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Shannon Baldwin
Shannon Baldwin (Democratic Party) is a judge of the Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4 in Texas. She assumed office on January 1, 2019. Her current term ends on December 31, 2026.
Baldwin (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for judge of the Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4 in Texas. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Baldwin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Shannon Baldwin was born in Houston, Texas. She served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1987 to 1995. Baldwin earned a bachelor's degree from Sam Houston State University in 1992 and a law degree from John Marshall Law School in 1995. Her career experience includes working as a judge and has been an adjunct professor at Thurgood Marshall School of Law and Alvin Community College Paralegal Studies Program. Baldwin has been affiliated with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority several legal bar associations.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Harris County, Texas (2022)
General election
General election for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4
Incumbent Shannon Baldwin defeated Zachary Gibson in the general election for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Shannon Baldwin (D)  | 50.7 | 535,821 |
 | Zachary Gibson (R) | 49.3 | 521,359 | |
| Total votes: 1,057,180 | |||
| = 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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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4
Incumbent Shannon Baldwin advanced from the Democratic primary for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Shannon Baldwin | 100.0 | 137,462 |
| Total votes: 137,462 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4
Zachary Gibson advanced from the Republican primary for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Zachary Gibson | 100.0 | 132,763 |
| Total votes: 132,763 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4
Shannon Baldwin defeated incumbent John Clinton in the general election for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Shannon Baldwin (D) | 56.5 | 667,158 |
 | John Clinton (R) | 43.5 | 513,389 | |
| Total votes: 1,180,547 | |||
| = 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 Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4
Shannon Baldwin advanced from the Democratic primary for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Shannon Baldwin | 100.0 | 131,389 |
| Total votes: 131,389 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4
Incumbent John Clinton advanced from the Republican primary for Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Clinton | 100.0 | 111,729 |
| Total votes: 111,729 | |||
| = 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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Selection method
- See also: Partisan election of judges
Judges of the county courts are elected in partisan elections by the county they serve and serve four-year terms, with vacancies filled by a vote of the county commissioners.[2]
Qualifications
To serve on a county court, a judge must:[2]
- be at least 25 years old;
- be a resident of his or her respective county for at least two years; and
- have practiced law or served as a judge for at least four years preceding the election.
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Shannon Baldwin completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Baldwin's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
Prior to being elected, I practiced law for over 22 years. I am licensed in TX & GA. I have been a prosecutor and a defense attorney. I have conducted jury trials, as first chair, from class C misdemeanors up to Captial Murder.
I am a Veteran having served in the U.S. Army Reserves. I was commissioned as an officer.
I have dedicated my career to ensuring that everyone has free and open access to justice. I am dedicated to ensuring that neither race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation nor wealth play any role in the free and open access to justice for all. Community safety without compromising rights provided by the U.S. and Texas Constitutions is paramount.
It is an honor and a privilege to be a judge and one that humbles me daily. I take my role very seriously as I uphold the laws created by our legislators.- I honor the oath that I've taken as a judge. I believe in community safety without compromising the rights provided to ALL citizens by the U.S. and Texas Constitutions.
- I am a servant leader. I believe that community service should go beyond the bench. Therefore, I organize and participate in service activities within the county. I've welcomed interns in court to gain first-hand knowledge of the criminal justice system. I've hosted several schools/students in court to observe court and different roles of all parties. Giving back to the community is very important to me and one of my life's commitments since I enlisted in the Army at the age of 17 up to now.
- I support alternative sentencing programs presented through the District Attorney's Office for first time non-violent offenders.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Shannon Baldwin participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on March 27, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Shannon Baldwin's responses follow below.[3]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1) Ensure we follow the letter and spirit of the law for ALL people. 2) Embrace the rule of law to promote the pursuit of BLIND justice so race, gender, sexual orientation, wealth or the lack thereof play NO role in court. |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | Every day that I walk into a courtroom I stand on EVERY WORD of the U.S. Constitution. It has been my passion and life’s purpose to ensure that the words of the Constitution are more than just that…they have actual meaning to ALL PERSONS and give us our INALIENABLE RIGHTS! Rights that should not be compromised or violated by anyone. Judges are charged with following the law and honoring the U.S. Constitution.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[5]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Shannon Baldwin answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
| “ | I look up to Judge Belinda Hill and Judge Darrell Jordan. Judge Hill has always commanded excellence in her court in every aspect. Judge Jordan is a maverick of sorts. He always seeks to find the best possible solution that in my opinion is in the best interest of the citizens of Harris County.[5] | ” |
| “ | Our Founding Fathers wrote a brilliant document, the U.S. Constitution. So, I intend to stay true to the core principles of the U.S. Constitution and make sure it is more than just words. "Protecting the Lord's children who have fallen short of perfection from the wrath of those who believe they have attained it." Stuart Kinard[5] | ” |
| “ | For a judicial elected official: impartiality, competency, firm yet compassionate.[5] | ” |
| “ | I have practiced law for over 21 years. I am licensed to practice law in Texas and Georgia. I am a criminal defense litigator but I have been a prosecutor as well. I have tried criminal jury trials from the smallest class c misdemeanor up to the highest capital murder trial.[5] | ” |
| “ | Some of the core responsibilities as a judge are to be fair, impartial and competent. Judges are stewards of the county funds, so fiscal responsibility is important. Also, it is important to run a timely and efficient court.[5] | ” |
| “ | Harris County deserves a judicial bench that is as diverse as the county. I would like to leave a legacy of diversity along with competent, firm and compassionate leadership.[5] | ” |
| “ | I remember the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. I was 16 years old. I remember being so excited because I knew a teacher who applied to be on the shuttle, although did not make it. I remember being very sad for all of the passengers but especially for Christa McAuliffe. I loved science in school and I remember the class talking about the upcoming lift off...tragic.[5] | ” |
| “ | My first job was as an administrative assistant at NASA. I interviewed and received the job through my high school work program. It lasted throughout my senior year in high school. Then I left to go to the military.[5] | ” |
| “ | I left early.[5] | ” |
| “ | Any holiday that involves spending time with my family.[5] | ” |
| “ | "The Kindred" by Octavia Butler. I love science fiction and history.[5] | ” |
| “ | Wonder Woman[5] | ” |
| “ | My piano because I love music.[5] | ” |
| “ | Balancing family life and work.[5] | ” |
| “ | Judge Belinda Hill and Judge Darrell Jordan.[5] | ” |
| “ | Yes, it can be very helpful when the use of discretion is needed.[5] | ” |
| “ | N/A[5] | ” |
| “ | In some situations, yes. They are certainly the most publicized and readily accessible to the public.[5] | ” |
| “ | I do not have previous judicial experience. However, I do have 21 years of legal experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney.[5] | ” |
| “ | No, because Judges cannot express any opinions on issues.[5] | ” |
| “ | BLIND justice so race, gender, sexual orientation, wealth or the lack thereof play NO role in court.[5] | ” |
| “ | N/A[5] | ” |
See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 4 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 10, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Qualifications for Office," accessed January 14, 2016
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Shannon Baldwin's responses," March 27, 2018
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
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