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Craig Black
Craig Black was a 2016 candidate for the 354th District Court in Texas.[1] Black lost in a primary runoff election on May 24, 2016.
Education
Black received his B.A. from East Texas State University in 1987. He later received his J.D. from Baylor University School of Law in 1989.[2]
Career
Black worked as a prosecutor for the Hunt County District Attorney's Office following law school. He is a private practice attorney in Greenville.[2]
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] Keli Aiken defeated Craig Black in the Texas 354th District Court Republican primary runoff.
| Texas 354th District Court, Republican Primary Runoff, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Keli Aiken |
63.62% | 1,967 |
| Craig Black | 36.38% | 1,125 |
| Total Votes | 3,092 | |
| Source: Hunt County, Texas, "Primary Run-Off," accessed May 24, 2016 | ||
| Texas 354th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Keli Aiken |
37.64% | 4,551 |
| Craig Black |
28.40% | 3,434 |
| Katherine Ferguson | 25.80% | 3,120 |
| Shawn Council | 8.15% | 986 |
| Total Votes | 12,091 | |
| Source: Hunt County, Texas, "2016 Primary Election," 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.[4]
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."[5]
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;*[6]
- 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.[4]
*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.[4]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Craig Black for Judge, "Meet Craig Black," accessed February 23, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 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
