Holly Taylor

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

I have practiced criminal law for over 25 years as a prosecutor and as an attorney for the Court of Criminal Appeals. I have been an adjunct law professor and I worked to remedy wrongful convictions.

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?

Our Code of Judicial Conduct requires judges to perform their “judicial duties without bias or prejudice” and avoid “the appearance of impropriety.” Judges should recuse themselves in cases where their “impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” I will recuse myself in any case that I worked on as a prosecutor and in any case where there could be an appearance of impropriety.

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

The Code of Judicial Conduct bars judges from taking a position on political issues. Commentators have said that nonpartisan judicial elections would allow judicial candidates to maintain the appearance of impartiality. Others have insisted that voters should have the right to know the party affiliations of judicial candidates. This is an issue for the Legislature.

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

Appellate courts can prioritize working toward an impartial and fair justice system, free of bias or prejudice based upon race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or any unconstitutional ground; fostering a government that serves all the people and treats all human beings with dignity and respect.

Philosophy: What is your judicial philosophy?

Courts should give full and fair consideration to the text of constitutional and statutory law. I support an impartial and fair justice system that is:
• free of bias based on race, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or any unconstitutional ground;
• founded in the rule of law, with due consideration given to the doctrine of stare decisis.