by Carol Sims | Sep 26, 2018 | Appointments, Elections, Judicial Appointments, Judiciary, Texas Courts of Appeals
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Michael “Mike” Toth to the Third Court of Appeals for a term set to expire December 31, 2018, or until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified. Michael “Mike” Toth of Austin is senior counsel at Dykema Cox Smith, LLC. Previously, he served as special counsel and senior counsel in the Texas Attorney General’s Office. He is a member…
by Carol Sims | Sep 17, 2018 | Appointments, Elections, Judicial Appointments, Texas Courts of Appeals, Voting
Governor Greg Abbott has appointed John Bailey as Chief Justice of the Eleventh Court of Appeals for a term set to expire December 31, 2018, or until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified.
by Carol Sims | Feb 12, 2018 | Judicial Appointments, Judiciary, Press Releases
Trump nominates Andrew S. Oldham to Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Today President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate an eleventh wave of judicial nominees as follows: If confirmed, Mark J. Bennett of Hawaiʻi will serve as a Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mark Bennett is a director in the Honolulu firm Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher, where he has practiced complex civil and appellate litigation and government relations since joining the firm in 2011. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Bennett spent almost eight years as the Attorney General of Hawaiʻi, and was twice unanimously confirmed to that position by the Hawaiʻi Senate. During his tenure as Attorney General, Mr. Bennett successfully argued two cases in the Supreme Court of the United States, was inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, and earned both the Department of Justice National Leadership Award and the Hawaiʻi Law Enforcement Elwood J. McGuire Award for Contributions to Law Enforcement. Before he was appointed Attorney General, Mr. Bennett spent a dozen years practicing complex civil and appellate litigation at the Honolulu firm of McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Bennett spent seven years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Hawaiʻi. During this period, he earned a Special Achievement Award from the Attorney General of the United States. Shortly after graduating from law school, Mr. Bennett served as a law clerk to Chief Judge Samuel P. King of the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaiʻi. Mr. Bennett has also served...
by Carol Sims | Jan 25, 2018 | Judicial Appointments, Judiciary, Press Releases
Today President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate a tenth wave of judicial nominees as follows:
If confirmed, John B. Nalbandian of Kentucky will serve as a Circuit Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. John Nalbandian is a partner…
by Carol Sims | Nov 28, 2017 | Judicial Appointments, Judicial Impact, Judicial Selections, Texas Supreme Court
Pending the confirmation of Justice Don Willett for the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Governor Greg Abbott has selected Jimmy Blacklock as the next Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Blacklock currently serves as the Governor’s General Counsel. A graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law, he previously worked for then-Attorney General Abbott in the Solicitor General’s office and as an assistant attorney general. “We applaud Governor Abbott for making a superb choice for the Texas Supreme Court,” said Carol Sims, TCJL Executive Director. “Jimmy Blacklock has broad legal experience in state government and will bring a unique and scholarly perspective to the Court. He also understands the critical importance of judicial restraint, deference to legislative policy decisions, and a stable jurisprudence to the continuing prosperity of our state.” Justice Willett’s confirmation could come as early as next month. The timing of Governor Abbott’s announcement, just two weeks before the December 11 filing deadline for the 2018 primary ballot, appears to head off the possibility of a contested primary or the prospect of Justice Willett’s replacement on the ballot by vote of the State Republican Executive Committee. This process may still occur if Justice Willett’s confirmation does not occur until after December 11, but it seems highly unlikely that, if called to do so, the SREC would put anyone other than the Governor’s appointee on the ballot. As the Governor’s appointee, Blacklock will run for election to a full six-year term in...
by Carol Sims | Sep 23, 2016 | Judicial Appointments
Source: http://gov.texas.gov/news/appointment/22656 Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Alejandro “Alex” Cestero and Scott Salmans and reappointed Bill Strawn to the Judicial Compensation Commission for terms set to expire February 1, 2021. Strawn will continue serving as chair. The commission recommends the proper salaries to be paid by the state for all justices and judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, Courts Of Appeals, and state district courts. Alejandro “Alex” Cestero of Houston is senior vice president, general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer for Frank’s International N.V. He is a board member of the Texas Lyceum, board member and president of The General Counsel Forum – Houston Chapter and an advisory board member and executive committee member of the Institute for Energy Law. Additionally, he is a corporate member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, member and past chairman of the International Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel America, International Association of Drilling Contractors and the International, American and Houston Bar Associations. Cestero received a Bachelor of Arts in political science and Spanish/Latin American Studies and a Master of Business Administration from Rice University and a Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School. Scott Salmans of McGregor is owner and CEO of WRS Group Ltd. He is a member and forum officer of the Young Presidents Organization and a member of the Waco Industrial Foundation Board, Baylor University Hankamer School of Business Advisory Board and the Waco Business League. Additionally, he is former president of the Baylor Waco Foundation and a member and former board member of the Greater Waco...
