Cornel Walker (Texas)
Cornel Walker was a 2016 candidate for the Texas 10th District Court in Texas.[1] The general election took place on November 8, 2016. Walker was defeated in the 2016 general election.
Campaign themes
2016
Walker's campaign website listed the following themes for 2016:
| “ |
The Judicial System must undergo a fundamental change so that all people are truly treated equally under the law. Everyone, regardless of circumstance, must be able to leave the Courthouse feeling that they were treated fairly by the judge and/or jury. The elimination of mandatory sentencing should be a priority. The obligation for sentencing belongs with either the Court or members of the jury who have heard the evidence, seen the witnesses, and are in the best position to determine the credibility of all that they have seen and heard. No judge should advertise themselves as a life-long conservative and carry those beliefs into the Court. The parties, attorneys and witnesses before the Court should be able to rely on justice from the Court. The judgment rendered by the court should never be based on the judge's political beliefs. Every person, whether a party to a civil case or a criminal case, deserves a speedy trial. Every judge should observe the rules and restrictions found in the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.[2][3] |
” |
| —Cornel Walker (2016) | ||
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] Cornel Walker ran unopposed in the Texas 10th District Court Democratic primary.[1]
| Texas 10th District Court, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
 Cornel Walker | ||
Incumbent Kerry Neves defeated Cornel Walker in the Texas 10th District Court general election.
| Texas 10th District Court, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Kerry Neves Incumbent |
65.18% | 77,952 | |
| Democratic | Cornel Walker | 34.82% | 41,637 | |
| Total Votes | 119,589 | |||
| Source: Lamar County, Texas, "General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed November 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]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ Cornel Walker for Judge, "Platform," accessed October 13, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 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
