendall, Frost & Allen, partner, 1975-2004
Court of Criminal Appeals, briefing attorney, 1974-1975
AFFILIATIONS
Guadalupe County Children's Advocacy Center, Founding chair, Seguin Crisis Pregnancy Center
Founding board member, Seguin Youth Basketball Association, Founder and president
Seguin Little League, Coach, First United Methodist Church, Seguin
member and Sunday School teacher, Texas District and County Attorneys Association, President and Chair of board
Guadalupe County MH-MR, Board member, American Heart Association, Guadalupe County chapt
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
District attorney, 1984-2004
District judge, 2005-present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
Adams, Cathie
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
(None listed.)
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Republican Women's Organizations
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Texans for Lawsuit Reform
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
1. Election of judges by the people for a definite term of office is the best way to select judges.
Agree
2. The U.S. Constitution is a living document and should be interpreted according to the circumstances of each generation.
Strongly Disagree
3. Foreign laws should be used in American courts even where those laws conflict with constitutional rights.
Strongly Disagree
4. Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self interest into the fairest and most productive economic system there is, and are the key to national prosperity.
Strongly Disagree
5. Which current Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court best reflects your judicial philosophy?
Clarence Thomas
6. Which U.S. president elected to that office in 1960 or thereafter best reflects your political philosophy?
Ronald Reagan
7. Which U.S. Supreme Court decision do you think has most impacted society? Please explain your answer.
Roe v Wade is a prime example of a decision which was wrongly decided and removed the issue of abortion from the states which simply perpetuated the social disruption of a fight over abortion. That case is a great example of overreaching by a court.
8. Based on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, please arrange the following entities, starting with the highest source of authority, and continue the list in descending order of authority, skipping any that do not apply: Academia, Congress, Constitution, God, Industry, Media, Professional Sports, Supreme Court, Voters.
God, constitution, voters, Supreme Court, Congress
9. What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers within the Constitution?
The founders had seen the tyranny by the monarch; they feared the tyranny of the majority. Checks and balances exist to insure that no one facet of government can become too powerful. To the extent that we denigrate those checks and balances, we risk our freedom.
10. Please give an example of a judicial decision where strict constructionist policy was violated. Explain.
I have already given my opinion of Roe v. Wade. The US Supreme Court case of Troxel v. Granville limited grandparents' access to their grandchildren and was a totally unnecessary decision on an issue that should have been left to state family law statutes. There is nothing in the constitution regarding family law, and courts should not invent constitutional provisions or statutes where none exist.
11. What is the proper use of legislative history in interpreting statutory law?
None
12. What specific text in the Declaration of Independence provides the critical basis for individual rights and the form of government guaranteed in the United States Constitution?
The Declaration of Independence of course has no force of law but i have always thought the phrase "the united States" indicates the supremacy of the states over the federal government. This is the greatest guard for individual rights.
13. Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian with all that means. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and try (and often fail) to live my life according to the Gospels.
