Theresa Bui Creevy
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Theresa Bui Creevy (Democratic Party) ran for election for the Place 9 judge of the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals. She was disqualified from the Democratic primary scheduled on March 5, 2024.
Biography
Theresa Bui Creevy was born in Saigon, Vietnam. She obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California in 1989 and a J.D. from the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (now know as Texas A&M University School of Law) in 1996. She is an attorney.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2024
General election
General election for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 9
Tina Yoo Clinton defeated Matthew Kolodoski in the general election for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 9 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tina Yoo Clinton (D) | 50.1 | 760,927 |
| Matthew Kolodoski (R) | 49.9 | 759,331 | ||
| Total votes: 1,520,258 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 9
Tina Yoo Clinton advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 9 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tina Yoo Clinton | 100.0 | 143,186 |
| Total votes: 143,186 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 9
Matthew Kolodoski advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 9 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Matthew Kolodoski | 100.0 | 186,503 | |
| Total votes: 186,503 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Creevy in this election.
2020
See also: Municipal elections in Collin County, Texas (2020)
General election
General election for Texas 416th District Court
Incumbent Andrea Thompson defeated Theresa Bui Creevy in the general election for Texas 416th District Court on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Andrea Thompson (R) | 57.3 | 262,522 |
 | Theresa Bui Creevy (D) | 42.7 | 195,321 | |
| Total votes: 457,843 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas 416th District Court
Theresa Bui Creevy advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas 416th District Court on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Theresa Bui Creevy | 100.0 | 56,293 |
| Total votes: 56,293 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Texas 416th District Court
Incumbent Andrea Thompson advanced from the Republican primary for Texas 416th District Court on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Andrea Thompson | 100.0 | 56,570 |
| Total votes: 56,570 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
To view Creevey's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Theresa Bui Creevy did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released September 26, 2020 |
Theresa Bui Creevy completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Creevy's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I immigrated to the United States from from Saigon, Vietnam in 1975. I have grown up in Texas most of my life, particularly in Dallas and Richardson. I am married to a wonderful man and have three beautiful and smart daughters. Each of my daughters attended Plano ISD schools. My oldest daughter is at Texas A&M and my middle daughter currently attends Pace University in New York City. My youngest daughter is currently a junior at Plano East Senior High School.
- Judges must be impartial, fair, and follow the law.
- Only when there is fairness or a fair process, can justice prevail for all.
- I have the right legal experience for this court. I am the right choice, the only choice.
I am passionate about Indigency Defense. I believe that Collin County faces inherent problems with its Indigent Defense Managed Counsel Program. The mission of the program is to improve the delivery of indigent defense services by providing attorney appointments and high-quality legal representation to every indigent person in Collin County. Attorney are paid pursuant to a fee schedule and district judges do have discretion as to how much a court-appointed attorney is paid, and whether motions filed on behalf of their clients have merit. But because the flat fee sometimes equate to less than 1/4 of what a private practice attorney is paid, many criminal defense attorneys have decided not to take any more court appointments. This fee structure causes good attorneys, who can provide quality representation to indigent defendants, not take court appointments. In turn, the loss of good court-appointed attorneys is a loss for indigent defendants. Furthermore, some court-appointed attorneys are not given the tools and resources necessary to provide a proper defense for indigent defendants because of budget constraints by the court or denial of motions that are proper. The indigence defense program needs to be reviewed on an on-going basis to make sure that indigent defendants receive the proper legal quality defense.
The person I look up to most is my dad, Thach Bui. He passed away in 1992. My dad was a remarkable man. He always placed his family first. He loved to help people and his community. As much as he received, he gave back ten folds. The year Saigon fell (1975), my father didn't alert us about the war or the devastation occurring around; instead, he took us to a movie. I was 7 at the time. After the movie, he said we needed to visit an American friend of his. We ended spending the night there. He said we couldn't go home or go get our things. He said we didn't need our things. Without my mother (she stayed behind to take care of her siblings and father), my dad took 4 small children and left for Guam. From Guam, we ended up settling at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA, a military base that housed 22,000 Vietnamese refugees. Through the generosity of the Reinhardt Bible Church members in East Dallas, we were luckily sponsored to live in Dallas. At some point, my mother was finally able to escape Vietnam and joined us in Dallas. They had left everything behind; their home, their businesses, everything of value, it was all left behind. My parents started over. They worked long hours and did manual labor work. They saved enough money to buy a home and opened an Asian grocery store after a couple of years. My parents worked 20 hour plus days to take care of us. Because my father spoke 6 different languages, he was able to help out many refugees that settled in Dallas. My parents instilled hard work in each of us. We attended well-known colleges and borrowed very little in student loans. My dad was also a Vietnamese translator for the Dallas courts. My dad encouraged me to become a translator as well, and he later encouraged me to go to law school. He didn't get a chance to see me get into law school. He died the year before I started law school. He was also known as "Tex" because he liked to wear ostrich cowboy boots and a Stetson hat. I miss him dearly.
