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Bernard Fudge
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.
W. Bernard Fudge was the judge of Texas District 78.[1] He was elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2012 and 2016.[2][3] He retired September 30, 2019.[4]
Education
Fudge received his B.A. from Texas A&M University and his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma. He previously served in the U.S. Air Force.[5]
Career
Fudge was a partner at the Law Offices of Fudge and Elder.[5]
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.[6] Incumbent Barney Fudge ran unopposed in the Texas 78th District Court Republican primary.[3]
| Texas 78th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
 Barney Fudge Incumbent | ||
Bernard Fudge won without opposition in the general election.
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.[7]
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."[8]
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;*[9]
- 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.[7]
*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.[7]
2012
Fudge was re-elected to the 78th District Court after running unopposed in the general election on November 6, 2012.[10][2]
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
2010
Fudge won the Republican primary. He was re-elected after running unopposed in the general election.[11]
Awards and associations
Fudge was a member of the Wichita County Bar Association and the Texas Bar Association.[5]
Footnotes
- ↑ 78th District
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2012 Election Results-Wichita County, Texas
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ Times Record News, "Who is applying for the judge's spot left vacant by Judge Fudge's retirement? Five people." October 9, 2019
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Texas directory bio
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 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
- ↑ Time Record News, "Fudge keeps 78th district bench," March 3, 2010
