Luz Elena D. Chapa
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San Antonio Express-News Judicial Questionnaire/2012 The San Antonio Express-News Editorial Board is asking all judicial candidates to complete and return this questionnaire as part of our 2012 primary election endorsement process. If time and resources allow, we will post the completed questionnaires on mysanantonio.com as a service to voters. Regardless, we will use them to help us determine which candidates to endorse for election this year. We hope having these questions answered in advance will make our meetings with candidates more productive. Many of these questions were modeled after those on the Governor’s Office application for judicial appointments. Please e-mail the completed questionnaires to me at [email protected] by Feb. 3, 2010. If you have any questions e-mail or call me at 210-250-3478. Bruce Davidson Editorial Page Editor San Antonio Express-News Name: Luz Elena D. Chapa. Date of birth: My date of birth is June 24, 1973. Do you live in Bexar County? Yes. Position you are seeking: Justice, Fourth Court of Appeals, Place 4. Describe your legal education: I received my J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law in May, 1999. Describe your civic activities and community involvement: I firmly believe in the community in which I live and in those who populate it. More importantly, as parents, my husband and I feel a great sense of obligation and responsibility to raise our children so they, too, feel obligated to contribute to their community beginning at a young age. My family and I are parishioners at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and we are members and/or supporters of the San Antonio Zoo, Witte Museum, Southwest School of Art, Museo Alameda, Rey Feo Scholarship Fund, Girl Scouts of America, and St. PJ’s Children’s Home. Previously, I sat on committees to help raise funds for the Rey Feo Scholarship Fund and to establish a four-year degree at Southwest School of Art. I currently sit on the board of The Healy Murphy Center, the Saint Mary’s Hall Parents’ Association, and I am a committee member of Family Connections. Additionally, I am a member of the Bexar County Democratic Women, Bexar County Tejano Democrats, League of Women Voters of San Antonio, San Antonio Women’s Chamber of Commerce, State Bar of Texas, San Antonio Bar Association, San Antonio Women’s Bar Association, Mexican-American Bar Association, St. Mary’s University Alumni Association, and St. Mary’s University School of Law Alumni Association. Luz Elena Chapa Page 1 Please list noteworthy professional or personal accomplishments: I am proud to state that I have earned a highly regarded reputation amongst friends, colleagues, and civic leaders in West Texas and South Texas throughout my 12 year legal career. I have handled high-stakes, complex cases on both sides of the civil docket. The Texas counties in which I have practiced are as follows: Bexar County, Brooks County, Cameron County, Duval County, El Paso County, Hidalgo County, Jim Wells County, Kendall County, Matagorda County, Maverick County, Nueces County, Victoria County, Webb County, and Willacy County. I am also proud to have earned the Democratic nomination as candidate of the Fourth Court of Appeals, Place 4, along with earning the support of members of the Republican and Democrat parties and official endorsements from the following organizations: Bexar Tejano Democrats, San Antonio AFL-CIO, Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio, North East Bexar Democrats, Bexar County Young Democrats, National Association of Letter Carriers, and Bexar County Probation Officers Association. The personal accomplishments of which I am most proud are that of my 10 year marriage and my seven years of motherhood. My husband and I have established a strong foundation and in turn, my daughters have thrived and benefitted from the example which we have set, both within our own family and as community participants. My daughters understand the meaning of having strong faith and respect and love for mankind. Please list the federal or state courts where you are admitted to practice: I am admitted to practice law in the State of Texas and the Southern and Western District Courts of the United States. Describe your professional career and list the types of law you practice or have practiced in the past. Where are you employed currently? Is your legal practice a full-time job? If you are currently a judge, what type of cases do you typically preside over in your court? I have been licensed to practice law in the State of Texas for 12 years, and during my career, I have practiced both as an insurance defense attorney and as a plaintiff’s attorney. During my tenure as a civil defense attorney, I handled complex litigation cases and