Kristin Bays
Kristin Bays was a 2016 candidate for the Texas 410th District Court in Texas.[1] Bays lost in a primary runoff election on May 24, 2016.
Education
Bays earned her B.S. in education from Baylor University in 1990. She later received her J.D. from Baylor School of Law.[2]
Career
Bays has been an attorney with Bays & Bays since 1997. She previously worked as an attorney with Wetzel & Herron, LLP from 1994 to 1997.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
Bays' campaign website listed the following themes for 2016:
| “ |
Save Tax Dollars Welcoming Environment We Need a Judge Who:
|
” |
| —Kristin Bays (2016), [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] Jennifer Robin defeated Kristin Bays in the Texas 410th District Court Republican primary runoff.
| Texas 410th District Court, Republican Primary Runoff, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Jennifer Robin |
57.08% | 7,211 |
| Kristin Bays | 42.92% | 5,423 |
| Total Votes | 12,634 | |
| Source: Montgomery County, Texas, "May 24, 2016 Primary Runoff Election," accessed May 24, 2016 | ||
| Texas 410th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Jennifer Robin |
43.37% | 29,558 |
| Kristin Bays |
34.88% | 23,772 |
| Chuck Meyer | 21.75% | 14,823 |
| Total Votes (100) | 68,153 | |
| 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 Bays for Judge, "My Resume," accessed February 24, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Bays for Judge, "My Platform," accessed February 24, 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
