Mark Rusch
Mark Rusch was a judge of the Texas 401st District Court. He assumed office in 2000. He left office on December 31, 2020.
Rusch (Republican Party) ran for re-election for judge of the Texas 401st District Court. He won in the general election on November 8, 2016.
Rusch was appointed by Gov. George W. Bush (later President Bush) (R) in 2000.[1]
Biography
Rusch received his undergraduate degree from the University of Dallas and his J.D. from the University of Houston Law School.[1]
In 1996, Rusch was elected judge of County Court at Law #4. His professional experience also includes work as chief felony prosecutor for the Collin County district attorney.[1]
Campaign themes
2016
Rusch participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 survey of local judicial candidates. The following sections display his responses to the survey questions. When asked what non-judicial legal experience qualifies him to be a judge, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | I am Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Board of Legal Specialization for a court whose docket is 50 % felonies.[2][3] | ” |
When asked why he was running for this particular court seat, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | I am the judge of the 401st District Court. I have been a judge for over 19 years. I love my job. Every day I have the opportunity to have a positive impact on the quality of life in our community. Being a judge allows me to combine my love of the law and my commitment to community service.[2][3] | ” |
When asked to identify one judge, past or present, who he admires, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | Judge Curt Henderson. He was a friend and mentor to me both as a prosecutor and as a judge. He knows the law and applies it fairly. He is a humble man of faith and treats everyone with respect.[2][3] | ” |
When asked about his primary concern regarding today's judicial system in his state, the candidate made the following statement:
| “ | The most pressing issue in the courts of Collin County is to provide effective and efficient administration of justice. Collin County’s population is exploding. As a result, there has been a rise in cases filed in district court across our dockets, including family, criminal and civil cases. It is important that we maintain judges with experience in all facets of the law to keep up with this demand. Extensive civil experience plus my Board Certification in criminal law (which is over half the docket of the 401st) will continue to serve to efficiently dispose of those cases.[2][3] | ” |
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.[4] Incumbent Mark Rusch ran unopposed in the Texas 401st District Court general election.
| Texas 401st District Court, General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican |  Mark Rusch Incumbent (unopposed) | |
| Source: Collin County, Texas, "Election Summary Report," November 16, 2016 | ||
Incumbent Mark Rusch defeated Jim Pikl in the Texas 401st District Court Republican primary.[5]
| Texas 401st District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Mark Rusch Incumbent |
58.51% | 40,477 |
| Jim Pikl | 41.49% | 28,699 |
| Total Votes | 69,176 | |
| Source: Collin County, Texas, "Election Summary Report," 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.[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
Rusch was re-elected without opposition to the 401st District Court in the general election.[9] Rusch defeated fellow Republican James C. Mosser in the primary election.
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
Endorsements
2016
Rusch received the following endorsements in 2016:[10]
- Collin County Sheriff Terry Box
- McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller
- Allen Mayor Steve Terrell
- McKinney Mayor Pro Tem Travis Ussery
- Collin County Commissioner Duncan Webb
- Collin County Commissioner Cheryl Williams
Awards and associations
Associations
- The State Bar of Texas
- The Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas
- American Judges Association
- Collin County Bar Association
- The Plano Bar Association
- The State Bar College
- The Curt B. Henderson Inn of Court
- Golden Corridor Republican Women's Club, Associate Member
- Collin County Purchasing Board - Chairman
- Collin County Juvenile Board[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Campaign Bio
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ballotpedia's local judicial candidate survey, 2016, "Mark Rusch's Responses," February 19, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," 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
- ↑ Keep Judge Mark Rusch, "Endorsements," accessed February 22, 2016
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
