Leann Kay Rafferty
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Leann Kay Rafferty is a judge for the Texas 123rd District Court in Texas.[1] Rafferty won without opposition in the general election on November 8, 2016.
Education
Rafferty earned her B.A. and B.S. from Centenary College of Louisiana. She later received a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center.[2]
Career
Rafferty previously worked as an attorney with Tekell, Book, Allen and Morris, LLC. She began working as a private practice attorney in 2005.[2]
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.[3] Leann Kay Rafferty defeated Mike Parker in the Texas 123rd District Court Republican primary runoff.
| Texas 123rd District Court, Republican Primary Runoff, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Leann Kay Rafferty |
53.82% | 2,285 |
| Mike Parker | 46.18% | 1,961 |
| Total Votes | 4,246 | |
| Source: The Light and Champion, "Primary election 2016 runoff results," May 24, 2016 | ||
| Texas 123rd District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Leann Kay Rafferty |
44.80% | 4,540 |
| Mike Parker |
36.43% | 3,691 |
| Charles Dickerson Incumbent | 18.77% | 1,902 |
| Total Votes | 10,133 | |
| Source: Longview News-Journal, "Incumbent not in runoff for 123rd district judge," 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.[4]
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."[5]
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;*[6]
- 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.[4]
*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.[4]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Leann Kay Rafferty for Judge, "About," accessed February 16, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 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
