Katherine Ferguson
Katherine Ferguson was a 2016 candidate for the 354th District Court in Texas.[1] She was defeated in the primary election on March 1, 2016.
Education
Ferguson earned her bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and her J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law.[2]
Career
Ferguson is a partner at Renshaw, Davis & Ferguson, LLP.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
Ferguson's campaign website listed the following themes for 2016:
| “ |
I am a staunch conservative. I believe my conservative values as well as my legal experience will be reflected in my service on the bench. A district judge has incredible responsibilities, including the duty to follow the law and not legislate from the bench. I will be fair and impartial and will uphold the responsibilities of a judge envisioned by our Founding Fathers. [3] |
” |
| —Katherine Ferguson (2016), [4] | ||
Elections
2016
| Texas 354th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Keli Aiken |
37.64% | 4,551 |
| Craig Black |
28.40% | 3,434 |
| Katherine Ferguson | 25.80% | 3,120 |
| Shawn Council | 8.15% | 986 |
| Total Votes | 12,091 | |
| Source: Hunt County, Texas, "2016 Primary Election," 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.[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]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Katherine Ferguson for Judge, "Home," accessed February 23, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Katherine Ferguson for Judge, "Philosophy," accessed February 23, 2016
- ↑ 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
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
