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Randy McDonald (Texas)
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive election coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. This judge is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.
This page is for the judge of the 344th District Court of Texas. If you are looking for the judge of the Van Zandt County Court at Law in Texas, see: Randal L. McDonald.
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Randy McDonald is the judge of Texas District 344. He was first elected on November 6, 2012. McDonald won re-election without opposition in 2016. The general election took place on November 8, 2016.[1]
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.[2] Incumbent Randy McDonald ran unopposed in the Texas 344th District Court Republican primary.[1]
| Texas 344th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
 Randy McDonald Incumbent | ||
McDonald won without opposition in the general election.
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.[3]
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."[4]
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;*[5]
- 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.[3]
*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.[3]
2012
McDonald was re-elected without opposition to the 344th District Court in the general election.[6] McDonald defeated fellow Republican Richard Baker in the primary election.
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
Education
McDonald received his undergraduate degree from University of Texas and his J.D. from South Texas College of Law.[7]
Career
McDonald previously worked as Assistant District Attorney in Harris County and as a private practice attorney.[7]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 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
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The Progress, "Randy McDonald announces his candidacy for 344th District Court Judge of Chambers County," January 11, 2012 (archived)
