<P> Judges are elected in partisan elections . Trial judges are elected for 4 years , and appeals court judges are elected for 6 years . The Governor may fill vacancies until the next election , and judges traditionally leave office before their last term is completed . Judges may be removed by voters in retention elections , by trial by jury , or by legislative address or impeachment if state judges . Some incumbent judges / justices who seek reelection are defeated in primary elections , others in general elections . The chances of election - driver turnover on district and appellate benches is affected by the nature of the concurrent elections ( presidential or mid-term ) and by partisan tides , at least in the more competitive counties and appellate districts , e.g. Dallas and Harris County / Houston ( county - level ) and San Antonio ( appellate district level ) . </P>
<P> Judges are elected in partisan elections . Trial judges are elected for 4 years , and appeals court judges are elected for 6 years . The Governor may fill vacancies until the next election , and judges traditionally leave office before their last term is completed . Judges may be removed by voters in retention elections , by trial by jury , or by legislative address or impeachment if state judges . Some incumbent judges / justices who seek reelection are defeated in primary elections , others in general elections . The chances of election - driver turnover on district and appellate benches is affected by the nature of the concurrent elections ( presidential or mid-term ) and by partisan tides , at least in the more competitive counties and appellate districts , e.g. Dallas and Harris County / Houston ( county - level ) and San Antonio ( appellate district level ) . </P>
traditionally in texas judges initially obtain their positions by
traditionally in texas judges initially obtain their positions by
partisan elections
partisan elections