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Rick Perry's judicial appointments gain attention as presidential run nears
August 13, 2011
By Jimmy Ardis
AUSTIN,Texas: As Texas Governor Rick Perry nudges closer to officially announcing his presidential campaign, his record of judicial appointments becomes increasingly important as a measure of his leadership. The New York Times ran a piece on Thursday analyzing Perry's high number of appointments to the Texas Supreme Court, given that judges are elected in Texas.[1] When a Texas judge wins an election but leaves office before the end of their term, the vacancy is filled by the governor.
Since taking office in 2000 Perry has had the opportunity to make ten appointments to the Supreme Court.[1] Only one of those ten, Xavier Rodriguez, has lost the subsequent election to retain their seat.[1] The current makeup of the nine-member high court consists of six Perry appointees. That's a significant and lasting influence for an executive to have on a court whose primary selection method is the ballot box.
Of the nine justices currently on the Supreme Court the following six were appointed by Rick Perry:
- Wallace Jefferson - appointed March 2001
- Don Willett - appointed August 2005
- Debra Lehrmann - appointed June 2010
- David Medina - appointed November 2004
- Phil Johnson - appointed March 2005
- Eva Guzman - appointed October 2009
One explanation for the governor's extensive appointments was offered by Supreme Court Justice Don Willett. For Willett, it's about money, with the lure of private sector paychecks overwhelming the incentives to hold public office. Justice Willett commented, “The salary economics are pretty stark. It’s unfortunate when elected officials, judges included, exit before serving their full terms, but the math is unrelenting.”[1]
Supporters and defectors unsurprisingly offer speculative explanations as to why Perry's appointment record is either a positive or negative. Regardless, if the Texas Governor makes it into the White House, his attention to and adeptness with the appointment process could prove an invaluable political skill. As Justice Willett put it, “If you’re president, it’s often your court appointments that seal your legacy with a capital L. I’m confident Governor Perry gets that, consummately."[1]
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