Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
Louis Sturns
Louis Sturns was the judge of Texas District 213 from 2007 to 2018. Sturns was the first African-American criminal court judge in Tarrant County, Texas, and the first African-American to serve on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.[1]
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.[2] Incumbent Louis Sturns ran unopposed in the Texas 213th District Court Republican primary.[3]
| Texas 213th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Louis Sturns Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 134,049 |
| Total Votes | 134,049 | |
| Source: Tarrant County, Texas, "Unofficial Results," accessed March 2, 2016 | ||
Louis Sturns won without opposition in the general election.
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]
2012
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
Sturns was re-elected without opposition to the 213th District Court.[7]
Education
Sturns received his undergraduate degree from Wichita State University and his J.D. from the University of Kansas.[8]
Career
Prior to his judicial election, Sturns practiced privately and for the U.S. Army JAG Corp.[9]
Awards and associations
Awards
- U. S. Army Commendation Medal
- Professionalism Award, Tarrant County Bar
- Humanitarian Award, Minority Leaders and Citizens Council
- Good Scout Award, Longhorn Council of Boy Scouts of America[9]
Associations
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Tarrant County Bar
- Tarrant County Black Bar
- Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce
- Mayor’s Promotion and Development Fund
- Tarrant County Republican Party[9]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Fort Worth Business Press, "Judge Sturns: Legal heavyweight steps down," October 13, 2018
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," 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
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2012 General Election Results," November 6, 2012
- ↑ Martindale.com Profile
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Campaign Website
