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Ben Roeder
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
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 |
 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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ Benjamin Roeder for Judge, "Meet Ben," accessed February 24, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Benjamin Roeder for Judge, "My Philosophy," accessed February 24, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," 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
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
