One more judicial race

This was mentioned as a sidebar to a story about Governor Perry signing a bill, but I think it deserves more than that. There’s a new justice on the First Court of Appeals, which means there will be one more judicial race next year.

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed a Houston attorney to the 1st Court of Appeals to fill the unexpired term of a justice who retired in April, the Associated Press reports.

Michael C. Massengale’s term will expire at the next general election. He replaces Tim Taft of Houston, who was first elected to the court in 1994.

The 1st Court of Appeals has nine justices who hear appeals and original proceedings from 10 counties around Houston.

Massengale is a partner at Baker Botts L.L.P. and is president of the Houston chapter of the Federalist Society. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Justice Taft won re-election unopposed in 2006, so Massengale or whoever beats him will be up for election for a full term in 2012. If form holds from 2008, Massengale will have a primary challenger as well as a Democratic opponent. He was appointed to Place 8, which as of my Class of 2010 So Far post wasn’t listed as a bench that was up for election. I presume that will be rectified shortly. As you know, I think the appeals court races will be a good opportunity for Dems next year, so I certainly hope new Justice Massengale gets a challenger soon. I’ll let you know when I hear something.

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