Kate Shipman Bihm
Kate Shipman Bihm was a 2016 candidate for the Texas 9th District Court in Texas.[1] Bihm lost in a primary runoff election on May 24, 2016.
Education
Bihm earned her bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and her J.D. from the Texas Tech University School of Law.[2]
Career
Bihm was a prosecutor for the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office from 2004 to 2007. She has been an attorney in private practice since 2007.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
Bihm's campaign website listed the following themes for her 2016 campaign:
| “ |
I entered the race for the 9th District Court because this court needs a judge with integrity, experience, and who reflects the conservative values that are the heartbeat of our community. I believe judges should be fair and impartial, committed to the U.S. and Texas Constitutions, and stand up for what is right. I am running to bring principled, conservative justice to the 9th District Court in Montgomery County.
Decisions made by District Judges affect the residents of ALL Texas counties for two main reasons. First, defendants who commit felonies are punished at the state level, which is paid for by all Texas taxpayers. Second, decisions made by District Judges, if upheld on appeal, can become the law of our State, and potentially affect every person who appears in court, no matter their county. It is critical that Montgomery County's judges be a reflection of the fair-minded, compassionate, and conservative community that we love. When elected, I will be fair. I will not legislate from the bench. I will not be swayed by special interest groups or other elected officials. I will remain grounded in my faith. I will continue my lifelong commitment to the ideals of personal responsibility and respect for the rule of law. [3] |
” |
| —Kate Shipman Bihm (2016), [4] | ||
| Montgomery County Political Forum, October 21, 2015 |
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] Phil Grant defeated Kate Shipman Bihm in the Texas 9th District Court Republican primary runoff.
| Texas 9th District Court, Republican Primary Runoff, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Phil Grant |
52.20% | 6,653 |
| Kate Shipman Bihm | 47.80% | 6,092 |
| Total Votes | 12,745 | |
| Source: Montgomery County, Texas, "May 24, 2016 Primary Runoff Election," accessed May 24, 2016 | ||
| Texas 9th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Phil Grant |
44.80% | 32,525 |
| Kate Shipman Bihm |
33.26% | 24,145 |
| Eric Yollick | 21.95% | 15,935 |
| Total Votes (100) | 72,605 | |
| Source: Montgomery County, Texas, "March 1, 2016 Primary Elections," accessed March 1, 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 Bihm for Judge, "Meet Kate," accessed February 12, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Bihm for Judge, "Why Kate?" accessed February 12, 2016
- ↑ 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
