Don Fulton
Libertarian | Texas
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Don Fulton
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2016
Election
General
Race
Justice, Supreme Court, Place 9
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
SMU Law School, Dallas, Texas, Juris Doctor, 1976
U.T.A., Arlington, TX, BA Economics, 1972
WORK & MILITARY
United States Army, Captain, 1972-1985
AFFILIATIONS
LULAC, Counsel at local, Grace Lutheran Church
Sunday School Teacher, Evangelism committee
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Supreme Court of Texas, 2014
Race
Previous Races
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Debra Lehrmann
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Election of judges by the people for a definite term of office is the best way to select judges.
Strongly Agree
Which U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
Alito
Which of the following U.S. presidents best reflects your political philosophy?
Reagan
The founders established pure democracy in the Constitution because they believed that it is the best form of government to ensure the safety and equitable treatment of all citizens.
Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self-interest into the most productive economic system there is.
Strongly Agree
George Washington's comment that “Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society” is still true today.
Agree
Islamic law (Sharia) does not pose a threat to the United States and its Constitution.
Disagree
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 is the highest source of authority for my personal life. I would encourage others to do so also, but I would not force that on others by government acts. The Constitution is the highest source of authority for government ministers.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
Many libertarians have a saying that "Taxation is theft." Theft has been a problem at least since the Ten Commandments, and figures prominently into many of them. For instance, coveting your neighbor's possessions is dangerous because the only way to take them against his will is by theft/robbery. Therefore we must be very careful about letting government do what is prohibited by law to the individual.
What is the proper use of legislative history in interpreting statutory law?
Legislative history has some usefulness (similar to using the Federalist Papers in understanding the import of constitutional provisions)but only when the legislature or Congress has muddied the water and the "plain meaning" of a statute is not clear.
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?
".. that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.."
In which partisan primary election did you most recently vote (e.g. Democratic, Republican, etc.)?
Republican many years ago
The U.S. Constitution and my state constitution should be interpreted as living documents, rather than use a strict constructionist or originalist philosophy.
Disagree
In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges allowing members of the same sex to marry, which justice’s opinion in that case most closely approximates your understanding of marriage?
None
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
They can be found in the Nicene Creed, which is a more substantial version of the Apostles Creed.
Considering all issues (social, economic, national security, etc.), which of these best describes you?
Somewhat Conservative
Please defend your answer to the previous question by referencing your publicly available track record.
I have no previous publicly available "track record".
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you.
donfulton@lawyersline.com
Additional comment from candidate:
I have practiced law in the following appellate courts: United States Supreme Court United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States Board of Immigration Appeals Supreme Court of Texas Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Texas Court of Appeals (2nd District) at Fort Worth Texas Court of Appeals (5th District) at Dallas Texas Court of Appeals (10th District) at Waco. I have practiced law in the following trial courts: United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas United States Immigration Court at Dallas and other cities State Courts in the following counties: Tarrant, Dallas, Anderson, Bexar, Bowie, Brown, Clay, Collin,Cooke, Denton, Dickens, Ellis, Hood, Parker, Guadalupe, Harris,Houston, Hutchinson, Jack, Johnson, Lubbock, McLennan, Midland, Montague, Palo Pinto, Reagan, San Augustine, San Saba, Somervell, Taylor, Travis, Val Verde, Wise and Young
