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Arturo Nelson
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. This judge is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.
Arturo Nelson was the state district judge for Texas District 138.[1] He was sworn in on January 1, 2007. Nelson was re-elected in 2012 and again in 2016.[2]
Biography
Nelson received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&I University and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.[3]
Nelson previously served as Brownsville Municipal Judge.[3]
Elections
2016
Texas held general elections for local judicial offices on November 8, 2016. A primary election took place on March 1, 2016. A primary runoff election was held on May 24, 2016, for any seat where the top vote recipient did not receive a majority of the primary vote.[4] Incumbent Arturo Nelson ran unopposed in the Texas 138th District Court general election.
| Texas 138th District Court, General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic |  Arturo Nelson Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Cameron County, Texas, "2016 Cameron General Election," November 9, 2016 | ||
Incumbent Arturo Nelson defeated Sonia Herrera in the Texas 138th District Court Democratic primary.[5]
| Texas 138th District Court, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Arturo Nelson Incumbent |
56.54% | 14,819 |
| Sonia Herrera | 43.46% | 11,391 |
| Total Votes | 26,210 | |
| Source: Cameron County, Texas, "Unofficial Results: 2016 Democratic Primary Election," accessed March 2, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
The judges of the Texas District Courts are chosen in partisan elections. They serve four-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving.[6]
Though Texas is home to more than 400 district courts, the courts are grouped into nine administrative judicial regions. Each region is overseen by a presiding judge who is appointed by the governor to a four-year term. According to the state courts website, the presiding judge may be a "regular elected or retired district judge, a former judge with at least 12 years of service as a district judge, or a retired appellate judge with judicial experience on a district court."[7]
Qualifications
To serve on the district courts, a judge must be:
- a U.S. citizen;
- a resident of Texas;
- licensed to practice law in the state;
- between the ages of 25 and 75;*[8]
- a practicing lawyer and/or state judge for at least four years; and
- a resident of his or her respective judicial district for at least two years.[6]
*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.[6]
2012
Nelson was re-elected to the 138th District Court in 2012. He ran unopposed in the general election after defeating challenger Veronica Farias in the primary.[9]
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
Awards and associations
Awards
- Texas Professionalism Award in 2005
- Cameron County Bar Association - Legal Education and Proficiency Award in 2008-2009
- Cameron County Bar Association - Legal Education and Proficiency Award in 2009-2010[3]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Cameron County, "138th District Court," archived May 1, 2016
- ↑ Texas State Directory, "The Honorable Arturo C. Nelson (D)," September 22, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Re-Elect Judge Arturo Cisneros Nelson, "About," accessed December 26, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Texas," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ Texas Courts Online, "Administrative Judicial Regions," accessed September 12, 2014
- ↑ Texas State Historical Association, "Judiciary," accessed September 12, 2014
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2012 General Election Results," November 6, 2012
Federal courts:
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas
State courts:
Texas Supreme Court • Texas Court of Appeals • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals • Texas District Courts • Texas County Courts • Texas County Courts at Law • Texas Statutory Probate Courts • Texas Justice of the Peace Courts
State resources:
Courts in Texas • Texas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Texas
