Biography: see attached

Name: Guadalupe Rivera

Age: 59

Occupation: Judge 169^th District Court

Website: www.electjudgerivera.com

Residence: Central

Relevant Experience:

            I have served on the El Paso community on the bench for the last 23 years, both in family court and on the 168^th District Court. I have presided over thousands of family, personal injury, medical malpractice, dtpa, contract, fraud, and employment law cases. I have presided over high profile capital murder cases and thousands of criminal law cases. I am proud of a record that reflects integrity, efficiency and competence. I have been honored statewide as Outstanding Jurist, but I am also proud of the role I played locally many years ago in bringing about public awareness of domestic violence and in changing the reaction to it by the judicial system here in El Paso.

 

Issues

 

1.     What is the most important issue facing the court?

 

            Setting clear policy regarding timely publication of opinions.

 

2.     How would you describe the importance of the court?

 

In resolving issues and rendering opinions, the court sets the controlling law for the courts in the 8^th District.

 

3.     El Paso has long been seen as a liberal court and often is overruled by the more conservative State Supreme Court. Is El Paso out of the step with Texas, and is that a good or bad thing?

 

The “conservative” and rule making opinions recently issued by the Supreme Court are often out of step with the more accurate rulings of the Court of Appeals. That is a “bad” thing since the Supreme Court is the higher court and controlling.

 

4.     The court shrunk from four places to three in 2005. Would you work to change it back to 4 places? Why or why not?

 

El Paso would benefit from more places on the Court of Appeals. At the present time the Supreme Court has assigned several district judges to sit by assignment, including myself, because of the conflicts that arise due to the limited number of justices on the court.

 

5.     Is there fair access to justice for everyone? How would you improve access; specifically, how would you support public defenders?

 

Fair access is mandated by law and by the El Paso plan for indigent defense. The El Paso Bar has outstanding criminal defense attorneys that take on appointed cases. The public defender’s office is supported by the appointments made by the court.