Texas Judicial Elections 20185 min read
Texas Judicial Elections 2018
On November 6, 2018, Texans will head to the polls to vote in the general election. This election will include races for all of Texas’ executive offices, as well as for all of the seats in the Texas Legislature.
One of the most important races on the ballot is for the Texas Supreme Court. There are three seats up for election, and the race is crowded with nine candidates.
The current makeup of the Texas Supreme Court is 4 Republicans and 3 Democrats. If a Democrat is elected to one of the three seats up for election in 2018, the makeup of the court will be split 4 Republicans and 4 Democrats.
The race for Texas Supreme Court is nonpartisan, which means that the candidates’ party affiliations are not listed on the ballot. However, the candidates do have to state whether they are a Republican or a Democrat.
The following is a list of the nine candidates running for Texas Supreme Court:
Republican
Justice Debra Lehrmann
Justice Michael Massengale
Justice Nathan Hecht
Democrat
Justice Eva Guzman
Justice Dori Contreras Garza
Justice Jimmy Blacklock
Justice Ruben Castillo
Justice Jerry Zimmerer
Justice Elizabeth Beck
Justice Steven Kirkland
The most well-known candidate in the race is Justice Nathan Hecht. He has been on the Texas Supreme Court since 1988, and he is the longest-serving justice on the court. He is also the current Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court.
Justice Eva Guzman is the only woman running for Texas Supreme Court. She has been on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals since 2009.
Justice Dori Contreras Garza is the only Hispanic candidate running for Texas Supreme Court. She has been on the Texas Court of Appeals since 2015.
The following is a summary of the major candidates’ positions on the key issues in the race:
Justice Nathan Hecht
Justice Hecht is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and believes that it should be protected.
Justice Hecht is in favor of using the death penalty in cases of severe crimes.
Justice Hecht is in favor of using school vouchers to promote school choice.
Justice Hecht opposes abortion, and he believes that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade should be overturned.
Justice Eva Guzman
Justice Guzman is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and believes that it should be protected.
Justice Guzman opposes the death penalty.
Justice Guzman supports school vouchers to promote school choice.
Justice Guzman is in favor of abortion rights and believes that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned.
Justice Dori Contreras Garza
Justice Contreras Garza is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and believes that it should be protected.
Justice Contreras Garza opposes the death penalty.
Justice Contreras Garza supports school vouchers to promote school choice.
Justice Contreras Garza is in favor of abortion rights and believes that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned.
Table of Contents
How do Texas vote for judges?
In Texas, voters elect judges to the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
The Texas Constitution requires the governor to appoint judges to fill vacancies on the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
The governor appoints a justice to the Texas Supreme Court to fill a vacancy that occurs because of the death, resignation, or removal of a justice.
The governor appoints a judge to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to fill a vacancy that occurs because of the death, resignation, or removal of a judge.
How long is a judges term in Texas?
In Texas, a judges term is for six years. After their term is up, they are able to run for re-election. If they are not re-elected, they are able to run for another judgeship position.
Are Texas Supreme Court justices elected?
Are Texas Supreme Court justices elected?
Yes, Texas Supreme Court justices are elected in partisan races.
Do all judges in Texas serve 10 year terms?
Yes, all judges in Texas serve 10 year terms. This is mandated by the Texas Constitution, which states that all judges must be elected to 10 year terms and may not be removed from office except by impeachment.
Do you have to have a law degree to be a judge in Texas?
In Texas, judges do not have to have law degrees. Some judges do have law degrees, but many do not. There are many different paths to becoming a judge in Texas.
Judges in Texas are appointed by the governor. The governor may appoint a judge who does not have a law degree, but the judge must have been a practicing lawyer for at least five years. The governor may also appoint a judge who has a law degree, but has not been a practicing lawyer.
Judges in Texas are also elected by the people. A judge who does not have a law degree may be elected, but the judge must have been a practicing lawyer for at least five years. A judge who has a law degree may also be elected, but the judge must have been a practicing lawyer for at least one year.
There are many different paths to becoming a judge in Texas. If you are interested in becoming a judge, you should contact your local court or the Texas Judicial Council for more information.
Who appoints judges in Texas?
Who appoints judges in Texas?
The Texas Constitution and the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct give the governor the power to appoint judges to the district and county courts, the Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Texas Supreme Court. The governor must choose from a list of three nominees submitted by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
The governor also has the power to appoint special prosecutors. A special prosecutor is an attorney who is appointed to investigate and prosecute a criminal case when the district attorney is not interested in doing so or is unable to do so.
Can you be a judge in Texas without being a lawyer?
No, you cannot be a judge in Texas without being a lawyer. The Texas Constitution, Art. 5, Sec. 21, specifically requires that judges in Texas be members of the state bar.
