Louis Sturns
Louis Sturns was the judge of Texas District 213 from 2007 to 2018. Sturns was the first African-American criminal court judge in Tarrant County, Texas, and the first African-American to serve on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.[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 Louis Sturns ran unopposed in the Texas 213th District Court Republican primary.[3]
| Texas 213th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Louis Sturns Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 134,049 |
| Total Votes | 134,049 | |
| Source: Tarrant County, Texas, "Unofficial Results," accessed March 2, 2016 | ||
Louis Sturns 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
- See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012
Sturns was re-elected without opposition to the 213th District Court.[7]
Education
Sturns received his undergraduate degree from Wichita State University and his J.D. from the University of Kansas.[8]
Career
Prior to his judicial election, Sturns practiced privately and for the U.S. Army JAG Corp.[9]
Awards and associations
Awards
- U. S. Army Commendation Medal
- Professionalism Award, Tarrant County Bar
- Humanitarian Award, Minority Leaders and Citizens Council
- Good Scout Award, Longhorn Council of Boy Scouts of America[9]
Associations
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Tarrant County Bar
- Tarrant County Black Bar
- Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce
- Mayor’s Promotion and Development Fund
- Tarrant County Republican Party[9]
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Fort Worth Business Press, "Judge Sturns: Legal heavyweight steps down," October 13, 2018
- ↑ 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 Results," November 6, 2012
- ↑ Martindale.com Profile
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Campaign Website
