Not many qualifications for a county judge in Texas
Back when I was younger and naive to local politics, I thought that a county judge had some special qualifications that made them particularly suited to be a judge. Qualifications such as some kind of legal expertise or experience in budgets or roads.
Nope.
County Judge Qualifications1
The County Judge must meet the following qualifications at the time of appointment or election:
- U.S. Citizen
- Resident of Texas for at least 12 consecutive months
- Resident of the county for at least six consecutive months
- Registered to vote in the county
- At least 18 years of age
- Not have been finally convicted of a felony from which they have not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities
- Not have been determined by a court with probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote
Candidates for this office generally must meet the above qualifications at the time of filing.
This means when you see someone tout their qualifications as county judge, remember that they were put in office perhaps as a good ole boy prop up, or because there was no one running against them, or their competitor was worse even though equally not a felon or mentally ill.
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