NDG View
During every electoral process, national or local, candidates must convince voters of not only their worthiness and qualifications, but also their experience spotlighting their ability to lead. Dallas residents are in the midst of yet another political season and for the candidates of the Civil District Court, No. 162 the six candidates are presenting the pubic their best qualifications and their experience as a leader.
Two of the candidates are judges and the other four are practicing attorneys, a frequent question in the race is: should a candidate have experience as a judge to win the judge seat? For Maricela Moore the answer is a resounding no.
Moore, a partner at Farrow-Gillespie & Heath LLP, has a history of dealing with complex business litigation. This area of law makes up a great portion of the issues handled by this 162nd court. Her strongest opponent is Phyllis Lister Brown, a former City of Dallas Municipal Court No. 4 judge, who was voted out of her seat after she refused to relinquish it when she ran for the 162nd seat.
Lister Brown, 50, has served on several prominent boards within the Dallas community. She also has a solid educational background to bolster her current position as judge in the municipal court. Unfortunately, she stopped practicing law in 1994 when she began her career as a judge. Lister Brown’s extensive knowledge of business, civil and other commercial laws and issues do not stack up to Moore’s current successful track record.
Moore, 36, has an impeccable education, including being magna cum laude when she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College Carroll School of Management and her Juris Doctorate from George Washington University Law School. She is also either currently affiliated, a board member or a recipient of awards and accolades of more than 10 organizations including being the first Hispanic to ever serve as a Trustee on the Dallas County Schools Board of Trustees.
Diversity is important to Moore as she has been a longtime member of the J. L. Turner Legal Association, the African American Bar Association of Dallas and other minority organizations. Moore believes in staying involved in her field and understands what it takes to be successful as an attorney and as the future judge for the 162nd civil court.
Moore has expansive knowledge of today’s civil law practices. She is board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, whereas Lister Brown is not board certified. In her current law practice, Moore continuously demonstrates knowledge and application of the law. Her reputation for high ethics and professionalism has landed her more than 400 endorsements including one from The Right Wing Leaning Daily in Dallas and high profile and prominent African Americans in the community.
“Because of my active practice in the courts and understanding of the most complex matters, I am ready to step into the role of judge from day one,” Moore told The Right Wing Leaning Daily for their candidate comparison feature.
Moore’s experience in civil and business litigation make her more than qualified to transition from practicing attorney to judge. Moore is passionate and understands that listening, understanding the law and doing right by all parties is what justice requires. Individuals who will have to stand in the courtroom of the 162nd want and need a judge who does not use the bench for their personal agenda.
For these reasons, the North Dallas Gazette endorses Maricela Moore as judge for the 162nd Civil District Court.
