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Bruce Bain

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Bruce Bain
Image of Bruce Bain
Texas 165th District Court
Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2028

Years in position

0

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

McArthur High School

Bachelor's

University of Texas, Austin, 1981

Law

South Texas College of Law, 1985

Other

University of Houston School of Law, A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center, 2009

Personal
Birthplace
McAllen, Texas
Religion
Christian: Catholic
Profession
Lawyer
Contact

Bruce Bain (Republican Party) is a judge of the Texas 165th District Court. He assumed office on January 1, 2025. His current term ends on December 31, 2028.

Bain (Republican Party) ran for election for judge of the Texas 165th District Court. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Bain completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Bruce Bain was born in McAllen, Texas. He earned a high school diploma from McArthur High School, a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1981, a law degree from South Texas College of Law in 1985, and additional education from the University of Houston School of Law, A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center in 2009. His career experience includes working as a lawyer, certified mediator, arbitrator, and umpire. He has been affiliated with Texas Ex.[1][2] Bain is a shareholder at Bain & Bain, PLLC. Prior to that, he was a partner at Soape, Brown, McDermott, P.C.[2]

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2024)

General election

General election for Texas 165th District Court

Bruce Bain defeated incumbent Ursula Hall in the general election for Texas 165th District Court on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bruce Bain
Bruce Bain (R) Candidate Connection
 
50.8
 
739,109
Image of Ursula Hall
Ursula Hall (D)
 
49.2
 
716,555

Total votes: 1,455,664
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas 165th District Court

Incumbent Ursula Hall defeated Jill Yaziji in the Democratic primary for Texas 165th District Court on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ursula Hall
Ursula Hall
 
62.7
 
92,134
Image of Jill Yaziji
Jill Yaziji
 
37.3
 
54,880

Total votes: 147,014
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas 165th District Court

Bruce Bain advanced from the Republican primary for Texas 165th District Court on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bruce Bain
Bruce Bain Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
142,666

Total votes: 142,666
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Bain in this election.

2022

See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2022)

General election

General election for Texas 269th District Court

Incumbent Cory Sepolio defeated Bruce Bain in the general election for Texas 269th District Court on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Cory Sepolio
Cory Sepolio (D)
 
51.1
 
540,755
Image of Bruce Bain
Bruce Bain (R)
 
48.9
 
516,472

Total votes: 1,057,227
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas 269th District Court

Incumbent Cory Sepolio advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas 269th District Court on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Cory Sepolio
Cory Sepolio
 
100.0
 
136,541

Total votes: 136,541
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas 269th District Court

Bruce Bain advanced from the Republican primary for Texas 269th District Court on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bruce Bain
Bruce Bain
 
100.0
 
137,527

Total votes: 137,527
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2020)

General election

General election for Texas 165th District Court

Incumbent Ursula Hall defeated Bruce Bain in the general election for Texas 165th District Court on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ursula Hall
Ursula Hall (D)
 
53.6
 
834,192
Image of Bruce Bain
Bruce Bain (R) Candidate Connection
 
46.4
 
723,475

Total votes: 1,557,667
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas 165th District Court

Incumbent Ursula Hall defeated Megan Daic and Jimmie Brown Jr. in the Democratic primary for Texas 165th District Court on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ursula Hall
Ursula Hall
 
54.9
 
137,049
Megan Daic
 
29.7
 
74,024
Jimmie Brown Jr.
 
15.4
 
38,372

Total votes: 249,445
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas 165th District Court

Bruce Bain advanced from the Republican primary for Texas 165th District Court on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bruce Bain
Bruce Bain Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
154,336

Total votes: 154,336
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

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.[3] Bruce Bain ran unopposed in the Texas 164th District Court Republican primary.[4]

Texas 164th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Bruce Bain  (unopposed) 100.00% 200,985
Total Votes 200,985
Source: Harris County, Texas, "Republican Party Cumulative Report-Unofficial," accessed March 2, 2016

Incumbent Alexandra Smoots-Thomas defeated Bruce Bain in the Texas 164th District Court general election.

Texas 164th District Court, General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Alexandra Smoots-Thomas Incumbent 52.92% 671,319
     Republican Bruce Bain 47.08% 597,124
Total Votes 1,268,443
Source: Harris County, Texas, "Election Results," accessed December 9, 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.[5]

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."[6]

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;*[7]
  • 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.[5]

*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.[5]

Endorsements

Bain's campaign endorsements included the following organizations:[8]

  • Houston Metro Police
  • Katy Christian Magazine
  • Fort Bend Christian Magazine
  • Spring Branch Republicans
  • Conservative Coalition of Harris County

2012

Bain ran for a seat on the 11th District Court and was defeated by incumbent Mike Miller (Texas) in the November general election.[9] Bain had defeated fellow Republican Michael West in the primary.

