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Elia Lopez
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Elia Lopez is the judge for Texas District 404.[1] She joined the court in 2009 and was re-elected on November 8, 2016.[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] Incumbent Elia Lopez ran unopposed in the Texas 404th District Court Democratic primary.[4]
| Texas 404th District Court, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Elia Lopez Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 19,962 |
| Total Votes | 19,962 | |
| Source: Cameron County, Texas, "Unofficial Results: 2016 Democratic Primary Election," accessed March 2, 2016 | ||
Elia Lopez 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
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
Lopez was re-elected without opposition to the 404th District Court on Nov. 6, 2012.[8][9][10]
Biography
Lopez received her undergraduate degree from University of Texas at Austin and her J.D. from University of Texas School of Law.[2]
Lopez has served on the bench of Cameron County Court at Law and Municipal Court Judge for City of Brownsville.[2]
See also
External links
- Cameron County District Courts
- The Brownsville Herald, "Attorney files motion to have judge recused," August 24, 2012
Footnotes
- ↑ 404th District
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Campaign Website Bio
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," 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
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State: 2012 November General Election Candidates (dead link)
- ↑ The Brownsville Herald, "Elia Cornejo Lopez wins for 404th state district judge," May 29, 2012
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
