Joshua Estes
Joshua Estes was a 2016 candidate for the Texas 400th District Court in Texas.[1] He was defeated in the primary election on March 1, 2016.
Education
Estes earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas. He later received his J.D. from the South Texas College of Law.[2]
Career
Estes is a private practice attorney.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
Estes participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 survey of local judicial candidates. The following sections display his responses to the survey questions. When asked what non-judicial legal experience qualifies him to be a judge, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | I have extensive trial experience and a strong academic and professionally diverse legal background to efficiently run the court and effectively and accurately enforce the rule of law, in this general jurisdiction court.[3][4] | ” |
When asked why he was running for this particular court seat, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | In order to serve the community that I have grown up with my entire life.[3][4] | ” |
When asked to identify one judge, past or present, who he admires, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | Antonin Scalia[3][4] | ” |
When asked about his primary concern regarding today's judicial system in his state, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | Ensuring the most qualified candidates are elected to the bench.[3][4] | ” |
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.[5] Incumbent Maggie Jaramillo defeated Joshua Estes in the Texas 400th District Court Republican primary.[1]
| Texas 400th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Maggie Jaramillo Incumbent |
62.69% | 29,469 |
| Joshua Estes | 37.31% | 17,540 |
| Total Votes | 47,009 | |
| Source: Fort Bend County, Texas, "REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION 3/1/2016," 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.[6]
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."[7]
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;*[8]
- 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.[6]
*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.[6]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Estes for Judge, "About Joshua," accessed February 24, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Ballotpedia's local judicial candidate survey, 2016, "Joshua Estes's Responses," February 15, 2016
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 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
