Candidate Spotlight: Judge Nile Copeland, Candidate for 1st Court of Appeals, Place 8

This week’s candidate spotlight is on Judge Nile Copeland, candidate for the Texas First Court of Appeals. Nile is originally from Louisiana and is our “ragin cajun” or as we call him “Tex”, the no- nonsense cowboy of this judicial rodeo. If you don’t see Nile out campaigning, practicing law or at the courthouse…you may see him out in the community. He is frequently out and about helping others, speaking to community activists and neighborhood groups on law/election issues, training poll workers or lending a hand wherever it’s needed.

One of Nile’s passions is election law and in 2008 he and a team of 12 attorneys worked pro bono for an election contest representing Goodwille Pierre. At the end of the case Paul Bettencourt resigned before he was sworn into office. The case focused on 5000 provisional ballots which were never counted in an election where over a million votes were cast and Goodwille lost by only 230 votes. The case opened many eyes to Texas election issues, outraged others and caused many to become active participants in Texas elections and to stand up for the rights of others. Nile said: “I don’t care for whom you vote, as long as you get to vote and your vote gets counted. Well I sorta care, but regardless, NO ONE should have their right to vote interfered with – NO ONE! That’s un-American! We don’t need any of that cow manure in Houston, which is one story behind my motto: No More Bull.”

Nile holds a Bachelor degree in Biological Sciences and a Master degree in Education from Louisiana State University, as well as a Juris Doctors from South Texas College of Law. He is a partner and mediator at Cheng Copeland, PLLC. He serves the community as a Civil Service Grievance Examiner, Municipal Judge, poll watcher, realtor and election law consultant. He also helps with various community and social organizations. Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children holds an especially important place in Nile’s heart and was one of the primary motivations for him in becoming a Freemason (a story he is always willing to share).

Why Nile is running for office is that he is concerned about his neighbors, whether they are next door or hundreds of miles away. “If you feel a judge is not motivated to do what is right by their district – vote them out. You have a duty and the power to make sure the courts are balanced. You exercised that power in 2008 and you can balance and keep the balance for every election cycle to come. The Courts of Appeals have been dominated over the years by 100% Republican judges”. You will have the opportunity in 2012 to balance the judiciary on the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals. Nile and all of the judicial candidates need you to stand up and say “No More Bull!”