Melissa Mather
Melissa Mather was a 2016 candidate for the 345th District Court in Texas.[1] She was defeated in the primary election on March 1, 2016.
Education
Mather earned her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Virginia.[2]
Career
Mather began working as an attorney specializing in financial litigation with the Texas Attorney General's Office in 2011. She was previously a private practice attorney for nine years.[2]
Campaign themes
2016
Mather's campaign website listed the following themes for 2016:
| “ |
Good government starts at the courthouse! With your help, we will create a courtroom that serves as a model of fairness and good government for people all over Texas. I've been fighting for progressive values for as long as I can remember. Born into a red state household, my first debating partner was my father. We disagreed about almost everything, and although he never was able to convince me to side with his politics, he did teach me that people can disagree without losing respect or compassion for another person's point of view. We want judges on the bench who share this perspective, because everyone should be heard and respected in court, win or lose. As Democrats, this is what we do best - include all perspectives, value diversity, and respect everyone who participates in the democratic process. I want to bring these values to the courthouse, and provide everyone who appears in front of me with a positive view of how our government operates. [3] |
” |
| —Melissa Mather (2016), [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.[4] Jan Soifer defeated Melissa Mather in the Texas 345th District Court Democratic primary.[1]
| Texas 345th District Court, Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Jan Soifer |
56.81% | 61,064 |
| Melissa Mather | 43.19% | 46,421 |
| Total Votes (100) | 107,485 | |
| Source: Travis County Clerk, "Unofficial Results: Democratic Cumulative Results," accessed 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.[5]
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."[6]
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;*[7]
- 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.[5]
*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.[5]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Make Your Vote Mather, "Home," accessed February 19, 2016
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 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
