Jessica Caird, a Republican, is running for Texas 1st Court of Appeals, Place 5 in the Nov. 3 general election. She faces Democrat Amy Guerra.
Caird serves as appellate division chief at the Harris County District Attorney's Office. Asked in our questionnaire why she is running, Caird said, "After 28 years as an assistant district attorney in Harris County, including 20 years as an appellate prosecutor, I have seen the First Court of Appeals work efficiently, effectively and accurately to ensure justice in every case." She said that "changed in 2018 and 2020 with the newly elected judges," adding, "What had often been a six-month to one-year wait for an opinion grew to two years or more."
"I cannot sit back and wait for things to improve. I know I can do a better job, and that is why I am running," Caird said.
Candidate information
Party: "The Republican Party of Texas"
Family: "My older sister and I were raised in Dallas, Texas by a father who programmed for IBM and a mother who later became a chaplain and social worker. My husband and I met in law school. Soon after we graduated and embarked on our careers we married. We will celebrate our 25th anniversary this December. We have two children, a son in college and a daughter who just embarked on her teaching career."
Education: "In 1995, I received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature from American University. In 1998, I earned a juris doctorate degree in law from the University of Houston Law Center. I now routinely present continuing legal education courses throughout Texas on a variety of topics including jury charges, discovery, juvenile law, and evidentiary matters."
Endorsements: Log Cabin Republicans and The Menudo Club, according to Texas Judges.
Experience and public service
Asked about her work history, Caird said in our questionnaire, "I've been a practicing attorney in the Houston area since November 1998. I've worked for 28 years at the Harris County District Attorney's Office with 20 of those years in the Appellate Division. Before that, I spent 8 years trying cases from the Justice of Peace Courts up to murders in the felony and juvenile courts."
She added, "I've been lead attorney in over 40 jury trials and over 440 appeals, including presenting oral argument in 34 matters before the First Court of Appeals, the Fourteenth Court of Appeals, and the Court of Criminal Appeals."
Asked about previous appointed offices, Caird said, "I've been appointed as an assistant district attorney under seven elected District Attorneys beginning with John B. Holmes Jr., and one appointed District Attorney."
On the issues
Critical differences from opponent: "I have vastly more appellate experience. Unlike my opponent, I've worked as an attorney on criminal and civil law cases at all levels of the justice system … That lack of experience revealed itself in reversals from both the Texas Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on serious cases. She has essentially learned on the job, whereas I'd be ready to do the important work of the Court on day one."
Accomplishments: "I have approximately a 97 percent success rate on the appeals I've handled, even when the Court of Appeals initially disagreed with the State's position … I've written more than 440 appellate briefs that explain the law in a way that helps the court reach a just decision that follows Texas and federal law."
Judicial philosophy: Her profile on Texas Judges states that she believes the U.S. and Texas constitutions "must be interpreted as written because they stand as the will of the people" and that "the job of a judge is not to ignore or create the law, but to faithfully apply it as written by the Texas Legislature and as enshrined in the Constitution."
