Don Clemmer
Don Clemmer was a judge of the 450th District Court in Texas. He was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott (R) on October 13, 2015. Clemmer is the first judge of this court, which was created through legislation during the 83rd Legislative Session.[1]
Clemmer ran for re-election in 2016.[2] He ran for re-election until his withdrawal prior to the November 2016 general election.
Biography
Clemmer received a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the University of Houston School of Law.[1] At the time of his judicial appointment, Clemmer was working as general counsel in the Office of the Governor. He previously served as a deputy attorney general at the Texas Attorney General’s Office and as an assistant district attorney in Harris County.[1]
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] Incumbent Don Clemmer ran unopposed in the Texas 450th District Court Republican primary.[2]
| Texas 450th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Don Clemmer Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 49,924 |
| Total Votes | 49,924 | |
| Source: Travis County Clerk, "Unofficial Results: Republican Cumulative Results," accessed March 2, 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
- Courts in Texas
- Texas District Courts
- Travis County, Texas
- Local trial court judicial elections, 2016
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Texas Insider, "Abbott Appoints Clemmer to 450th Judicial District Court," October 13, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 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
