NPT Voter Guide 2008

District Court Questions

Biography

Name: Regina Arditti

Age: 50

Occupation: Attorney, Former Presiding Judge of the Municipal Courts and Judge, Municipal Court No. 4

Website: VoteArditti.com

Residence (East Side, West Side, Northeast, Central, Lower Valley, County): West Side - Central

Relevant Experience (for print, will be edited 100 words max):

I have served you as Municipal Judge for 12 years in El Paso and Clint—and I thank you for your continued vote of confidence. As an advocate in the courtroom for 20 years, I have gained extensive experience in both civil and criminal law, on both the defense and prosecution sides bringing a fair and balanced perspective you can continue to trust. I am committed to preserving and protecting our community under the law, to ensuring you are treated with fairness, dignity and respect; but most importantly you have a voice and you will be heard.

1. What is the most important issue facing the court? As a newly created court of both criminal and civil jurisdictions, it is crucial to consider a Judge that has extensive and proven judicial experience. More importantly, however, this Court needs a Judge that truly listens and believes in Justice.

2. Is the local system of oversight sufficient to protect the public from unfair judges? If so, why, and if not, how would you change it? Although the law provides numerous remedies for protection within District Courts, the Presiding District Judge oversees situations of potential conflict and has authority to resolve some of them at a local level. As the Presiding Municipal Judge, I listened to ethical considerations brought forth by citizens, and promoted a fair and balanced solution to them. I will to continue to uphold and promote ethical justice in the District Court.

3. What experience do you have with the law that will make you a good judge? For the past 20 years, I have practiced criminal and civil law in our community serving in various capacities as an Assistant County Attorney, Assistant District Attorney, Assistant City Prosecutor and Assistant County Public Defender. I was an attorney at the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate General, US Department of Defense, US Department of the Army. I was also an Associate Attorney for a local civil law firm. Currently, I am in private practice, where I handle civil and criminal cases in the Texas State courts and Federal courts.

I am licensed to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas and the State Bar of Texas. I have taught at the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso Community College, and lectured at numerous legal and community seminars throughout Texas.

For the past 12 years, I have served as your Municipal Judge both in El Paso and in Clint. I began as an Associate Municipal Court Judge for the City of El Paso and as the Presiding Municipal Court Judge in Clint, Texas. Since 2000, with your vote of confidence, I have served you as Judge of Municipal Court No. 4. For the past five years, I was appointed by my fellow Municipal Judges to preside over the five Municipal Courts and supervise the substitute Associate Judges appointed by City Council.

4. How do District Courts differ from County Courts? Although District Courts and County Courts at Law have concurrent jurisdiction, only District Courts can preside over felony criminal cases. Extreme and careful consideration must be exercised by the Court in felony cases because the punishments rendered by jurors can be as severe as the death penalty. Only a judge that listens and believes in justice can be trusted with the magnitude of these decisions.

5. What is your position on the trend at the state level to either consolidate the county and district courts or to allow them to hear similar cases? A careful evaluation of a social impact study should be carried out by the legislature before making a decision regarding this issue.

In El Paso, it seems like lawyers and judges know each other, something perhaps similar to most communities. What are some of the situations under which you think a judge ought to recuse themselves? Are the rules clear enough and if not, how would you change them?

A judge has an ethical obligation to be fair, honest and impartial in each case. Under the law, there are several situations which either require recusal or disqualification of a judge. As a matter of principle, however, a judge should always recuse themselves if justice cannot be served.

6. Is there fair access to justice for everyone? How would you improve access; specifically, how would you support public defenders? A judge who listens takes into consideration any circumstance that would affect fair and equal access to justice and affords everyone an opportunity to proper representation, including access to public defenders.

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