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Lonnie Cox
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Lonnie Cox is the judge of Texas District 56.[1] He has been on the bench since 2005.[2] On November 6, 2012, he was re-elected to a four-year term.
Cox won re-election without opposition in 2016. The general election took place on November 8, 2016.[3]
Education
Cox received his undergraduate degree from HBU and his J.D. from University of Houston Law School.[4]
Career
Cox spent 10 years as an assistant district attorney and a chief felony prosecutor prior to becoming a judge. He has also been a customer service supervisor at two of Lubrizol Corporation's plants in Texas as well as a musician for several orchestras.[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] Incumbent Lonnie Cox defeated Wayne Mallia in the Texas 56th District Court Republican primary.[3]
| Texas 56th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Lonnie Cox Incumbent |
63.60% | 20,234 |
| Wayne Mallia | 36.40% | 11,579 |
| Total Votes | 31,813 | |
| Source: Galveston County, Texas, "Cumulative Report-Unofficial," 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]
2012
Cox was re-elected without opposition to the 56th District Court.[9]
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
Awards and associations
Awards
- MADD - Recognized for Dedication & Service - July 2001
- Texas Gang Investigators Assoc. – Damn Good Judge Award[2]
Associations
- State Bar of Texas
- Texas Board of Legal Specializations in Criminal Law
- College of the State Bar of Texas
- Galveston County Bar Association
- Galveston Bar Association Secretary
- Pro Bono Committee
- Judicial Section of the Texas State Bar
- Galveston County Community Supervision & Correction Board
- Galveston County Juvenile Probation Board
- Galveston County Justice Board[2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 56th District
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Court Website Bio
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Campaign Bio
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2012 General Election Results," November 6, 2012
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
