Patty Maginnis
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Patty Maginnis is a judge for the Texas 435th District Court in Texas. She was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on April 6, 2016, to replace Michael Seiler.[1] Seiler resigned from office in February 2016 over allegations of using confidential juror information for campaign purposes. Maginnis placed second in the Republican primary against Seiler on March 1, 2016, and advanced to the general election without a runoff election because of Seiler's resignation. She ran unopposed in the general election on November 8, 2016.[2]
Biography
Maginnis earned her B.S. in public administration and secondary education from Brenau Women's College. She later earned her J.D. from the South Texas College of Law.[3] Maginnis is a partner at Maginnis Pullan & Young. She previously worked as a prosecutor for the Montgomery County Attorney's Office and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. Maginnis also served as a municipal judge in Montgomery County for six years.[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top vote recipient did not receive a majority of the primary vote.[4] Patty Maginnis defeated Incumbent Michael Seiler (withdrawn) and Thomas Brewer III in the Texas 435th District Court Republican primary.[2]
| Texas 435th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Michael Seiler (withdrawn) Incumbent | 41.81% | 29,220 |
 Patty Maginnis |
40.88% | 28,565 |
| Thomas Brewer III | 17.31% | 12,095 |
| Total Votes (100) | 69,880 | |
| Source: Montgomery County, Texas, "March 1, 2016 Primary Elections," accessed March 1, 2016 | ||
Patty Maginnis won without opposition in the general election.
Note: Michael Seiler suspended his campaign on February 12, 2016, but his name appeared on the primary ballot. Seiler's resignation from office included a promise to withdraw from a runoff election if necessary. Seiler and Patty Maginnis would have qualified for a runoff election prior to Seiler's resignation. [5]
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]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Community Impact Newspaper, "Maginnis appointed as 435th State District Court judge," April 6, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Maginnis Pullan & Young, "Patty Maginnis," accessed February 25, 2016
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ The Courier of Montgomery County, "Seiler resigns from 435th bench, avoids criminal prosecution," February 16, 2016
- ↑ 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
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
