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Karen Pozza
Karen Pozza was a judge of the Texas 407th District Court. She left office on December 31, 2020.
Pozza won re-election without opposition in 2016. The general election took place on November 8, 2016.[1]
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.[2] Incumbent Karen Pozza ran unopposed in the Texas 407th District Court Democratic primary.[1]
| Texas 407th District Court, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Karen Pozza Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 80,355 |
| Total Votes | 80,355 | |
| Source: Bexar County, Texas, "2016 Joint Primary Elections," accessed March 2, 2016 | ||
Karen Pozza 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.[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]
Education
Judge Pozza earned a BBA from Baylor University in 1986 and her JD from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1991.[6]
Career
Pozza was elected to her seat on the 407the District in 2000 with 53.43% of the vote. She ran as a Democrat.[7] She ran unopposed in 2004 and 2008 and was re-elected each time.[8][9]
Prior to her election as a district judge Pozza was in private legal practice focusing on civil litigation.[6]
Federal court nomination
Pozza is one of three candidates recommended to President Obama for appointment to fill the vacancy on the Western District of Texas created when William Furgeson took senior status. If appointed, Pozza would be the first woman to serve on the federal court in San Antonio. The San Antonio Express News reported on May 11, 2011 that US Representative Charlie Gonzales of San Antonio stated: “My understanding is that the White House is moving forward on the background checks on Karen Pozza."[10]
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 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
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 407th District Court
- ↑ 2000 Bexar County election results
- ↑ 2004 Bexar County election results
- ↑ 2008 Bexar County election results (dead link)
- ↑ My San Antonio "Dems back S.A. judges for fed seat" July 14, 2009 (dead link)
