Ernie Aliseda

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Ernie Aliseda was a member of the University of Texas Board of Regents. He assumed office in 2013. He left office on February 1, 2019.

Aliseda (Republican Party) ran for election as Chief Justice of the Texas Thirteenth District Court of Appeals. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.

Aliseda is a former member of the University of Texas System Board of Regents. Aliseda was appointed to a six-year term in February 2013 by Gov. Rick Perry (R). His term expired in February 2019.^[1][2]

Biography

Aliseda was raised in McAllen, Texas, and graduated from McAllen Memorial High School in 1984. He earned his bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center.^[3][1]

In 1994, then-Governor George W. Bush (R) appointed Aliseda as judge for the 398th State District Court. Perry named Aliseda to the 139th district court in 2004.^[1][3] In 2008 and 2009, Aliseda was chief of federal litigation for the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate of the Army XVIII Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. According to The Daily Texan, the jurist donated significantly less to Perry's gubernatorial campaigns than other Texas bench appointees.^[4]

As of 2016, Aliseda was a member at the national law firm of Dykema Cox Smith. He also served as a municipal judge in McAllen and as a lieutenant colonel and a military judge in the U.S. Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General Corps.^[1][4]

Elections

2018

See also: Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2018

General election

Democratic primary election

Republican primary election

Wallace Hall impeachment

See also: Wallace Hall impeachment trial

After he was appointed in 2011, University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall began looking into what he believed to be clout scandals within the University of Texas system. Hall investigated the university's forgivable-loans program, admissions policies and preferential treatment to politically-connected individuals.^[5] Hall, as an individual citizen, filed FOIA requests with the University system after his inquiries via his role as a Regent were rebuffed.^[6] According to his accusers, Hall filed requests of more than 800,000 pages, which some Texas administrators called an unnecessary burden.^[7][8] However, a letter from University chancellor Francisco Cigarroa in February 2014 said that Hall likely requested fewer than 100,000 pages.^[9]

^[10] In addition, Cigarroa wrote: "During testimony before the Select Committee, some early witnesses implied that the U.T. System has not protected the privacy rights of students, staff, and patients. This is simply not true."^[11]

An impeachment effort was begun in June 2013 to remove Hall from his position as regent. Some legislators justified the impeachment on the grounds that Hall did not disclose several lawsuits that he was involved in when he originally completed his regency background check. Hall updated Governor Rick Perry's office in April 2013 with the full list.^[12][13] No unelected official in Texas had ever been successfully impeached or removed from office.^[14] Perry spokeswoman Lucy Nashed said the investigations sent a "chilling message" to gubernatorial appointees.^[15] She added that the investigation was "extraordinary political theater."^[16]

In July 2013, University of Texas Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa and Board Chairman Eugene Powell responded to the ongoing investigation and negative remarks against Hall from some elected officials and University of Texas staff. Cigarroa said Hall was not allowed to access anything without review by university lawyers to ensure they met federal privacy standards.^[17]

In a July 15, 2013, letter to state representative Jim Pitts, Powell wrote:

In February 2015, an independent report by Kroll Associates, commissioned by the Regents Board, confirmed a "pattern of special treatment for well-connected applicants to UT." While the report did not show evidence of any quid pro quo, it did show that "extra acceptances were extended every year to accommodate special cases" and that the "President’s Office ordered applicants admitted over the objection of the Admissions Office." It added that "efforts were made to minimize paper trails and written lists" during the process." The Wall Street Journal wrote that the report should "should put an end" to the concerns over Hall's clout investigations.^[20]

Regents committees

Aliseda serves on the following Board standing committees:^[21]

• Academic Affairs
• Facilities Planning and Construction
• Health Affairs
• Technology Transfer and Research

See also

Personal

Aliseda is married to his wife, Debbie. They have five children.^[1]

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Campaign website
• Campaign Facebook page
• Campaign Twitter page
• LinkedIn page
• Texas Judicial Branch

Footnotes