William Sowder
William C. Sowder was a judge of the Texas 99th District Court. He left office on December 31, 2020.
On November 14, 2019, Sowder announced that he would not be running for re-election.[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 William Sowder ran unopposed in the Texas 99th District Court Republican primary.[3]
| Texas 99th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
 William Sowder Incumbent | ||
William Sowder 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.[4]
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."[5]
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;*[6]
- 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.[4]
*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.[4]
2012
Sowder was re-elected without opposition to the 99th District Court.[7]
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
Education
Sowder received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University and his J.D. from Baylor University.[8][9]
Career
Prior to joining the court in 2005, Sowder was a criminal district attorney for Lubbock County. He had served in that capacity since 1995.[8]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ KCBD 11, "Longtime District 99 Judge Bill Sowder not seeking re-election," November 14, 2019
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Important 2016 Election Dates," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 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," accessed May 19, 2015
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Texas State Directory Online, "William C. 'Bill' Sowder," accessed May 19, 2015
- ↑ Martindale, "Judge Profile: William C. Sowder," accessed May 19, 2015
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
