Chris Antcliff
Age: 45
Web Site: www.keepjudgeantcliff.com
Residence: Westside
Occupation: District Court Judge
Education: Austin High School, El Paso, Texas 1981; BA Texas Tech University, 1992; JD Texas Tech University School of Law, 1995
Relevant Experience: Judge, 448th Judicial District Court, November 2007 - Present,
First judge of the new 448th District Court. By Agreement with the Council of Judges, the Court maintains a primarily civil docket. Solo Practitioner, February 2006 – October 2007, Attorney in the private practice of law with general civil and criminal litigation practice. Stanton & Antcliff, P.C., and Stanton, Antcliff & Briggs, P.C., September 1997 - March 2006, Owner and Managing Partner of law firm with general civil and criminal litigation practice. Law Clerk/Briefing Attorney, August 1995 - August 1997, Law Clerk/Briefing Attorney for the Honorable David Briones, United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, El Paso Division. Course Instructor, August 1993 - August 1995, Course Instructor for Business Law and Corporate Law for the Texas Tech University Division of Continuing Education.

What are the pros and cons of electing, rather than appointing judges? The single most important argument in favor of electing judges is that such a system makes judges answerable to the electorate. However, due to the lack of available information, and perhaps a lack of interest in judicial races, it is often difficult for voters to become informed about candidates resulting in under-qualified and/or inexperienced judges being elected.

What are the pros and cons of judicial elections being partisan? Communities have an absolute right to elect judges with whom they are like-minded. The primary method of doing so is the requirement in Texas that judges declare their political affiliation. However, when partisan politics are removed from the equation, judicial races become, as they should, about merit. Instead of voting for a judge based on a political party, the electorate must consider the experience, qualifications and temperament of each judge.

According to the guilty plea of Travis Ketner in the public corruption case, there has been a rigging of court assignments, which, of course, implicates the courts. Is there a way to reassure the public about the integrity of El Paso Courts? I think that the premise of this question is flawed. The Office of the District Clerk, not any court, is responsible for the random assignment of cases to the courts. If the allegations made in the Information to which Travis Ketner pled guilty are accepted as true, then the office of the independent, elected District Clerk is implicated rather than “the courts”. An informed electorate can insure that the integrity of the office of the District Clerk will not be compromised. An informed electorate will also insure that the better qualified, more experienced judge will be elected in each contested judicial race.

What unique challenges flow from presiding over a new court, and how are you the best-qualified candidate to meet those challenges? I have already met the unique challenges referred to in this question. When I took office on November 16, 2007 I had to hire a staff, obtain appropriate office space and a courtroom in the Courthouse, build a docket, establish internal procedures to move each case, design scheduling and other form orders, order equipment and furniture, create a budget and administer all of the day to day decisions associated with the creation of a new court. I requested that my fellow judges transfer cases to the 448th to alleviate their caseloads which they did. I also made a formal, public request that the Council of Judges order the District Clerk to assign the first 300 civil cases filed in 2008 to the 448th. This court now has a docket of more than 600 active cases. As a result of my efforts, on January 1, 2009 the 448th District Court will face no unique challenges.

Disclose your legal disciplinary history, and explain why it does or does not matter. I have no legal disciplinary history. The electorate should have confidence in its elected officials, and that confidence can be eroded when an elected judge has been disciplined, either as an attorney or as a judge.

