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Martin Hoffman
Martin Hoffman (Democratic Party) is a judge of the Texas 68th District Court. He assumed office on January 1, 2007. His current term ends on December 31, 2026.
Hoffman (Democratic Party) won re-election for judge of the Texas 68th District Court outright after the general election on November 8, 2022, was canceled.
Elections
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Dallas County, Texas (2022)
General election
The general election was canceled. Incumbent Martin Hoffman won election in the general election for Texas 68th District Court.
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas 68th District Court
Incumbent Martin Hoffman advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas 68th District Court on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Martin Hoffman | 100.0 | 114,934 |
| Total votes: 114,934 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2018
General election
General election for Texas 68th District Court
Incumbent Martin Hoffman won election in the general election for Texas 68th District Court on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Martin Hoffman (D) | 100.0 | 483,157 |
| Total votes: 483,157 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary runoff election
Democratic primary runoff for Texas 68th District Court
Incumbent Martin Hoffman defeated Kim Brown in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas 68th District Court on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Martin Hoffman | 54.8 | 29,544 |
 | Kim Brown | 45.2 | 24,416 | |
| Total votes: 53,960 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Texas 68th District Court
Kim Brown and incumbent Martin Hoffman advanced to a runoff. They defeated Amanda Ghagar in the Democratic primary for Texas 68th District Court on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kim Brown | 45.9 | 52,868 |
| ✔ | | Martin Hoffman | 38.4 | 44,194 |
| Amanda Ghagar | 15.7 | 18,044 | ||
| Total votes: 115,106 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2014
See also: Texas judicial elections, 2014
Hoffman ran for re-election to the 68th District Court.
Primary: He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on March 4, 2014.
General: He won without opposition in the general election on November 4, 2014.
[1][2][3]
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]
2010
Hoffman defeated David Diaz in the Democratic primary. He was re-elected after running unopposed in the general election.
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Martin Hoffman did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Martin Hoffman participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on March 27, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Martin Hoffman's responses follow below.[7]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1) Continue and expand my foreclosure mediation program 2) Continue to mentor law students |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | I have been passionate about residential foreclosure mediation. I have developed a program to give homeowners a voice in the foreclosure process: . The program has four essential components: 1) MONITORING — After an applicant fulfills the basic requirements for an expedited application, the court sends out a notice to the homeowner and the mortgage company for a monthly hearing before the court. This notice is sent in English and Spanish. Both parties are given an opportunity to discuss the situation with the judge. Where appropriate, the homeowner is given the opportunity to submit to court monitoring of the application. The homeowner is instructed to pursue credit mentoring (with a HUD approved credit counselor) or to go to mediation before the next monthly hearing.
2) MENTORING – Many homeowners are unaware of the many options available to avert foreclosure. Homeowners are allowed to seek credit mentoring from HUD approved credit counselors. 3) MEDIATION – Homeowners are given the option to attend mediation with a specially trained mediator who is familiar with the different programs and options available to homeowners. 4) MODIFICATION -- The ultimate goal of this program is to allow homeowners the opportunity to pursue and complete reasonable modification of the existing loan so that the homeowner can stay in their home and the mortgage company be paid the debt it is owed.Cite error: Invalid |
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Martin Hoffman answered the following:
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
| “ | The court I preside over handle solely civil cases. Civil experience is critical. I am board certified in Personal injury trial law. I handle hundreds of civil cases prior to taking the bench and I have handled exclusively civil cases since taking the bench. (My opponent has only handled one civil case in the last decade).[9] | ” |
| “ | The Watergate hearings. I was about 5 at the time. My father watched them nonstop.[9] | ” |
| “ | I have been rated the Dallas Bar Association Judicial Evaluation polls numerous times. Each time, I received very high marks (favorability ratings of 85% on average). I have also been found qualified by the Committee for a Qualified Judiciary in all four judicial elections that I have run for. (My opponent was found not qualified by this Committee in this race).[9] | ” |
| “ | It isn't perfect, but it is a fairly good barometer.[9] | ” |
Education
Hoffman earned his J.D. from the University of Texas Law School. He had previously graduated with a double major in philosophy and economics from Trinity University in San Antonio.[10]
Career
Prior to joining the bench, Hoffman worked for the Law Offices of Windle Turley and Smoger and Associates.[11]
Awards and associations
Awards
- 2014: Outstanding Partnership Award for partnership with the DISD, Mock Voir Dire Program, State Bar of Texas
- 2014: Star of Achievement, Mock Voir Dire Program, State Bar of Texas
- 2014: Judicial Intern Program participation award, Texas A&M Law School
- 2014: Trial Judge of the Year, Texas Attorney Mediators Coalition
- 2013: Outstanding Service Award, Texas Tech Alumni Association
- 2012: Outstanding Mentor Award, Texas Young Lawyers Association
- 2012: Outstanding Mentor Award, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
- 2011: Star of Achievement award, Texas Bar Association Local Bar Services Committee
- 2011: Award of Achievement, American Bar Association Young Lawyer Division; second place in division (2A) in the Single Project/Service to the Bar category for Closing Argument CLE
- 2010: First place, Local Affiliate Awards of Achievement for Service to the Bar for Closing Argument Seminar, Texas Young Lawyers Association
- 2009: Fellow, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers
- 2009: Resolution of Appreciation for organizing the "DAYL Jury Selection: Tips and Tricks" seminar, DAYL Board of Directors
- 2009: First place, Service to the Bar award for Local Affiliate Awards for Jury Selections—Tips and Tricks, Texas Young Lawyers Association
- 2009: Award of Special Recognition for Jury Selections – Tips and Tricks, American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division
- 2008: Award of Recognition, DAYL Summer Internship Program for Law Students
- 1985-1989: Presidential Scholarship, Trinity University
- Various awards, Dallas Homeowners League and Texas Neighborhoods Together
- Fourth place in national tournament, Environmental Moot Court Team, University of Texas Law School[12]
Associations
- Board of Advocates, Trial Director, University of Texas Law School
- American Journal of Criminal Law, University of Texas Law School
- 2008-Present: American Bar Association Judicial Internship Opportunity Program
- 2007-Present: Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Judicial Internship Program
- Dallas Bar Association
- 2011-Present: Judiciary Committee
- 2011-Present: Mock Trial Committee
- 2011-Present: Board liaison, ADR Section
- 2007-2009; 2011-Present: Bench Bar Committee
- 2010-Present: Board of Directors
- 2010-Present: Co-chair, Ad Hoc Committee on Update to Local Rules
- 2007-Present: Judicial liaison for Student Law Intern Program
- 2012: Diversity Summit Planning Committee
- 2011: Law In The Schools & Community Committee
- 2011: Board liaison, Legal Ethics Committee
- 2010: Judicial liaison, Vision 2020 Committee
- 2009: Mentoring Committee
- 2007-Present: Mac Taylor Inn of Court
- 2013-Present: Chair, Mentoring Committee
- 1988-1989: President, Omicron Delta Epsilon (Economics honor society), Trinity University[12]
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2014 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County (A-L)"
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2014 March Primary Election Candidate Filings by County (M-Z)" (Search "Dallas")
- ↑ Dallas County Board of Elections, "Democratic Party Primary Election March 4, 2014," March 11, 2014
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Martin Hoffman's responses," March 27, 2018
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Martin Hoffman Website
- ↑ Martin Hoffman bio page
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Information submitted by Judge Hoffman via email on April 17, 2014.
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