| Republican David D. Farr v. Democrat Roberto Hinojosa Contested Race for 312th Family District Court Bench in Harris County, Texas Houston Opinions |
Note: This court was previously presided over by Judge James D. Squier who resigned his bench to run for the 22nd
congressional seat (as Jim Squier), but did not make it into the run-off. Although well-liked by family law attorneys, Squier
only garnered 1.76% of the votes (less than 1000) in a crowded primary race sporting no less than ten candidates. See
Republican primary results for 22nd Congressional District.
For court contact info see ---> official county web page for the 312th District Court
David D. Farr, a former associate judge in the Harris County Family Law Center was named by the
Governor of Texas to fill the vacancy until a presiding judge is elected and takes office. Judge Farr would
like to keep the job, however, and has already kicked off his election campaign. He is not the only
candidate in the race. Family law attorney Donna Jean Detamore is taking on Farr in the Republican
primary.
Robert Hinojosa has announced and filed as a sole Democratic Party candidate for this bench.
UPDATE: Incumbent David Farr has a big lead over his Republican rivals in the Houston Bar
Association's 2008 judicial qualification poll, and the lowest number of "not qualified" ratings
overall. The ratings are more competitive with respect to the Democratic candidate, who runs
unopposed. See graph:
Houston Chronicle Endorses Farr: Deserving Veteran
• Judge, 312th Family District Court, Republican David Farr — The incumbent, Farr has earned
the respect of the family bar. An officer in the Texas Army National Guard, Farr's service to
community and country recommends him to receive his party's nomination for this bench.
Three-way race on the Republican side may require run-off
Neither the outcome of the primary contest, nor that of the general election are a foregone
conclusion, however. Party affiliation, of course, provides no guide for voting decisions in the
primary since each party has its own. Nor are the attorneys who participated in the poll
representative of the primary electorate, which may be motivated by factors that have nothing to
do with individual merits of candidates or their reputations in the legal community. There is thus a
distinct possibility of no clear winner in the first round, and the need for a run-off, especially if sex
of the candidate should play a role in voting decisions. Hillary supporters, though, do not have a
female candidate in this race, not to mention two.
The Houston Bar Association insists on the following disclaimer regarding the significance of the
poll results: "The Judicial Qualification Poll is not an endorsement by the Houston Bar
Association."
Another caveat is also in order: the low participation rate even for lawyers. Though higher than in
2006, the number of questionnaires returned by Houston lawyers was only 2,068. Of these, about
25% rated the candidates in the contest for this 312th District Court bench, which is the only
family court race on the ballot this year. That said, the votes tallied in the local bar poll represent
the judgment of those most likely to be familiar with incumbent judges and the challengers from
the ranks of their peers. They likely have an informed opinion they deem worth expressing and
sharing with others. While not necessarily representative of the Houston bar, much less of the
primary voters or the general public, the huge discrepancies seen in the ratings for the candidates
by those best positioned to judge them surely carries some weight.
RECENT APPEALS FROM CASES IN THE 312TH FAMILY DISTRICT COURT, HOUSTON
HARRIS COUNTY
Singh v. Singh (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Apr. 9, 2009)(Bland)
(divorce with children, conservatorship SAPCR, division of marital property, denial of Motion for
Continuance and motion for new trial)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Bland
Before Justices Taft, Bland and Sharp
01-08-00198-CV Ritu Singh v. Rajiv Singh
Appeal from 312th District Court Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. David Farr
Sloan v. Sloan (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Oct. 9, 2008)(per curiam) (no appellate jurisdiction to
review interlocutory order denying indigency status)
DISMISSED: Per Curiam
Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Guzman and Brown
14-08-00181-CV Andre Sloan v. Doreen (Baker) Sloan
Appeal from 312th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: David D. Farr
In re Scally (Tex.App. - Houston [1st Dist.] Sep. 4, 2008)(per curiam)
DENY PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: Per Curiam
By petition for writ of mandamus and writ of prohibition, relator, Michael C. Scally, seeks relief to vacate the trial court's June
4, 2008 order, claiming that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to revive a cause that Scally contends had been dismissed.
We deny the petition for writ of mandamus and writ of prohibition. See Lehmann v. Har-Con Corp., 39 S.W.3d 191, 205-06
(Tex.2001). We overrule all pending motions as moot.