See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Bruce Bain completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bain's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I have 38 years of litigation experience in both state and federal courts across Texas, handling a variety of cases involving personal injury ,contract disputes and insurance subrogation. Throughout my career, I have served as a court-appointed umpire to resolve disputes, as well as a mediator and arbitrator. I've also been appointed as a Guardian/Attorney Ad Litem by the courts to support minor children and those in vulnerable situations. Additionally, I was appointed by the Texas Supreme Court as co-chair for District 4 (Houston) to combat the unauthorized practice of law. I actively participate on two committees within the Houston Bar Association. I earned my undergraduate degree from UT-Austin and my law degree from South Texas College of Law. I’ve been married to my wife, who is also my law partner, for 43 years. Together, we have four sons, three daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren.
  • Make rulings quickly, ensure fair trials, and interpret and apply the law fairly. To comply with the law and promote public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the Judiciary. To show due regard for the parties' rights to be heard and to have issues resolved without unnecessary cost or delay, monitor and supervise cases to reduce or eliminate delay practices and avoid delays and unnecessary costs. To dispose of cases before the court and devote adequate time for the job, to be punctual in attending court and expeditious in determining matters under submission.
  • Second, I’m dedicated to improving our court system and will continue to work with local and state officials to explore the possibility of adding more courts. It’s important to recognize that our courts are currently underfunded, and we really need to provide them with the resources to meet the community's needs and uphold everyone’s rights.
  • Ensuring fairness for all parties and treating everyone justly according to the law, without any preconceptions that might influence the outcome of a cas
Those in life that have made a significant impact when they have started with nothing and against all odds.
I can make decisions based upon the facts and the law as applied to it.
The movement of cases; seasoned legal knowledge in the ability to move cases along and to be fair and transparent.
One that shows that hard court does make a difference.
I worked as a Dishwasher for the summer
The Edgar Allen Poe series. His influential genres, critical theories, his influence on others and his command of the language.
Judges do a great deal of administrative work regarding the operation of the judiciary.
The four pillars of virtue that Socrates introduced in Plato's Republic are courage, moderation, wisdom, and justice
Yes, in my last Bar poll for the 165th race I received 732 votes and my current opponent received 368. The new 2024 results have not been released.
A promise I made to my father to continue to help the community..
Not necessarily. You do need to have knowledge of the government and politics to know how it acts
There are not enough courts to handle the current influx of cases. We need to invest more money in the court system and increase the number of courts due to the population and the increased filings.
To be invested in itself. The lack of funding and personnel results in longer delays in hearing motions and cass going to trial. Despite Houston's massive growth, we have not had a new civil court in over 40 years. Even though technology is helping, we still need boots on the ground.
A man is on his deathbed. He has three friends who come and visit him, being a doctor, a lawyer, and an engineer. He tells them, “I know you can’t take it with you. But I want to try. I’m giving you each $10,000 cash. When you come up to my coffin to pay your respects I want you to take the $10,000 and shove it in the coffin with me.“

The man passes and the three men pay their respects. Afterwards, they are all talking. The doctor says “I know it’s medically impossible, but I have to admit I put $9000 in the coffin and kept $1000 for myself.”

The engineer then chimes in. “I did all the calculations and realize it’s impossible also. But I have to admit I put $5000 in and left $5000 for myself.”

The lawyer looks at them both with disgust. “I’m disappointed in both of you. This was his last wish and neither of you held up your end. I wrote him a check for the entire amount.“
Houston Police Officers Union PAC

Houston Region Business Coalition
Bizpac
Houston Narcotic Police officers

Numerous elected officials and residents of Houston.
I agree there should be transparency and accountability.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2022

Bruce Bain did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Candidate Connection

Bruce Bain completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bain's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Bruce Bain is an accomplished trial attorney with Thirty Five years of civil trial experience. He has practiced in both state and federal courts. His legal affiliations include the State Bar of Texas, The United States District Court for the Southern District, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Houston Bar Association. Bruce has handled cases before civil district courts throughout Texas, before the Texas Courts of Appeals, and the Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals En Banc. He has been recognized in Strathmore's Who's Who of Professionals, HTown Magazine and Houstonia Magazine.

Bruce Bain's distinguished career encompasses many areas of the law. His diverse experience includes condemnation, commercial, toxic tort, insurance, subrogation, constitutional, personal injury, partnership, business, and real estate law. This broad base of experience will enable him to rule quickly on the wide variety of matters that come before a Civil District Court Judge.

Bruce obtained his J.D. from South Texas College of Law in 1985. While attending law school, Bruce earned the prestigious American Jurisprudence Award. Bruce was also on the Dean's List, and selected by Who's Who of American Law Students. He is a former Chairmen of the Texas Supreme Court, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, District 4 and a H.B.A. member and currently serves on the Houston Bar Association Senior Lawyer and Fee Dispute Committee.

Justice, fairness, resolution in a timely manner
I was a dishwasher in a Diner and I had it all summer.
Judges are the gatekeepers in our system of justice. If your trial judges don't know, or refuse to follow, the law, it may take a long time and a lot of money before you receive justice. If you don't have the time or the money, you may never receive justice.

Did you Know?
Family Law Judges can take your children away, take your home away, order you to surrender property to your spouse or ex- spouse, and determine when you can see your children.

Civil Court Judges can take your pets and property away, interpret your contracts and choose to enforce or not enforce them, stall home foreclosure and grant monetary judgments against you in any amount.

Criminal Court Judges can release criminals with or without bond. Some set the bond as low as $10 for violent and repeat offenders.

Many of our current judges are driving up the costs of lawsuits by ruling or even failing to rule on agreed Motions, without regard for existing laws and the impact their rulings have on lives, pocketbooks and everyone's access to justice.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Awards and associations

Awards

  • Strathmore’s Who’s Who of Professionals[2]

See also


External links

Footnotes