Janna Whatley
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Janna K. Whatley is the judge for Texas District 343.[1] She was first elected to the court in 2000 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 Janna Whatley ran unopposed in the Texas 343rd District Court Republican primary.[4]
| Texas 343rd District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
 Janna Whatley Incumbent | ||
Janna Whatley 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
Whatley ran for re-election to the 343rd District Court and defeated challenger Richard D. Zapata with 66.6 percent of the vote.[8][2]
Biography
Whatley received her undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and J.D. from Baylor School of Law.[9]
Prior to joining the 343rd District Court, Whatley worked in private practice at the firm of Joseph and Whatley, P.C.[9]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 343rd District
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 AransasPassProgress.com-Election results in-2012
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Campaign Website Bio
