Phil Grant
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Phil Grant is the judge for the Texas 9th District Court in Texas. He was appointed to the bench by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on June 17, 2016. Grant ran for a full term in 2016.[1] Grant defeated Kate Shipman Bihm (R) in a primary runoff election on May 24, 2016. Grant won without opposition in the general election on November 8, 2016. [2]
Biography
Grant earned his bachelor's degree in economics from the Virginia Military Institute and his J.D. from the University of Texas-Austin.[3] Grant has served as the First Assistant District Attorney for Montgomery County since 2009.[3]
Campaign themes
2016
Grant's campaign website listed the following themes for his 2016 campaign:
| " |
Phil’s expertise and track record of excellence in this community makes him a solid choice for Judge of the 9th District Court. Here’s why you should vote for Phil: Expert in Field The Judge for the 9th District Court in Montgomery County presides solely over felony criminal cases. You need someone in this position that is well versed in the law and also will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Phil is the only candidate in this race who is Board Certified in Criminal Law, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and the only candidate that has been a felony prosecutor with over 100 first chair felony trials. Phil received his law degree from the University of Texas. As an authority in criminal law, Phil has taught instruction to law enforcement, and students at the Texas State and Lonestar College, on ethics, criminal law and forensic science. A “Jack of All Trades but Master of None” is not a wise choice for Judge of the 9th District Court. Would you want a general practitioner performing your brain surgery or a neurosurgeon? In the same respect, if your loved one was a victim of a crime, you would want an expert in criminal law presiding over the court. Montgomery County needs a Judge in the 9th who is a Master in Criminal Law. Phil Grant is the best choice for Judge, 9th District Court. Public Safety Keeping his community safe has always been a mission of Phil’s. This is especially true when it comes to our most vulnerable – children. As the father of seven, as well as a foster and adoptive parent, Phil personally understands the life of every child is precious and that they need the protection of adults. Sadly, victimization of children is not rare. During his eight years as a prosecutor in Harris County, Phil specialized in child sexual abuse and public integrity cases. After he began working in Williamson County, he was named “Child Abuse Prosecutor of the Year” in 2007 by the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center and Child Protective Team. Phil is currently Past-President of the Board of Children’s Safe Harbor (the Montgomery County Child Advocacy Center). As the First Assistant District Attorney for Montgomery County, Phil has worked to expand the resources that this county dedicates to child sex crime investigation and prosecution, adding two full time prosecutors, an investigator, a victim coordinator and additional law enforcement to the team that works full time on these crimes. Phil Grant will be a Judge that you can depend on to protect the innocent. Well Respected in the Community
An elected official should be someone with strong ties to the community. An unknown can be unpredictable. Phil has been involved in this community since he moved here in 2009 and has been an active member of many organizations such as Children’s Safe Harbor, the Conroe Noon Lions, and the Greater Houston Athletic Association for the Physically Disabled. He was appointed by the Texas Supreme Court to the Guardian Certification Board to help develop qualifications and files for those that represent physically and mentally incompetent individuals. As a judge, Phil’s ability to make a positive impact on our community, outside the courthouse, will be even greater. Integrity The son of a Marine Corps officer, Phil learned at an early age that honor and integrity were paramount in your dealings with others. A champion of open file policies and transparent discovery procedures, Phil has helped draft legislation that expands fairness in the criminal justice system and helps prevent wrongful convictions. He teaches ethics to elected District Attorneys statewide on complicated issues such as Civil Asset Forfeitures. When trying to help junior attorneys to make difficult decisions, his starting point is always the same: “What’s the right thing to do?“ |
” |
| —Phil Grant (2016), [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] Phil Grant defeated Kate Shipman Bihm in the Texas 9th District Court Republican primary runoff.
| Texas 9th District Court, Republican Primary Runoff, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Phil Grant |
52.20% | 6,653 |
| Kate Shipman Bihm | 47.80% | 6,092 |
| Total Votes | 12,745 | |
| Source: Montgomery County, Texas, "May 24, 2016 Primary Runoff Election," accessed May 24, 2016 | ||
| Texas 9th District Court, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Phil Grant |
44.80% | 32,525 |
| Kate Shipman Bihm |
33.26% | 24,145 |
| Eric Yollick | 21.95% | 15,935 |
| Total Votes (100) | 72,605 | |
| Source: Montgomery County, Texas, "March 1, 2016 Primary Elections," accessed March 1, 2016 | ||
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]
Endorsements
Grant received the following endorsements in 2016:[10]
- Coalition of Police and Sheriffs
- Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas (CLEAT)
- Montgomery County Law Enforcement Association
- Conroe Professional Firefighters Association
- The Woodlands Professional Firefighters Association
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas Secretary of State, "Official candidate list," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ The Woodlands Villager, "Abbott appoints Grant to 9th Court," June 17, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Phil Grant Campaign, "About," accessed February 12, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Phil Grant Campaign, "Why Phil?" accessed February 12, 2016
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Phil Grant Campaign, "Endorsements," accessed February 12, 2016
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