The most important characteristics or principles are integrity and honor.
I have the right legal experience for the 416th District Court of Collin County. It's critical that judges have the right experience that aligns with the cases that come before them. The 416th District Court is a court of general jurisdiction that hears family law, civil law, and criminal law cases. I have been a trial lawyer for over 23 years practicing in all these areas of law, and more. I've been a civil defense lawyer and a plaintiff's lawyer. I have represented fathers, mothers, children, grandparents, individuals, businesses, and criminal defendants in felony and misdemeanor cases. My experience is very broad. I believe judges should follow the law, regardless of their politics or personal beliefs. Empathy is an important quality I possess and something all judges should possess. When you have empathy, you are able to understand better people. When judges have empathy, they tend to be fair and just. Fairness means many things, but fairness doesn't necessarily mean being lenient. Fairness means hearing out the parties, understanding all of the issues, following the law, but being fair to everyone and making sure that a fair process is provided to all who come before the court. When the process is fair, justice can prevail. Good temperament is an important quality that will make a good judge. Judges need to have good temperament. Although respect of the court and court decorum are important, no one comes to court to be yelled at or disrespected because they don't know the law or they don't know procedures that are particular to that court. Judges wield power and are given the ability to make rulings in a case and about someone's life; but each person in that case is a human being, and not just a case to be disposed of quickly just because the court has a backlog of cases.
The core responsibility of a district judge in Collin County or any judge in this state is to carefully listen to the parties, hear their evidence and facts, provide a reasonable time for the parties to be heard, and apply the applicable laws to such evidence and facts. Judges should also provide a fair process to everyone coming before the court. Without a fair process, justice cannot be had.
It was 1975, the year Saigon fell. I was 7 years old at the time. My dad had taken us to see a movie and later whisked us away to an American friend's house. I recall wearing a white dress that day. My mom couldn't come with us (she stayed behind in Saigon to take care of her siblings and her father). From that night on, I remember being shuttled onto a big military plane, then landing in Guam, to settling in a military camp for refugees in Pennsylvania where 22,000 Vietnamese refugees were housed. I recall GIs walking around and MPs driving around in their jeeps. When we arrived in Indiantown Gap, I didn't speak any English so I could only observe what was happening. At that time, I spoke 3 different languages: Vietnamese, French, and Laotian. I didn't know the English language back then. Back in 1975, there were no ESL classes offered. I learned English by watching Sesame Street, PBS, and learning English in school. But I quickly adapted and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen, along with my parents and the rest of my siblings. I am proud to be a Vietnamese American. I hope I am able to give back to those who has helped me and my family in the past.
I believe my very first job was a retail position for a clothing store in Dallas back when I was in high school. Sadly, I do not recall the name of the company. I believe I only worked there for a couple of months.
The authority to appoint counsel for an indigent defendant accused of capital murder in Collin County is determined by the local administrative district judge. The administrative judge will appoint attorneys from the Texas List of Attorneys Qualified to Represent Indigent Defendants in Death Penalty Cases. If appropriate, the presiding trial court judge will appoint second-chair counsel following
the indictment. But for all other felony accusations, the district judges can designate the following as authorities to appoint counsel for indigent defendants: 1) The Indigent Defense Office; 2) a judge or magistrate presiding over a proceeding for which the appointment of counsel is sought; and 3) the MHMC director (for mental health-designated cases). District court judges in Collin County have the ability to appoint qualified attorneys; however, this ability has been shifted to the Indigent Defense Managed Counsel Program.
the indictment. But for all other felony accusations, the district judges can designate the following as authorities to appoint counsel for indigent defendants: 1) The Indigent Defense Office; 2) a judge or magistrate presiding over a proceeding for which the appointment of counsel is sought; and 3) the MHMC director (for mental health-designated cases). District court judges in Collin County have the ability to appoint qualified attorneys; however, this ability has been shifted to the Indigent Defense Managed Counsel Program.
