Gisela D. Triana, Democrat
Challenger for Justice, Supreme Court, Place 8
Triana/Photo by Campaign
Question: What is your educational background?
Answer: University of Texas at San Antonio, B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, 1985
University of Texas School of Law, J.D., 1988
Q: What is your occupation?
A: Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals
Q: What is your age:
A: 54
Q: If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.
A: Web site: https://JudgeTriana.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JudgeTriana
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JudgeTriana
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JusticeTriana
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisela-d-triana-68b2204
Q: Why did you decide to run for this office in 2020?
A: I am running to bring justice, balance, independence, and fairness to the Court. For over 2 decades, all the members of the Court have had one political ideology. Currently, 7 of the 9, were politically appointed to their present positions. These political appointments have made the Court result-oriented and beholden to special interests. Texans deserve a level playing field with an independent Court that will follow the Rule of Law, not one that rules on the basis of a political agenda.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
A: 1. Ensuring that justice is dispensed with an even hand toward all, not just to the wealthy or the well-connected.
2. Restoring faith in our courts. A great number of people have no trust or confidence in our courts.
3. Restoring balance in our courts. Currently, all members are from the same political party and many were political appointments from big law firms. Our founding fathers were wise to create a jury system that brought people together from different walks of life, with different experiences to judge a case. We need diversity of thought on the Court. It makes for better jurisprudence.
Q: Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position in 2020?
A: I believe I am the best qualified for this position. For over 24 years, I have served as a judge in Texas. I worked my way up from Municipal Court to Justice of the Peace, to County Court, to District Court, and most recently, to the Appellate Court. If elected, I will be the only person on the TX Supreme Court who has served at every lower level court of the judiciary. Most of my 32-year legal career has been in public service. As a civil district judge for 14 years in Travis County and as Justice on the 3rd Court of Appeals, I have dealt with all the types of cases that appear before the Supreme Court, and so I am ready to do the job and will need little, if any training. While on the 3rd Court of Appeals, I have authored the most opinions in both years I've served there. I have earned a reputation for being fair, courteous, deliberate, knowledgeable in the law and for listening to all sides of a case and I humbly ask for your support.