Judge DaSean Jones was profoundly influenced by his father, a U.S. Army Veteran, which led him to earn an Army ROTC scholarship and pursue a military career.
His childhood experiences living abroad and visiting significant historical sites of social injustice shaped his perspective on fairness and neutrality, principles he carries into his role in the judiciary.
Jones's military career is marked by significant leadership roles and deployments. Starting his service in 2001 as a Field Artillery Officer, Jones held various positions, including Battalion Fire Support Officer and Operations Officer, among others.
His deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom underscored his commitment to national service. Currently, Jones serves as a military judge in the U.S.
Army Reserves, holding a rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Elected to the 180th Criminal District Court, Jones became the first combat veteran and minority to hold this position, emphasizing fairness and the impartial application of the law. He opposes the adjustment of law to support subjective interests, advocating for justice that is blind to financial status or connections.
Jones is vocal about protecting constitutional rights against far-right ideologies and ensuring the rule of law is upheld without prejudice. He stresses the importance of diversity in experience and perspective to achieve equity in the application of the law.
Jones's academic background includes a degree from Tuskegee University, where he was an active member of the Army ROTC and the National Society of Pershing Rifles—Drill Team. His military education is extensive, with courses ranging from the Military Judge Course to the Airborne School.
Judge Jones's military honors include the Combat Action Badge, Bronze Star Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal, among others, reflecting his valor and service.
Jones is a devoted husband and father, valuing family as his greatest achievement. His upbringing by arts and education-minded parents, Barb and Dan Westmoreland, instilled in him the importance of community and authentic relationships.
Judge Jones is motivated by a sense of duty to his country and community, driven by the sacrifices of his fellow servicemen and women. He aims to continue his service through the judiciary, upholding the principles of justice, fairness, and integrity.
Texas Democrats: Core Beliefs and Key Issues Texas Democrats align with the broader Democratic Party values while considering Texas's unique landscape. They advocate for expanded Medicaid and affordable healthcare, raising the minimum wage, and workers' rights to address economic inequality.
Education is a priority, with increased funding for public education and affordable higher education. Environmental protection through renewable energy and carbon emission reduction is essential.
Social justice, including criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigration reform, is a focus. They support reproductive rights, oppose restrictive abortion laws, and fight for voting rights and common-sense gun control measures.
Specific Texas issues include balanced immigration reform, energy policies that consider the oil and gas industry, and rural community needs. Prominent figures include Beto O'Rourke, Joaquin Castro, and Lina Hidalgo.
Challenges include the state's conservative lean, gerrymandering, and voter suppression. Texas Democrats aim to build broad coalitions and increase voter turnout among underrepresented demographics.
The Democratic Party of the United States is grounded in modern liberalism, which contrasts with the Republican Party's conservatism. Positioned center-left on the American political spectrum, the party comprises diverse wings including centrists, progressives, fiscal conservatives, and democratic socialists.
The party advocates for social programs, labor unions, consumer protection, workplace safety, equal opportunity, disability rights, and racial equity. Environmental protection, criminal justice reform, and support for abortion rights and the LGBT community are also key elements.
Democrats promote a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, endorse the scientific consensus on climate change, and favor a multilateral approach in foreign policy.
Economic Opportunity: The Democratic Party prioritizes equal economic opportunity, a strong social safety net, and robust labor unions. Advocating for a mixed economy, they support a progressive tax system, higher minimum wages, Social Security, universal health care, public education, and subsidized housing.
Economic development and job creation are pursued through infrastructure development and clean energy investments.
Democrats support a progressive tax structure to fund more services and reduce economic inequality, ensuring the wealthiest Americans pay the highest tax rates. They advocate for increased government spending on social services and reduced military spending.
Opposing cuts to essential services like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, Democrats believe these services enhance productivity and social justice.
The party calls for a $15.00/hour national minimum wage and supports regular adjustments to this wage. They have historically supported initiatives to increase the minimum wage and have passed related legislation.
