The Amarillo Pioneer

Amarillo's only free online newspaper. Established in 2016, we work to bring you local news that is unbiased and honest.

 

Profile: (Republican) Steven Denny, 7th Court of Appeals Place 4

Below are the unedited responses from Steven Denny to the Amarillo Pioneer’s candidate questionnaire for 2020. Denny is running in the March 3, 2020 Republican primary for Justice, 7th Court of Appeals Place 4. Denny is challenging incumbent Larry Doss in his primary.

Please note: Questions from the Pioneer are in italics and the candidate’s responses are in standard type.


Denny/Photo by Campaign

Denny/Photo by Campaign

What is your occupation?

Attorney

What is your age?

44 (45 at the time of election)

What is your educational background? Please list any degrees earned, and institutions attended. You may also list any professional certifications.

I earned my Juris Doctor from Texas Tech School of Law in 2000 and my Bachelor of Science in speech communication from WTAMU in 1996.

Is this your first time running for office? If not, please list which offices you have sought or held in the past. 

I have previously run against the incumbent for 47th District Attorney and a sitting judge for the 320th District Court.

If you have a website, Facebook, Twitter, or any other online campaign materials, please list the links below.

https://www.facebook.com/dennyforjustice/

https://www.facebook.com/dennyforjustice/

https://twitter.com/dennyforjudge

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyJdsnX-g84hyLbfMba6eUA/featured

Why did you decide to run for office in 2020? 

Over 50% of the cases presented to the 7th Court of Appeals are criminal cases. I think it is vital that the court include justices with criminal trial and appellate experience. A common standard of review in a criminal case is whether something amounts to "trial strategy." I think it would be very difficult to accurately determine trial strategy if you have not been a trial attorney.

What experience do you have that qualifies you to hold this position?

After graduation from Texas Tech School of Law, I worked as a trial lawyer on both sides of the criminal courtroom, 5 years as a felony prosecutor and going on 15 years as a defense attorney. I have handled many appeals in the 7th Court of Appeals and in the Court of Criminal Appeals. I trained judges, appellate judges, police and attorneys while serving as a Justice Advisor in Afghanistan in 2010/2011 and have taught CLE on various subjects during my 20 years of practice. I taught an undergraduate legal research and writing class at WTAMU. I was recognized by Amarillo Magazine in a 2019 peer survey as a top attorney in Appellate and Criminal Law in Amarillo. I was a recipient of the 2017 SBOT Bob Black Bar Leaders Award. I have coached a Texas High School Mock Trial team yearly since 2002. I routinely write for my law firm website and contribute to legal and non-legal publications. I currently serve on the State Bar Jury Service Committee and the TCDLA Veterans Affairs Committee. I was inducted into the WTAMU Communication Hall of Fame in 2018.

Are you supported by any political action committees? If so, please list your PAC endorsements.

No PACs have endorsed me at this time.

Why are you the best candidate for voters to support in your race?

I have substantial courtroom trial and criminal experience both as a defense attorney and as a felony prosecutor. I have handled many criminal appeals to the 7th Court of Appeals.

Profile: (Republican) David Newell, Judge Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9

Profile: (Republican) Ayvrie Dixon, Potter County Commissioner Pct. 1

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