Jim Pikl

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Jim Pikl
Image of Jim Pikl

Republican Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

November 6, 2018

Education

Bachelor's

Eastern Washington University

Graduate

University of Arizona

Law

Gonzaga University

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Navy

Personal
Religion
Christian
Profession
Attorney
Contact

Personal website

Personal Twitter

Jim Pikl (Republican Party) ran for election for the Place 12 judge of the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.

Pikl was a 2016 candidate for the Texas 401st District Court in Texas.[1] He was defeated in the primary election on March 1, 2016.

Biography

Jim Pikl served in the United States Navy. He earned a B.S. in economics and mathematics from Eastern Washington University in 1981 and a J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1985. Pikl’s career experience includes working as a partner with Scheef & Stone, LLP.[2]

Elections

2018

See also: Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2018

General election

General election for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 12

Ken Molberg defeated Jim Pikl in the general election for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 12 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Ken Molberg
Ken Molberg (D)
 
53.5
 
637,698
Image of Jim Pikl
Jim Pikl (R)
 
46.5
 
554,098

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,191,796
Candidate Connection = 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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Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 12

Jim Pikl defeated William Johnson in the Republican primary runoff for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 12 on May 22, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jim Pikl
Jim Pikl
 
56.9
 
21,893
Image of William Johnson
William Johnson
 
43.1
 
16,558

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 38,451
Candidate Connection = 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 Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 12

Ken Molberg advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 12 on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
✔
Image of Ken Molberg
Ken Molberg

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Candidate Connection = 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 12

Jim Pikl and William Johnson advanced to a runoff. They defeated Perry Cockerell in the Republican primary for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals Place 12 on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Jim Pikl
Jim Pikl
 
41.4
 
60,794
✔
Image of William Johnson
William Johnson
 
39.5
 
58,044
Image of Perry Cockerell
Perry Cockerell
 
19.1
 
27,974

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

Total votes: 146,812
Candidate Connection = 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.

2016

Incumbent Mark Rusch defeated Jim Pikl in the Texas 401st District Court Republican primary.[1]

Texas 401st District Court, Republican Primary, 2016
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.png Mark Rusch Incumbent 58.51% 40,477
Jim Pikl 41.49% 28,699
Total Votes 69,176
Source: Collin County, Texas, "Election Summary Report," 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.[3]

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."[4]

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;*[5]
  • 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.[3]

*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.[3]

Endorsements

Pikl's campaign website listed the following themes for the Republican primary:[6]

  • Collin County Conservative Republicans
  • Grass Roots McKinney
  • Texans for Fiscal Responsibility/Empower Texans
  • Texas Eagle Forum
  • Texas Home School Coalition
  • Texas Right to Life

Campaign themes

2018

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Candidate Connection

Jim Pikl participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on March 27, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Jim Pikl's responses follow below.[7]

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

“ 1) Enforce the Constitution and the rule of law, as written

2) Make predictable, consistent rulings
3) Entertain petitions for mandamus petitions on the merits[8][9]

”

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

“ Right to life, strict Constitutional adherence, and the rule of law as the only foundation for a civil, just societyCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[9] ”

Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Jim Pikl answered the following:

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

“ Anyone who stands up on principle at high cost to themselves, such as single moms who choose life, LEOs, and the military[9] ”
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
“ The Law by Frederic Bastiat[9] ”
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
“ Integrity, honesty, and tenacity[9] ”
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
“ Wisdom, discernment, and the ability to see into an issue and determine right from wrong, every time[9] ”
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
“ To uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, as written[9] ”
What legacy would you like to leave?
“ That I adhered to the Constitution and the rule of law, that I was a writer ordinary folks could understand, and that everyone who comes into my court thought they got a fair hearing[9] ”
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
“ The assassination of John Kennedy. I was six.[9] ”
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
“ Paper boy. Two years.[9] ”
What happened on your most awkward date?
“ I sat next to and talked to a ""blind date"" for over 15 minutes before realizing she was not my date[9] ”
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
“ Easter. It is the holiday of eternal hope.[9] ”
What is your favorite book? Why?
“ Deadline, by Randy Alcorn[9] ”
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
“ Superman. Doesn't everyone?[9] ”
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
“ My kids[9] ”
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
“ Even If by Mercy Me[9] ”
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
“ Giving people I don't know the benefit of the doubt when they do something stupid.[9] ”
How would you describe your legal philosophy?
“ Judges are not to make law, because they are not equipped to do so[9] ”
Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?
“ Neil Gorsuch and Ray Wheless[9] ”
Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?
“ Yes, to a point. If it invades your decision making and makes you ignore the law, it is harmful[9] ”
Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this judicial position that you believe more people should be aware of?
“ This court is the court of last resort in 98% of all lawsuits[9] ”
Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?
“ The Texas bar does not ""rate"" lawyers[9] ”
Do you believe that Bar Association ratings are an accurate reflection of a judge’s ability?
“ N/A[9] ”
Why are you running for this particular court seat?
“ To give back to the system my experience, judgment and ability to decide fairly[9] ”
If you are not a sitting judge, do you have previous judicial experience? Do you believe it’s important to have that kind of experience for this judgeship?
“ N/A I am a sitting judge[9] ”
Do you believe that it’s beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?
“ Not particularly[9] ”
What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?
“ It's too slow and expensive[9] ”
What do you consider the greatest opportunity for the legal system in your state?
“ To dispense justice fairly and blindly[9] ”
Would you be interested in serving on a higher court in the future? If so, what court appeals to you?
“ SCOTUS. Isn't everyone? :)[9] ”

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
  2. ↑ Jim Pikl for Justice, Dallas Fifth Court of Appeals, "About Jim," accessed February 11, 2018
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Texas," archived October 3, 2014
  4. ↑ Texas Courts Online, "Administrative Judicial Regions," accessed September 12, 2014
  5. ↑ Texas State Historical Association, "Judiciary," accessed September 12, 2014
  6. ↑ Jim Pikl for Judge, "Endorsements," accessed February 24, 2016
  7. ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
  8. ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Jim Pikl's responses," March 27, 2018
  9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 9.17 9.18 9.19 9.20 9.21 9.22 9.23 9.24 9.25 9.26 9.27 9.28 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.


Texas courts

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

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