Universal Health Care: Democrats aim for affordable, quality health care, moving toward universal health care through various means. They support options like single-payer systems, Medicare for All, and public health insurance options.
The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which has expanded health insurance coverage to over 20 million Americans, is a significant achievement in this area.
Public Education: The party seeks to improve public education by raising standards and reforming programs like Head Start. They support universal preschool, expanded access to primary education, and reducing student loan debt.
Proposals include nationwide universal preschool, tuition-free or reduced-tuition college, and reforms to standardized testing.
Climate Change and Renewable Energy: Democrats emphasize government responsibility in environmental protection, focusing on alternative energy generation for economic, security, and environmental benefits. They advocate for expanding conservation lands, promoting open space and rail travel, and implementing strict regulations on greenhouse gases and fossil fuels.
Equal Opportunity: The Democratic Party strives for equality of opportunity regardless of sex, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, or national origin. They support affirmative action and disability rights, having pushed for the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.
Democrats believe in the fundamental right to vote and oppose restrictive voter ID laws. They support automatic voter registration to ensure all eligible Americans can vote.
The party supports safe and legal abortion, advocating for affordable health care and programs supporting women during and after pregnancy.
Democrats endorse comprehensive immigration reform that aligns with American economic goals and values. They support easier paths to citizenship, visa allocations meeting economic needs, family unity, and oppose state laws targeting immigrants.
The Democratic Party opposes discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. They support the Equality Act, anti-bullying prevention, marriage equality, and the Respect for Marriage Act.
The Democratic Party aims to reduce crime and homicide through various gun control measures. Notable legislation includes the Gun Control Act of 1968, the Brady Bill of 1993, and the Crime Control Act of 1994.
Despite the general support for gun control within the party, some Democrats, particularly those from rural, Southern, and Western regions, favor fewer restrictions on firearm possession.
The Democratic Party believes in the fundamental right to privacy. Many Democrats have opposed the NSA's warrantless surveillance of U.S.
citizens, advocating instead for stronger consumer protection laws that limit data sharing between corporations. They also oppose "sodomy laws," asserting that the government should not regulate consensual noncommercial sexual conduct among adults as a matter of personal privacy.
Initially, most Democrats supported the Patriot Act, with only a few dissenting votes. However, over time, the party's stance has shifted, with many Democrats now opposing the act.
The divide became evident during the 2006 renewal vote, where Democrats were split on the issue.
The Democratic Party favors a multilateral approach to foreign policy, emphasizing international cooperation and human rights. Polls indicate broad agreement among Democrats on key foreign policy issues, although there are divergences on matters such as international cooperation through agencies like the UN.
Democrats tend to prefer focusing on domestic issues over extensive international involvement but recognize the importance of promoting democracy and freedom globally to enhance U.S. security.
The Democratic Party's stance on trade has evolved, with the 2020 platform supporting fair and free trade agreements like the USMCA. The party opposes practices such as offshoring, dumping, and intellectual property theft, advocating for trade policies that protect American jobs and industries.
Democrats have supported sanctions against nations that pose threats to global security, such as North Korea and Russia, while advocating for diplomatic solutions. The party emphasizes the importance of alliances and international agreements to address global challenges like nuclear proliferation and climate change.
The Democratic Party maintains a strong commitment to Israel's security, viewing a stable Israel as vital to U.S. strategic interests.
The party supports military aid to Israel, such as the Iron Dome system, and endorses peace treaties with neighboring countries. The platform advocates for a two-state solution, emphasizing that any Palestinian partner must recognize Israel's right to exist, reject violence, and adhere to existing agreements.
The party opposes efforts to delegitimize Israel on the world stage and calls for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Democratic Party has consistently criticized Iran's nuclear weapons program and supported economic sanctions against the Iranian government. Under the Obama administration, the party worked toward a diplomatic agreement with Iran to halt its nuclear program in exchange for sanction relief.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 was a significant milestone, providing oversight of Iran's nuclear activities while easing economic sanctions.