Chika Anyiam

Qualifications: What characteristics and experience qualify you to serve as a judge?

I am the Presiding Judge of a State Criminal District Court hearing serious felony cases. I am Board Certified in Criminal law, fair, impartial with 20 years of prior criminal law trial experience.

Ethics: Since judicial candidates solicit donations and raise money to be elected, how can voters be assured that campaign donations will not impact how judges interpret the law and review lower court decisions?

Judicial candidates should file their campaign finance reports timely, publish all campaign donations, donor names and be transparent to the public and parties appearing before the judge. I am not influenced by donations to my campaign. The Texas Code of Judicial Conduct ensures that judges who break campaign finance laws are sanctioned by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Judicial Elections: How would the administration of justice be impacted if judges ran in nonpartisan races?

Unlike appellate judges trial judges have a discretion to order rehabilitative/mental health services for defendants in need, and punitive prison sentences for violent dangerous criminals. Democratic judges are known to strike a healthy balance between rehabilitation and punishment, unlike their conservative counterparts. For this reason, voters need to know a trial judge's political affiliation.

Equity: What can be done to improve access to justice for all, including persons or groups who may be underserved?

Judges should come to work timely, appoint competent attorneys to indigent defendants and translators for non-English speakers. Low level offenders should be released quickly with low or PR bonds and only come to court when their case is set for disposition. Cases should not be set far out to ensure timely justice. Probationers should report to nearer offices and conditions that help them succeed.

Philosophy: What is your judicial philosophy?

I believe our laws should be interpreted strictly according to the legislative intent, not colored by the judge's individual biases or prejudices. Everyone has a right to equal justice, fair and impartial treatment and true and timey justice. In trial courts where the judge has the discretion, I believe in drug and mental health treatment for low level offenders and prison for violent criminals.