This is news I’m very proud to share. My campaign has been endorsed by three former Texas Supreme Court justices, who are Republicans. For me, a Democrat, to have earned these endorsements is an affirmation of the broad, bipartisan support we are building. Here’s the press release we sent out today:

Democrat Endorsed by Leading Republicans
Former Supreme Court Justices Say Qualifications Prevail Over Partisanship In Appeals Court Race

Austin, Texas—Kurt Kuhn, Democratic nominee for Justice on the Third Court of Appeals, announced today that he has been endorsed by several of the state’s most respected Republican jurists. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips, former Supreme Court Justice Scott Brister, and former Supreme Court Justice Craig Enoch are supporting Kuhn in his campaign for a seat on the Third Court.

“Kurt Kuhn is undoubtedly the best candidate for this very important court,” said Chief Justice Phillips. “Because experience and qualifications are what matters in a judicial race, I am joining with many other Republicans in endorsing Kurt. He will make an excellent appellate judge.”

Kuhn is an experienced appellate advocate who has spent his career handling the kind of complex appeals that the Third Court hears. He is the only candidate in the race who is board certified in civil appellate law, and he was voted the “best qualified” candidate in a non-partisan poll of all lawyers in the court’s district. Kuhn currently heads the appellate section at Brown McCarroll, LLP, and teaches appellate advocacy as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law. Kuhn previously served as an Assistant Solicitor General of Texas, handling civil and criminal appeals for the state.

“Appellate work is generally technical, not partisan,” said Justice Brister. “As one of the leading appellate practitioners in the State of Texas, Kurt Kuhn has the smarts, skills, and experience to get the job done on the Third Court of Appeals.”

Justice Enoch said, “To ask a judge to do more than impartially apply the law is to ask the judge to step outside the bounds of the judicial office. I’ve worked with Kurt Kuhn. I know him to be a person of integrity, a person committed to the rule of law, and a person who understands the proper bounds of the office he seeks.”

Kuhn said he hoped the endorsements would send a strong message to Texas voters about the importance of selecting judges based on individual merit instead of partisan politics. “I am humbled to have earned the endorsements of Chief Justice Phillips and Justices Brister and Enoch, all of whom I deeply respect for their service,” said Kuhn. “During my campaign, I’ve emphasized that judges need to be above partisan politics, and I’m very proud of the bipartisan support my campaign is receiving.”

Chief Justice Phillips served on the Texas Supreme Court from 1988-2004. Justice Enoch served from 1993-2003, and Justice Brister served from 2003-2009.