Michelle Slaughter
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Michelle Slaughter
Party
Republican
Election Year
2018
Election
Primary
Race
Judge, Court of Crim. Appeals, Place 8
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Houston Law Center, Houston, J.D., 2004
University of Houston, Houston, B.A., 1998
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Clear Creek Community Church, Volunteer, Anchor Point Pregnancy Center
Donor, Pregnancy Parenting and Support Center, Donor & Volunteer
The Galloway School (a private Christian school), Vice President and Volunteer, Rotary Club of Galveston
Board Member, Donor & Volunteer, League City Lion's Club, Member and Volunteer
Hispanic Republicans of Texas - Galveston County, Founding Member & Advisor, National Rifle Association
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Judge, 405th District Court, 5
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (11)
Central Texas Republican Assembly
Grassroots America
Kingwood TEA Party
Lone Star Liberty
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Texas Values
Texas Right to Life
Texas Homeschool Coalition
Empower Texans
Conservative Republicans of Texas
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations
Republican National Hispanic Assembly
Republican Women's Organizations
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (5)
Conservative Republicans of Texas
Hispanic Republicans of Texas
Republican National Hispanic Assembly
Republican Women's Organizations
State Republican Party Organizations
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)
International Longshoremens Association
John Steven Mostyn
Mostyn Law Firm
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings or court houses.
Strongly Disagree
George Washington's comment that “Religion and morality are the essential pillars of civil society” is still true today.
Strongly Agree
The U.S. Constitution and my state constitution should be interpreted as living documents, rather than using a strict constructionist or originalist approach in judicial decisions.
Strongly Disagree
There are times when American judges should alter U.S. case law in order to comply with foreign case law.
Strongly Disagree
Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.
Strongly Disagree
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2010 General Election, 2012 General Election, 2012 Republican Primary, 2014 General Election, 2014 Republican Primary, 2016 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
Man's tendency towards greed and selfishness causes him to want more and more power. Power can lead to corruption. By defining, separating, and limiting governmental power, the Founders believed that the separate branches of government could police each other and keep the over-expansion of power by any one branch in check.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am proud to be a Christian. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. The Bible is the word of God and serves to direct me in my thoughts and actions.
Which current U.S. Supreme Court justice best reflects your judicial philosophy?
Justice Clarence Thomas
Which U.S. president serving after 1960 best reflects your political philosophy?
President Ronald Reagan
What is the proper use of legislative history in interpreting statutory law?
Legislative history should only be used in statutory interpretation when a statute is unclear or ambiguous. Statutes should be applied as they are written. Words should be given their plain meaning (as commonly understood at the time the statute was enacted) unless the legislature provides a definition in the statute, and then that definition should be ascribed.
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?
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,— That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
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?
Justice Clarence Thomas
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
In order to ensure compliance with the Code of Judicial Conduct, I will refer to the answers set forth in this questionnaire and my endorsements. I have been fully vetted through various individuals and organizations. I have been blessed with the most conservative endorsements based upon: (1) my answers to questionnaires and in interviews, (2) research by endorsers, and (3) through endorsers making independent inquiry of others who know me. Please visit my website www.JudgeMichelleSlaughter.com for a complete list.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
Currently, I am serving my second term as a district judge in Galveston County, Texas. During my time on the bench, I have presided over thousands of felony criminal cases ranging from state-jail felonies to capital murder cases. Before being elected as the judge of the 405th District Court, I worked as an attorney for two large international law firms. I also had my own successful law practice, The Slaughter Law Firm, PLLC. I litigated cases in state and federal courts throughout Texas and in other states. I tried cases to judges and juries in county, state district, and federal district courts. I took cases up on appeal in state and federal courts. My work as an attorney earned me the title of "Rising Star" by the Super Lawyers edition of Texas Monthly Magazine. Only 2 1/2% of Texas attorneys earn this distinction. While in law school, I worked for three prestigious law firms and interned for two federal district judges and 1st Court of Appeals Justice Tim Taft.
In what areas of law have you practiced?
As a judge, I preside over all types of civil cases (other than family) and felony criminal cases. As an attorney, I practiced complex commercial litigation, labor & employment law, bankruptcy, and general civil litigation.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
405thjudge@gmail.com
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
In 2012, I was willing to take a 50% pay cut to become the judge in the 405th District Court because I was tired of complaining about the incumbent liberal, activist judge. Upon defeating this 12-year incumbent judge, I worked hard to undo my predecessor's damage. Within my first two years on the bench, I transformed the court from the least efficient, least effective Galveston County district court with the highest reversal rate and the highest backlog into the most efficient, most effective district court, with the lowest backlog. I also implemented various cost-savings measures and audited court-appointed attorney fee vouchers to save taxpayers thousands of dollars each year. Further, because I believe in transparency for all levels and branches of government, I created a Facebook page where I provide information to the public about the Court. I frequently invite the public to attend proceedings in the Court so that they can see their tax dollars in action.