Before Justices Nuchia, Alcala and Hanks
01-08-00475-CV In re Michael C. Scally
Appeal from 312th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. David Farr
Attorneys: L. T. "Butch" Bradt, Betsy L. Grubbs, Corwin L. Teltschik
Elise Martin-Simon | Joseph Indelicato, Jr. | Donna J. Detamore
In Re OAG of Texas (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 19, 2008)(Brown)
(petition for mandamus challenging order granting bill of review and lifting child support judgment and lien
denied)
MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Opinion by Justice Brown
Before Justices Brock Yates, Guzman and Brown
14-08-00665-CV In Re The Office of the Attorney General of Texas
Appeal from 312th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. David D. Farr
Baugh v. Baugh (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] May 16, 2008)(Opinion by Justice William Boyce)
(divorce, bench warrant denied to incarcerated spouse, denial of counsel)
AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Boyce
14-07-00391-CV Curtis Lee Baugh v. Bertha L. Baugh
Appeal from 312th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Associate Judge Brent L. Burg
In Re OAG of Texas (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Aug. 19, 2008)(Brown)
(petition for mandamus challenging order granting bill of review and lifting child support judgment and lien
denied)
MOTION OR WRIT DENIED: Opinion by Justice Brown
Before Justices Brock Yates, Guzman and Brown
14-08-00665-CV In Re The Office of the Attorney General of Texas
Appeal from 312th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. David D. Farr
Baugh v. Baugh (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] May 16, 2008)(Opinion by Justice William Boyce)
(divorce, bench warrant denied to incarcerated spouse, denial of counsel)
AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Boyce
14-07-00391-CV Curtis Lee Baugh v. Bertha L. Baugh
Appeal from 312th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Associate Judge Brent L. Burg
| HARRIS COUNTY FAMILY LAW CENTER There is only one judicial race in the Houston Family Courts this year. Appointed Incumbent David Farr defeated two challengers in the Republican primary and faces Democrat Robert aka Roberto M. Hinojosa, who is also board-certified in family law, in the general election. Warrior on the Bench? Farr points to his military service as an additional reason why voters should favor him to preside over courtroom battles. In that theater, however, Hinojosa happens to have a longer service record than the youngish incumbent. (Not to mention that Hinojosa is a vet, too, although he has not made it the centerpiece of his campaign). Harris County Family Law Center Family Court Judges 245th District Court Judge Annette Kuntz p/k/a Galik 246th District Court Judge Jim York 247th District Court Judge Bonnie Crane Hellums 257th District Court Judge Judy Warne 308th District Court Judge Georgia Dempster 309th District Court Judge Frank Rynd 310th District Court Judge Lisa Millard 311th District Court Judge Doug Warne 312th District Court Judge David Farr 312th District Court Formerly Judge James D. Squier 2006 Family Law Cases from Houston Courts of Appeals Termination of Parental Rights | Marital Property Disputes Domestic Relations Case Law from Other Texas Courts Houston Opinions Home Page | Houston Judges & Courts Who is the current judge in the 312th Family District Court? - David Farr | Not to be confused the other Judge Farr Associate Judge of the 257th David Farr replaces Jim Squier To keep the job, Judge Farr must beat two women family law attorneys in the Republican primary and a Democratic challenger in the general election. Nov. 28, 2007 - Governor Rick Perry appoints associate judge Farr to Houston Divorce Court bench vacated by Judge Jim Squier. |
|
script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
Donna Detamore is no stranger to family court
politics either, having previously challenged the
incumbent of the 245th District Court, then known
as Annette Galik, arguably the most vulnerable
incumbent in the Houston divorce courts, who does
poorly in local Bar polls and narrowly won reelection
the last time around. Another contender in the
Republican primary - and also a veteran of a
campaign to oust Judge Galik - is Sheri Y. Dean,
who promises a positive campaign, thus setting
herself off from the rather combative
no-holds-barred style for which Detamore has
made herself known.
| Hon. David D. Farr Appointed 312th Family District Court Judge in Harris County, Texas - Republican Incumbent in 2008 Election Houston Opinions |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
DAVID FARR DEFEATED in 2008 Race: REP David Farr 535,218 Votes 48.70%
DEM Robert Hinojosa 563,818 Votes 51.30% See all Harris County Election Results
DEM Robert Hinojosa 563,818 Votes 51.30% See all Harris County Election Results