Question #2 The Nature of Law
During Texas 84th legislative session State Representative Mark Keough introduced HB 3184 a bill seeking to import the civil law process of mediation into criminal law. The law applied to some first time misdemeanor and felony offenders. The bill passed though the legislative process but failed to become law on veto by Governor Greg Abbott who stated “Making amends with the victim of a crime does not absolve the criminal of his legal debt to the State.”
Do you agree with the Governor? What is the purpose of law from your point of view as a Legislative/Judicial/ Law Enforcement official? Who is it intended to protect?
What should be the role or effect of private judging companies (such as Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service) in the judicial or incarceration system?
(answer should be based on elected office sought.)
Candidate Answer #2
No response submitted to this question.
Question #1 Civil Asset Forfeiture.
Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett said “A generation ago in America, asset forfeiture was limited to wresting ill-gotten gains from violent criminals. Today, it has a distinctive ‘Alice in Wonderland’ flavor, victimizing innocent citizens who’ve done nothing wrong.”
Candidate Answer #1
No response submitted to this question.
Julia,
We did send Q #1 to cmcmichael@mcmichaelforcongress.com on the 19th and then again on Monday. via email and via the campaign site contact page. At that time both messages bounced. I sent proof of this to Ryan who works for the campaign. We could not accept a response the day after the deadline as this would break our commitment to post each response simultaneously. This was done so that no candidate would have the benefit of seeing the other responses in advance.
Also, we had already refused another candidate who had missed the deadline.
I hope the McMichael Campaign will participate with future questions. Q #2 has already been sent to Ryan. People want to hear what the candidates believe on a range of subjects. For my part I will do my best to craft well formed questions.
McMichael for Congress Campaign was never contacted to respond. When they asked, they were told it was to late.