This fall, Bastrop County voters have the privilege of voting for four Third Court of Appeals justices. A total of six justices make up the Third Court. Votes for the four Third Court of Appeals justices are likely the most important votes you will cast in November 2018.
We’re lucky in Texas to be able to vote for our judges and justices. Votes matter! Some justices are appointed, for example, US Supreme Court justices. Appointees matter! Appointing authorities matter!
I recall answering one “what are your three most important issues” poll prior to the November 2016 presidential election with “Supreme Court. Supreme Court. Supreme Court.” I know many who felt that way. Prophetic.
Today, President Trump’s “Travel Ban” was upheld, by a 5-4 vote. It held “The President has lawfully exercised the broad discretion granted to him under 8 U. S. C. §1182(f) to suspend the entry of aliens into the United States; respondents have not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of their claim that Presidential Proclamation No. 9645 violates the Establishment Clause.”
Yesterday, by a 5-4 vote, our Congressional District 27 map was upheld by the Supreme Court. It determined “The District Court disregarded the presumption of legislative good faith and improperly reversed the burden of proof when it required the State to show a lack of discriminatory intent in adopting new districting plans;[…].”
And, last Friday in another 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court determined that government needs a warrant to seize historical location data from cell phones. It ruled “The Government’s acquisition of Carpenter’s cell-site records from his wireless carriers was a Fourth Amendment search; and the Government did not obtain a warrant supported by probable cause before acquiring those records.”
In each case, Neil Gorsuch was among the five jurists in the majority. Would the majority have ruled the same way if a Barack Obama appointed liberal jurist were sitting in the seat occupied by Neil Gorsuch? I doubt it.
Your votes for the Third Court of Appeals will have similar impact. Don’t let this incredible opportunity to have an impact on your own day-to-day lives pass you by.
Winning the special election at the ballot box on June 30 with more than 50% of the vote would be decisive. Strategically, Republicans should work hard to top 50% for our candidate, eliminating the need for another election. With many Republicans out of their home districts for an entire week because of the RPT Convention (June 11 – 16), we need to double our efforts when on home turf to make this happen. And, those not going to Convention need to double their efforts during Convention time.
Yesterday, for the second time, LPRW had a booth and parade entry at the Smithville Jamboree. For the second year in a row, we were wrapped in winter coats and blankets. 
But, for the first time, we won a trophy: 2nd Place, Best Organization. And, we had a blast doing it. We decorated the truck on Friday (and it survived a horrible overnight thunder storm), enjoyed dinner together, set up our “stuff” early on Saturday morning, and again, dined together. We shared stories of the day, of our lives, of the political world.