William Stephen Ellis
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William Stephen Ellis is a judge of the 35th District Court in Texas.[1] He was first elected in 1996. Ellis won re-election in 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016.[2][3][4][5]
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 Steve Ellis ran unopposed in the Texas 35th District Court Republican primary.[5]
| Texas 35th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | ||
 Steve Ellis Incumbent | ||
William Stephen Ellis 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.[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]
2012
Ellis was re-elected without opposition to the 35th District Court.[2]
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
Education
Ellis received an undergraduate degree in history from Baylor University in 1973. He went on to earn his J.D. there in 1976.[3]
Career
Prior to his judicial election in 1996, Ellis served as a district attorney and as an assistant district attorney. He also worked as a private practice attorney for 20 years.[3]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Brown County, "35th District Court," accessed May 18, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Brownwood News, "Final Results - Brown County Primary Election Results," May 29, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Brownwood Bulletin, "Steve Ellis seeking new term as district judge," November 4, 2011
- ↑ Judicial selection in Texas
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 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
