Washington, D.C. — Today, Eric H. Holder, Jr., the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), announced his endorsement of Judge DaSean Jones, Judge Christine Weems, and Judge Bonnie Lee Goldstein for the Texas Supreme Court. The endorsements are part of the NDRC’s Democracy Defenders program, which supports candidates running for state-level offices critical to safeguarding and strengthening democracy.

Eric H. Holder, Jr., the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and Chairman of the NDRC, released the following statement endorsing Judge DaSean Jones, Judge Christine Weems, and Judge Bonnie Lee Goldstein for the Texas Supreme Court: 

“This year, Texans have the opportunity to challenge the status quo at the ballot box and begin to forge a new chapter for their justice system. For too long, a majority on the Texas Supreme Court, driven more by ideology than impartiality, has issued disastrous decisions that have caused real harm to the people, including denying access to lifesaving reproductive health care. Such decisions are antithetical to the fundamental role of the judiciary in our democracy: to protect the rights of its citizens.

“Texans deserve a state supreme court that is fair-minded, conducts an independent evaluation of the law, and is dedicated to ensuring rights and protecting freedoms. Judge Jones, Judge Weems, and Judge Goldstein have demonstrated a commitment to that vision, and I’m proud to support them. Elect these three Democracy Defenders to the Texas Supreme Court this November.”

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:

The three incumbent Republican justices running for re-election to the Texas Supreme Court—Justice Jimmy Blacklock, Justice John Devine, and Justice Jane Bland—have signed onto decisions that have rolled back fundamental rights and harmed Texans. This includes a notorious 2023 decision in which the Texas Supreme Court ruled that a woman did not qualify for an abortion under the state’s medical exception despite the fact that her doctor determined she needed the procedure to save her life. That decision forced a pregnant woman to travel out of state to receive the care she needed to save her life. Following that extreme decision, the justices doubled down this year, ruling against 20 women who said they were denied the ability to receive medically-necessary abortions as a result of the state’s extreme abortion ban. 

To add insult to injury, according to The Texas Tribune, Governor Greg Abbott stated that he does not “have to guess or wonder how Justice Blacklock is going to decide cases because of his proven record of fighting for pro-life causes.” Justice John Devine has also bragged on video that he broke the law and was arrested 37 times for harassing women seeking care at abortion clinics.

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