Wesley Tidwell
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Wesley Tidwell is a judge on the 6th District Court in Texas. He was appointed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott on April 8, 2016, to replace Eric Clifford.[1] He was already running for the position at the time of his appointment.[2] The general election took place on November 8, 2016. Tidwell won in the 2016 general election.
Education
Tidwell earned his B.S. in economics from Texas A&M University-Commerce and his J.D. from the University of Tulsa.[3]
Career
Tidwell is the managing partner at Ellis & Tidwell, LLP.[3]
Campaign themes
2016
Tidwell's campaign website listed the following themes for his 2016 campaign:
| “ |
When our legal system fails even one person, it fails us all. As a conservative, I believe the integrity of our judicial system depends on having judges who strictly interpret the law as written, hand down harsh sentences to criminals who prey on the innocent, and resist the urge to legislate from the bench to further a personal or political agenda. As our next Judge, I will ensure that everyone is treated equally under the law and that anyone who sets foot in the courtroom has confidence in the impartiality of our justice system. Judges serve the people who elected them, not the other way around. Respect for citizens who serve on a jury panel, litigants, attorneys and staff is imperative to preserve the sanctity and dignity of the court. Because of the actions of a few, the credibility of our entire justice system in Lamar and Red River Counties has been called into question. That means it is vital that we elect conservative judges in 2016, and in the future, who will seek the truth and justice above all else. Politics has no place in the courtroom, so my pledge to you is to listen to the facts of each case, and make decisions based on the rule of law, and the rule of law alone. If that is the kind of judge you want on the bench, then I respectfully ask for your vote and support in the March 1st Republican Primary election.[4][5] |
” |
| —Wesley Tidwell (2016) | ||
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.[6] Incumbent Wesley Tidwell defeated Jeff Starnes in the Texas 6th District Court Republican primary.[2]
| Texas 6th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Wesley Tidwell Incumbent |
53.57% | 5,014 |
| Jeff Starnes | 46.43% | 4,345 |
| Total Votes (100) | 9,359 | |
| Source: Lamar County Elections, "Unofficial Results," accessed March 1, 2016 | ||
Incumbent Wesley Tidwell defeated Gary Waite in the Texas 6th District Court general election.
| Texas 6th District Court, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Wesley Tidwell Incumbent |
71.61% | 13,033 | |
| Democratic | Gary Waite | 28.39% | 5,166 | |
| Total Votes | 18,199 | |||
| Source: Lamar County, Texas, "General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed November 9, 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.[7]
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."[8]
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;*[9]
- 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.[7]
*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.[7]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ KXII.com, "Governor appoints Wes Tidwell to 6th District Judicial Court," April 8, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tidwell for Judge, "About Wesley," accessed February 12, 2016
- ↑ Tidwell for Judge, "Judicial Philosophy," accessed February 12, 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
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 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
