Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
David Rakow
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 page is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.
Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!
David Rakow is the judge for the Texas District 439.[1] He was appointed by Governor Rick Perry in November 2010.[2] Rakow was re-elected without opposition in 2016 to a term that expired in 2020.[3]
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] Incumbent David Rakow ran unopposed in the Texas 439th District Court Republican primary.[3]
| Texas 439th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
 David Rakow Incumbent | ||
David Rakow 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.[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]
2012
Rakow was re-elected without opposition to the 439th District Court.[8]
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
Education
Rakow received his undergraduate degree from University of Texas at Austin and his J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law.[9]
Career
Rakow's professional experience includes working as a criminal district attorney for Rockwall and Kaufman County.[9]
Awards and associations
Associations
- Rockwall County Bar Association
- Rockwall Rotary Club[9]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Texas Courts Online, "Directory of Trial Courts by County," February 27, 2014
- ↑ Office of the Texas Governor, Press Release: "Gov. Perry Appoints Rakow as Judge of the 439th District Court," November 9, 2010
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2012 General Election Results," November 6, 2012
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Judge David Rakow appointed new 439th District Judge by Gov. Perry, Rockwall News, November 10, 2010
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
