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Craig Smith (Texas)
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2021 - Present
2026
4
Craig Smith (Democratic Party) is a judge for Place 6 of the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals. He assumed office on January 1, 2021. His current term ends on December 31, 2026.
Smith (Democratic Party) ran for election for the Place 6 judge of the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals. He won in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Biography
Craig Smith received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas. He earned his J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law.[1] Before being elected judge, Smith was an attorney in private practice for 25 years.[1]
Awards and associations
- 2008: Trial Judge of the Year by the American Board of Trial Advocates
- 2008: Hartman Judicial Pro Bono Service Award by the Dallas Bar Association
- 2003-2005: Texas Super Lawyer[1]
- 2010: Elected President of the Texas Association of District Judges
- Board Member, Dallas Bar Association Community Service Fund
- Dallas Bar Association
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- National Board of Trial Advocacy[1]
Elections
2020
See also: Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2020
General election
General election for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 6
Craig Smith defeated John Browning in the general election for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 6 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Craig Smith (D) | 52.7 | 824,025 | |
 | John Browning (R) | 47.3 | 740,422 | |
| Total votes: 1,564,447 | |||
 = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- David Bridges (R)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 6
Craig Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 6 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Craig Smith | 100.0 | 269,932 | |
| Total votes: 269,932 | |||
| = 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 Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 6
Incumbent David Bridges advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 6 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | David Bridges | 100.0 | 178,812 |
| Total votes: 178,812 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign finance
2018
General election
General election for Texas 192nd District Court
Incumbent Craig Smith won election in the general election for Texas 192nd District Court on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Craig Smith (D) | 100.0 | 479,632 | |
| Total votes: 479,632 | |||
| = 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 192nd District Court
Incumbent Craig Smith advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas 192nd District Court on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Craig Smith | 100.0 | 96,506 | |
| Total votes: 96,506 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2014
See also: Texas judicial elections, 2014
Smith ran for re-election to the 192nd District Court.
Primary: He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on March 4, 2014.
General: He won without opposition in the general election on November 4, 2014.
[2][3]
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]
2010
Smith was re-elected after running unopposed.
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Craig Smith did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
|
Officeholder Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 6 |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 ReElect Judge Craig Smith, "About Judge Smith," accessed August 21, 2014
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2014 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County (A-L)"
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2014 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County (M-Z)" (Search "Dallas")
- ↑ 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
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