Mike Sinha
Mike Sinha is a former judge on the Texas District 360 Court. He was appointed to the position in August 2010 by Gov. Rick Perry (R).[1] On November 6, 2012, he was re-elected to a four-year term. Sinha ran for re-election again in 2016 but was defeated in the primary election on March 1, 2016.
Biography
| Mike Sinha Campaign Ad (August 6, 2015) |
Sinha received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin and his J.D. from the Oklahoma City University School of Law.[2]
At the time of his appointment in 2010, Sinha was an associate judge of the 360th District Court.[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.[3] Patricia Baca Bennett defeated incumbent Mike Sinha in the Texas 360th District Court Republican primary.[4]
| Texas 360th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Patricia Baca Bennett |
57.37% | 85,692 |
| Mike Sinha Incumbent | 42.63% | 63,672 |
| Total Votes (100) | 149,364 | |
| Source: Tarrant County, Texas, "Unofficial 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]
2012
Sinha was re-elected without opposition to the 360th District Court.[8]
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
2010
Sinha defeated Democrat Teri Sharise Estes in the general election, winning 62.47% of the vote.[9]
Endorsements
2016
Sinha's campaign website listed the following endorsements prior to the Republican primary:[10]
- Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price
- Mansfield Mayor David Cook
- Former Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief
- Southlake Mayor Laura Hill
- Sansom Park Mayor Jim Barnett Jr.
- Bedford Mayor Pro-Tem Roger Fisher
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Examiner.com, "Mike Sinha appointed by Governor," August 17, 2010
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Office of the Governor, "Gov. Perry Appoints Sinha as Judge of the 360th District Court," August 19, 2010
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," 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
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "2012 General Election Summary" Select "2012 General Election"
- ↑ Tarrant County Board of Elections, "Unofficial General Election Results"
- ↑ Re-Elect Judge Mike Sinha, "Endorsements," accessed February 23, 2016
