Texas Supreme Court | Face to Face Project

State Level Judicial Candidates

Texas Supreme Court
Chart of Texas Judicial Department
https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1452920/court-structure-chart-september-2021.pdf

Brochure of the Court System

https://www.txcourts.gov/media/675444/The-Texas-Judicial-System_Print102714.pdf

I cannot stress enough how important the Judges are in the day and time in which we live. Especially Democratic Judges. Not only do they make empathetic compassionate rulings that follow the law they have developed on their own special programs to stop the school to prison pipeline and the revolving door on prisons. I will list the ones I know about under the Community Service button on the social bar of each Candidate, in their bios and you can always find more on their campaign websites and Official Government pages. They are in the trenches and know what would improve our judicial systems. Another program I have come across is separating the mentally ill to get treatment under doctor care into special hospitals for that purpose. There are many more...not to mention how the clean up from the last President is being done through the courts and they are able to right so many wrongs. Support them with donations and with getting elected, educate the public about them, and above all vote for them. The Judges will save us. Make sure there is a Democratic Judge in every possible position. As the voter you are the HR person for the state. Make sure to voter for a Judge who is well qualified. Who is experienced. Who has a fair and impartial record. And elect with an emphasis on diversity. Everyone should have a place at the table and be judged by their peers. An educated voter is always a good thing. But make a strong mental note that one major thing that has to be cleaned up in Texas is the strangle hold the Republican Party has on our Judiciary. I have noted where I could find the information how many judges were appointed rather than elected under Perry and Abbott. Almost all on our top level judges are. I am going to put together a list of ones I know are appointed but it is very hard to get that information. I will include it on this page after I get the site set up for the Fall Elections.

Texas Supreme Court

It is the state highest appellate court along with the Court of Criminal Appeals. It is the final appellate jurisdiction in civil and juvenile cases in the state. It is in Austin, immediately northwest of the state Capitol. By statute the Court has administrative control over the State Bar of Texas. The Court is also the sole authority for licensing attorneys in Texas and appoints the members of the Board of Law Examiners, which administers the Texas bar examination. The Court promulgates the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Texas Rules of Evidence and other rules and standards.

Judicial selection

There is one Chief Justice and eight Justices on the Texas Supreme Court. Supreme Court justices are elected to staggered six-year terms in statewide elections. Justices are elected through partisan elections. Vacancies between elections are filled by the governor, with advice and confirmation by the Senate. While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to remain on the court until their terms expire.

Qualifications

The qualifications to be an appellate judge are:

Citizen of the United States and of Texas
Between the ages of 35 and 74
Licensed to practice law in the state of Texas
A practicing lawyer, or lawyer and judge of court of record together, for at least 10 years

Salary

Associates: $184,800

Jurisdiction

The caseload of the Texas Supreme Court is determined by whether the court decides to grant a review of a judgment. The court has mandatory jurisdiction over writs of mandamus and habeas corpus. The Supreme Court also has jurisdiction to answer questions of state law certified from a federal appellate court; has original jurisdiction to issue writs and to conduct proceedings for the involuntary retirement or removal of judges; and reviews cases involving attorney discipline upon appeal from the Board of Disciplinary Appeals of the State Bar of Texas.

Current Membership:

https://www.txcourts.gov/supreme/about-the-court/

Sources: https://www.txcourts.gov/supreme/; https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Supreme_Court

Cory L. Carlyle for Chief Justice Texas Supreme Court Place 1

Age

Salary: $204,600

Term ends 2026

Sources: https://www.texastribune.org/directory/nathan-hecht/;https://ballotpedia.org/Nathan_Hecht