Regina Arditti
Age: 51
Website: www.votearditti.com
Residence: Westside
Occupation: Attorney and Counselor at Law, former Presiding Judge of Municipal Courts
Education: Doctorate of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from the Texas Tech University School of Law. Lubbock, Texas; 1988 Who’s Who in American Law Schools, 1987 and 1988;
Published article: “U. S. Constitution” (in collaboration with the Law Professors) 1987; Phi Delta Phi Law Fraternity Southwestern Paralegal Institute. Houston, Texas Certificate, 1981. University of Texas at El Paso. El Paso, Texas. Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, 1980. Loretto Academy. El Paso, Texas, 1975. St. Patrick’s Elementary School, 1971.
Relevant Experience: Judge Regina Arditti has practiced law for 20 years and has been a judge for 12 years in this community. She was born and raised in El Paso, Texas where she attended St. Patrick’s Elementary School, Loretto Academy and then received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at El Paso. She graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence, from Texas Tech University, School of Law, in Lubbock, Texas. In 1988, she returned to El Paso where she served in various legal capacities as an Assistant County Attorney, Assistant District Felony Attorney for the 34th District of Texas, and Assistant City Prosecutor for the City of El Paso. She was also employed as an Associate Attorney for a civil law firm, an attorney at the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate General (OS JAG), U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of the Army, at Fort Bliss, Texas, and an Assistant County Public Defender. Currently, she is an attorney in private practice.
Since 1996, her judicial experience includes Associate Municipal Court Judge for the City of El Paso, the Municipal Court Judge in Clint, Texas, and in 2000 as Judge for Municipal Court No. 4. Since 2000, she was elected as Judge for Municipal Court No. 4 and served as Presiding Judge of the El Paso Municipal Courts from 2003 through 2008.
As Presiding Judge, she implemented the Court Community Service for juveniles and adults, Environmental Courts, Scofflaw Program, and Online Services for Payments, Court Forms, Court Dockets and Court Procedures in English, as well as Spanish.
Judge Arditti is licensed to practice law in the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, and the State of Texas. She has taught at the University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso Community College, and has lectured at numerous legal seminars throughout Texas.
Judge Regina Arditti is a member of various civic organizations and professional bar associations. She serves on numerous community and legal boards, including the El Paso Bar Association, Border Fair Housing and Justice Center and Central Business Association.
What are the pros and cons of electing, rather than appointing, judges? During the mid 1800’s there was a strong movement throughout the United States to replace judicial appointive systems with an elective system in several states. Appointed judges may gain power through unaccountable processes of networking that is not answerable to the constituency. The State of Texas Constitution establishes that all judges must be elected by the people. Although many may argue that electing judges subjects the candidates to a political elective process, knowing the judicial candidates’ views on crime and civil judgment affords the citizens of a local community the ability to select the individual they can trust to listen to their cases in an impartial way. Judges must demonstrate their commitment to maintaining public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of their decisions by considering how the public might reasonably view their conduct—and the best way to hold the judiciary accountable is to empower the people with the ultimate review authority: Their vote.

What are the pros and cons of judicial elections being partisan? Political parties embrace a general philosophy of government, whether conservative, moderate or liberal. It is important for judges to inform the citizens of the system of values they will uphold when they preside over court cases. In Texas, a judicial candidate chooses to run within the party that best reflects the philosophy of justice by which they identify themselves.
As a Democrat, I believe that our judiciary should serve our community’s best welfare, not those of special interest groups. This transparency of partisan values helps voters make a more informed decision when entrusting judges to preside over our community’s justice.

According to the guilty plea of Travis Ketner in the public corruption case, there has been rigging of court assignments, which, of course, implicates the courts. Is there a way to reassure the public about the integrity of El Paso courts? The allegations of manipulation of court assignments that favor any particular group of individuals are extremely serious. The people’s trust on the judicial system must be safeguarded as the pillars of our society. If these allegations are true, it is critical that thorough action be taken by the appropriate law enforcement agencies in order to re-establish public trust in the integrity of our judicial system. Consequently, the citizens of our community have the ability of exerting prudence in voting for the selection of members of the judiciary.

What unique challenges flow from presiding over a new court, and how are you the best-qualified candidate to meet those challenges? While serving you as Presiding Judge of the El Paso Municipal Courts, I established the new specialized Environmental Courts. In addition, I implemented much needed programs and services for El Pasoans, such as the Community Service Program for Juveniles and Adults, Environmental Courts, Scofflaw Program, three Fulltime Night Associate Judges for 24-hour services and the Online Services for Payments, Court Forms, Court Dockets and Court Procedures in English and Spanish.
My years of experience handling a high volume court and overseeing multiple courts gives me the ability to handle a new court. I have been accountable to the people of El Paso through their vote as Judge. Further, my experience in criminal felony cases and civil cases, from both perspectives, gives me the insight into both sides of a case and a fair balance you can trust.

Disclose your legal disciplinary history, and explain why it does or does not matter. I have no legal disciplinary history, in the 20 years as an attorney, and in the 12 years as a Judge, nor have I ever been sued by a client. This is a direct reflection on my clear ethical standards.
A judge is bound to preside over cases as a neutral and impartial judge, upholding the highest Canons of Ethics. Thus, it is extremely important for members of our community to review judiciary and legal disciplinary records in order to make an informed decision when exercising their vote.

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Voter Guide 11.2008 Online Resources

Races included in the Voter Guide 11.2008
State Representative District 75; Charlie Garza, Chente Quintanilla
State Representative District 78; Dee Margo, Joe Moody
8th Court of Appeals, Judge Place 3; Kenn Carr, Guadalupe “Lupe” Rivera
448th District Court; Christopher Antcliff, Regina Arditti
County Criminal District Court #1; Manuel Barraza, Don Minton
County Sheriff; George Stoltz, Richard Wiles

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Click here to visit the canidates’ websites.

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Attached as a pdf is the Voter Guide brought to you by El Paso Media Group and the El Paso Chamber of Commerce. Download your own personal copy of the Voter Guide and read it on your computer or print it out and read through it during your lunch break.

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Click here for Early Voting locations. Early voting ends 10.31.2008.

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For more information:
Elections Department
Phone: 915.546.2154
Fax: 915 546-2220
www.epcounty.com