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John Smith (Texas district judge)
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 judge is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.
This page refers to the district judge from Texas. For the former West Virginia commissioner of agriculture, see John W. Smith (West Virginia).
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John Smith is the judge of Texas District 161.[1] Smith was appointed in 2006 by Gov. Rick Perry, and re-elected in 2008, 2012, and 2016.[2][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 John Smith ran unopposed in the Texas 161st District Court Republican primary.[3]
| Texas 161st District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
 John Smith Incumbent | ||
Smith 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
Smith was re-elected without opposition to the 161st District Court.[8]
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
Education
Smith received his undergraduate degree and J.D. from Texas Tech University.[2]
Awards and associations
- State Bar of Texas
- Texas District and County Attorneys Association
- Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Viet Nam Veterans of America[2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Ector County District Courts
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Office of Governor, "Press Release," April 22, 2006
- ↑ 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 Summary" Select "2012 General Election"
