Born in Indiana, Justice John Devine pursued his undergraduate studies at Ball State University, earning a B.S. degree in business administration and marketing in 1980.
His academic achievements laid the foundation for a successful career that would blend corporate experience with distinguished judicial service.
Upon graduation, Devine moved to Texas, starting his professional journey at Shell Oil Co. in Houston.
His roles at Shell varied from an analyst to engaging in various corporate and project-oriented positions. His corporate tenure extended to Brown & Root Inc., where he contributed to significant international and domestic industrial construction projects.
Justice Devine's interest in law led him to South Texas College of Law, where he graduated with a Juris Doctorate in 1986. He began practicing law in 1987 and quickly established himself in the field.
In 1995, Devine was elected as a judge of the 190th State District Court in Harris County, a position he held for seven years. His time on the bench was marked by nearly 350 jury trials and more than 500 bench trials.
His efforts significantly reduced his court’s case backlog by more than 40 percent, earning him recognition as a “Texas Size Hero” by Focus on the Family magazine. Following his district court tenure, Devine continued his private litigation practice, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in various legal matters.
His commitment to the judicial system also saw him serving as an appointed special judge for the Harris County justice of the peace courts for nine years.
Justice Devine's professional affiliations include the District of Columbia Bar Association and his participation in several judicial and community boards, such as the Board of Civil District Judge Mass Torts Committee and the Harris County Juvenile Justice Charter School Board.
Elected to the Supreme Court of Texas in November 2012 and re-elected in 2018, Justice Devine brings a wealth of experience from his diverse career background to his role on the bench. His conservative judicial philosophy and dedication to the rule of law have defined his tenure.
His current term is set to expire on December 31, 2024.
Justice Devine has been married to Nubia Piedad Gomez, originally from Venezuela, since 1989. The couple is blessed with seven children, reflecting Devine’s commitment to family alongside his professional and judicial responsibilities.
The Texas Republican Party adheres to a conservative platform, advocating for limited government, free-market principles, strong national defense, and traditional family values. The party takes conservative stances on social issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage, and gun rights.
The party is organized into various levels, including precinct, county, and state committees. The State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) is the governing body of the party between state conventions.
The Texas Republican Party holds state conventions where delegates from across the state gather to set the party platform, elect party leadership, and select delegates for the national convention.
The Texas Republican Party has been dominant in state politics for several decades. It holds majorities in both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate and has held the governor's office since 1995.
Texas Republicans also play a significant role at the federal level, with a majority of the state's congressional delegation being Republicans. Texas has also been a crucial state in presidential elections, often supporting Republican candidates.
The Republican Party has long championed fiscal conservatism, advocating for minimal government intervention in the economy. They believe economic prosperity is driven by free markets and individual initiative.
This philosophy includes support for laissez-faire economics, tax cuts, reduced government spending, privatization, and reducing government-run welfare programs in favor of private-sector solutions and personal responsibility. The party's current fiscal stance supports lower taxes, deregulation of corporations, and opposition to labor unions.
Historically, the Republican Party had strong ties to local businesses and large national corporations. However, in the 21st century, this dynamic has shifted, with corporate America increasingly aligning with more liberal values.
The GOP now focuses more on small businesses and family firms, viewing larger corporations, particularly in tech sectors, as cultural adversaries.
Modern Republicans often endorse supply-side economics, a theory popularized during Ronald Reagan's presidency. They argue that reduced income tax rates can spur GDP growth, ultimately generating the same or more government revenue from increased economic activity.
Republicans typically advocate for tax cuts, oppose graduated tax rates, and favor private over government spending. They generally oppose the estate tax and have a historical precedent of supporting tariffs to protect American industries.
The Republican Party opposes government-run welfare programs, arguing they promote dependency on government assistance. Instead, they advocate for personal responsibility and self-reliance, supporting measures like the welfare reform of 1996, which limited welfare eligibility.
Traditional Values and Social Conservatism: Social conservatism within the Republican Party is deeply rooted in traditional values, often with a Christian foundation. The party supports gun rights as outlined in the Second Amendment, the death penalty, and restrictions on abortion.
They also oppose same-sex marriage, transgender rights, and comprehensive sex education, favoring policies that uphold traditional family structures.
Republicans generally support school choice through charter schools and vouchers for private education. They criticize the performance of public schools and teachers' unions and advocate for greater accountability within the public school system, as seen with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
The party opposes a government-run single-payer healthcare system, advocating instead for a personal or employer-based insurance system, supplemented by Medicare and Medicaid. They support measures to increase health insurance portability, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and tax benefits to make insurance more affordable.
Since the 1920s, Republicans have generally opposed labor unions, supporting right-to-work laws that weaken union influence. They argue that unions can hurt businesses by driving up costs and reducing competitiveness.
Strong National Defense: The Republican Party typically favors increased military spending and a robust national defense. They often support unilateral action in foreign policy and have historically backed military interventions, such as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as part of the broader War on Terror.
The Republican Party has consistently supported a strong alliance with Israel, emphasizing the importance of this relationship in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. This support extends to military aid, diplomatic backing, and efforts to secure Israel's security against regional threats.
The party views Israel as a key ally and partner in the fight against terrorism and in advancing democratic values in the region.
The party's stance on international trade has varied over time. Initially supporting protective tariffs, Republicans later embraced free trade agreements.
However, recent years have seen a return to protectionist policies, notably under President Donald Trump, who initiated a trade war with China and renegotiated NAFTA.
Environmental Protection: Historically, some Republican leaders have supported environmental protection efforts. However, the party is now divided on issues like climate change, with many Republicans skeptical of human-caused global warming.
The party generally supports market-based solutions to environmental problems and opposes cap-and-trade policies.
Republicans advocate for increased federal investment in alternative energy sources and support measures to achieve energy independence. This includes promoting oil drilling in protected areas, which has drawn criticism from environmentalists.
Immigration: The Republican Party is divided on immigration, with some advocating for migrant worker programs and easing citizenship guidelines, while others emphasize stricter border enforcement. The party's approach has shifted in response to changing political dynamics and voter demographics.
The Republican platform opposes same-sex marriage and other LGBTQ+ issues, although there are dissenting factions within the party. Some Republicans support anti-discrimination laws, but the party remains divided on how to approach LGBTQ+ rights.
Republicans often support strict constructionism or textualism in judicial interpretation, criticizing judicial activism and advocating for judicial restraint. They support legislative measures to limit federal court jurisdiction in certain areas, reflecting their preference for state over federal authority.