Ben Roeder

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Ben Roeder
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Ben Roeder was a 2016 candidate for the Texas 405th District Court in Texas.[1] He was defeated in the primary election on March 1, 2016.

Career

Roeder began practicing law in 1989.[2]

Campaign themes

2016

Roeder's campaign website listed the following themes for 2016:

I entered into this election because I did not like what I was reading and hearing about Judges in Galveston and all over Texas. Specifically, the behavior of Judges was overshadowing what our courts are about: the fair and efficient dispensing of justice. We as citizens and tax payers should be confident that our court system is in the hands of a professional group devoted to maintaining the respect and dignity of the judicial process.

I entered into this campaign because I know I can accomplish that goal. More importantly I believe that I can get my message out without accepting any money from anyone. I will gladly listen to lawyers, law firms, and citizen groups of any kind but I will not accept their donations. The hint of impropriety, the giving of money to someone that may ultimately preside over their case, is too overwhelming for me as a lawyer and a citizen to accept.

I will do my best to be visible and to address any questions presented about Galveston County legal issue. [3]

—Ben Roeder (2016), [4]

Elections

2016

See also: Texas local trial court judicial 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.[5] Incumbent Michelle Slaughter defeated Ben Roeder and Philip Washington in the Texas 405th District Court Republican primary.[1]

Texas 405th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Michelle Slaughter Incumbent 73.36% 22,851
Ben Roeder 15.95% 4,967
Philip Washington 10.69% 3,330
Total Votes 31,148
Source: Galveston County, Texas, "Cumulative Report-Unofficial," March 1, 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]

See also

External links

Footnotes