I admire judges who are fair, who take time to listen to litigants and their attorneys, and hear what they have to say. While being fair, judges should also be professional and have integrity. In particular, I admire The Honorable Elizabeth Crowder. Judge Crowder retired from the bench in 2018, after serving for more than 22 years. I had the opportunity to briefly know Judge Crowder through many of the social legal functions she attended and appearing in her court on and off. Judge Crowder served as an Associate Judge for the 305th Juvenile District Court and later presided over County Criminal Court No. 1 and No. 7 in Dallas County. The 305th District Court is a court in which I currently appear regularly due to my representation of parents and children in CPS cases and juvenile cases so I understand the type of cases Judge Crowder presided over. I also represent defendants in criminal matters as well. Judge Crowder always had a great temperament. She was always approachable and friendly while maintaining judicial decorum that conveyed respect for the court and for attorneys and litigants coming before her. Judge Crowder exuded professionalism and integrity. Judge Crowder was helpful to attorneys when she could (as long as an attorney did not have a case currently pending before her) and she encouraged me to continue studying the law and being prepared for court and being prepared to present my position with proper authority and case law in a case. From my point of view, I believe that Judge Crowder believed that respect was a two-way street. She had great temperament. No one comes to court to be yelled or belittled and Judge Crowder was patient, listened, and paid attention to the litigants and the attorneys coming before her. I believe all judges should act in this manner. And I plan to do the same if I am a judge one day.
I also admire Justice Ruther Bader Ginsburg. I wish I had space to mention the passing a great justice.
I also admire Justice Ruther Bader Ginsburg. I wish I had space to mention the passing a great justice.
Empathy is a very important quality a judge should have. Without empathy, how can a judge understand what is going on with parties and litigants? Although empathy is an important quality to have, empathy should not have a direct impact on a judge's ruling. A judge's ruling should be based on the parties, their facts, and the laws that affect them. If a judge has the discretion in their rulings, it is critical that the judge looks at fairness and a fair process to all parties, not just one party.
No, I have not been rated by a Bar Association.
As an immigrant and a naturalized US citizen, I believe in the law and the US Constitution and the law is very important to me today as a person and as a lawyer. When Saigon fell in 1975, our family left Vietnam so that we could live in a world without persecution by the North Vietnamese. We left everything behind except for a couple of suitcases containing our clothes and photographs. We were luckily welcomed as refugees. We settled in Dallas due to the generosity of the church members of the Reinhardt Bible Church in East Dallas. I was 8 years old. I didn't speak English and there were no ESL classes at that time. My parents worked long hours and to take care of us. I recall how much my father did to assist new refugees settling in Dallas in the late 1970s. After graduating from the University of Southern California, I came back to Dallas. He encouraged me to become a Vietnamese translator for the Dallas County courts since I spoke fluent Vietnamese. I later became a legal assistant. My father asked me if I liked helping people and if I can do what the lawyers did. My answer was "yes"; so he encouraged me to go to law school. As a lawyer, I try to help as many as I can with pro bono work and provide free legal consultations to as many as possible. But as a lawyer, there is only so much I can do when judges seem to be unfair to my clients, or they seem to be partial to one side, or they don't follow the law. Unfairness, partiality, or not following the law can be devastating to individuals and families. When that happens, I can only say to my client "I'm sorry. You can file an appeal." It is also financially devastating to them. After 22 years of practice, I don't want to say that anymore. I want to be that judge that can be fair; that judge that can be impartial; and that judge that will follow the law. Everyone needs fairness and justice when they go to court. I want to bring fairness and justice back to our courts.
No, I do not believe that it is beneficial for a judge to have prior experience in government or politics because politics do not belong in the courtroom.
The primary concern I have today about our legal system in our state is that some people are not fairly treated by many who wield authority and power over people in this state. Judges need to make reasonable time to hear the parties and their stories. Legislators need to commit to the statements they have made to their constituency. The Governor's office needs to enforce the law, versus make law. The judiciary, the executive branch, and the legislative branch are 3 equally important branches in our Texas government, as well as that of the United States. These 3 branches should be separate in its powers. However, it seems to me that politics that taken over the courts, the legislature, and the Governor's office.
It seems to me that very aspect of government and the issues concerning the people of Texas are partisan in nature. Everyone needs to work together for the betterment of Texans. It is time to place Texans first over party politics.
It seems to me that very aspect of government and the issues concerning the people of Texas are partisan in nature. Everyone needs to work together for the betterment of Texans. It is time to place Texans first over party politics.
I would like to gain experience serving as a district judge before making any determination to serve in any other higher court.
Sometimes, Bar assocation ratings may correctly reflect the ratings of a judge's abilities. However, the problem is that many attorneys do not vote in those surveys and, therefore, the ratings are not accurate.
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Campaign finance summary
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 27, 2020
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