represented automobile, seat belt, and tire manufacturers, business owners, pharmaceutical companies, product manufacturers, and insurance companies, including, but not limited to clients such as Black & Decker, Bic Pen Corporation, Michelin, General Motors, and AIG. As a plaintiff’s lawyer, I have represented individuals and families who have been harmed in some way, catastrophically injured or suffered death. I am currently employed on a full-time basis by Chapa Law Group, PC. For specific information, my employment history is as follows: x Cauthorn, Hale, Hornberger, Sheehan, Fuller & Becker; San Antonio; 1995; Intern x Congressman Lloyd Doggett; Washington, D.C.; 1995, Intern x Congressman Frank Tejeda; Washington, D.C.; 1995-1996; Legislative Correspondent Luz Elena Chapa Page 2 x The Center for Legal and Social Justice; San Antonio; 1997; Law Clerk x Chief Justice (Ret.) Alma L. López; San Antonio; 1997; Intern x Law Offices of Frank Herrera, Jr.; San Antonio; 1997-1998; Law Clerk x Lyons & Rhodes, P.C.; San Antonio; 1998-1999; Law Clerk x Oaxaca, Bernal & Associates; El Paso; 2000-2001; Attorney x Barger, Hermansen, McKibben & Villarreal, L.L.P.; Corpus Christi; 2001-2002; Attorney x Hartline, Dacus, Barger, Dreyer & Kern, L.L.P.; Corpus Christi; 2002-2005; Attorney x Chapa & Nevarez, P.C.; San Antonio; 2005-2010; Attorney x Chapa Law Group, P.C.; San Antonio; 2010-present; Attorney Are you certified as a specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Sepcialization in any area of the law? I am not certified as a specialist. How many times did you take the Texas bar exam? Have you ever failed bar exams in any state? I took the Texas bar exam three times. I have not failed the bar exam in any other state. How many cases have you tried to verdict? Throughout my legal career, I have been involved in trials in a support role due to the complex, high stakes nature of civil litigation, both as a plaintiff’s attorney and as a defense attorney. I have worked-up numerous cases that settled on the eve of trial. I worked-up five cases that were tried to verdict, and I assisted as second or third chair. The reality is that over 95% of civil cases are settled before trial. Have you ever been investigated by a State Bar grievance committee or by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct? Have you ever been disciplined or reprimanded for your conduct as a lawyer or judge? If the answer is yes, please describe? No, I have not been investigated by a State Bar grievance committee or by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. I have not been disciplined or reprimanded. Have you ever been sued by a client? If so, please explain. I have never been sued by a client. Have you ever been arrested? Have you ever been convicted of a crime other than minor traffic violations? If the answer is yes, please explain. Yes, I was arrested for jaywalking in 1998. I approached a bike patrol officer and asked him for help with directions and with possibly escorting an out-of-town colleague to her Luz Elena Chapa Page 3 vehicle parked in downtown San Antonio to ensure her safety. After his surprisingly rude and unprofessional response and choice of language, I made the mistake of asking him for his name and badge number. At the time, I felt it necessary to report the officer’s conduct because he was not maintaining the high standards of the San Antonio Police Department, which we all know exist, nor was he proudly representing the City of San Antonio. He obviously grew upset, and he simply arrested me for harassing purposes. Please discuss your view of proper judicial temperament. Proper judicial temperament is demonstrating respect for others, being a good listener by allowing attorneys to advocate for their clients, maintaining a high standard of ethics and integrity, and maintaining a balance of judicial responsibilities and of public service. I also believe that proper judicial temperament is setting partisan politics aside without it ever having a role in the manner in which a judge conducts his/her duties and responsibilities. An appellate judge should strictly apply existing law and afford all parties an equal and fair opportunity to be heard. Proper judicial temperament involves not legislating from the bench and not furthering a political party’s agenda or showing bias. Further, proper judicial temperament is absolutely necessary because without it our citizens are not afforded the legal rights and legal representation, which they rightfully deserve. If you are seeking election or re-election to a criminal court, discuss your view of plea bargains and when they should and should not be accepted. I am not seeking election or re-election to a criminal court. Tell us about any plans you have to improve the administration of the court or make it more efficient.