Link to official web page for this court: 215th District Court (Hon. Kirkland)

Recent Appeals from cases in Judge Kirkland's Court (215th District)

The Cadle Co as assignee of Amex v. Rollings (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 25, 2010)(Jenning)
(scire facias, revival of dormant judgment) We reverse the order of the trial court and render judgment
granting Cadle’s motion for scire facias, thus reviving the dormant judgment.
REVERSE TC JUDGMENT AND RENDER JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Jennings     
Before Justices Jennings, Hanks and Bland   
01-09-00165-CV   The Cadle Company by assignment from American Express Travel Related Services
Company v. Frank A. Rollins, Individually, and D/B/A Lord's Pharmacy    
Appeal from 215th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Steven E. Kirkland

Ashkar Engineering Corp. v. Gulf Chemical & Metallurgical Corp. (pdf) (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Feb.
4, 2010)(interlocutory appeal in an industrial construction design defect suit, claim against a licensed
professional engineering firm, failure to file a certificate of merit required by statute)
We conclude that the substance of GCMC’s claims constitute negligence claims because the acts or
omissions complained of amount to a claimed departure from accepted standards of the practice of
engineering. As such, all of GCMC’s claims, without regard to their titles, are subject to the requirements
of Chapter 150.
Because, as we concluded above, GCMC failed to timely comply with Section 150.002, the trial court was
required, on Ashkar’s motion, to dismiss the suit. We hold that the trial court erred by denying Ashkar’s
motion to dismiss GCMC’s claims.We reverse the order of the trial court and remand for entry of judgment
dismissing GCMC’s claims.
REVERSE TC JUDGMENT AND REMAND CASE TO TC FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS:
Opinion by Justice Higley     
Before Chief Justice Radack, Justices Alcala and Higley
01-09-00855-CV Ashkar Engineering Corporation v. Gulf Chemical & Metallurgical Corporation    
Appeal from 215th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Steven E. Kirkland   

In Re Weeks Marine, Inc. (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Oct. 8, 2009)(Anderson)
(ratification of agreement to arbitrate by acceptance of benefits)(arbitration compelled by mandamus)
MOTION OR WRIT GRANTED: Opinion by Justice Anderson      
Before Justices Anderson, Guzman and Boyce  
14-09-00580-CV In Re: Weeks Marine, Inc   
Appeal from 215th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Steven Kirkland  

Also see --> Appeals from cases in Judge Levi Benton's 215th District Court  
(Judge Kirkland's predecessor on this bench)
215th District Court Judge Race in Harris County, Texas
Incumbent Levi Benton loses to Steven Kirkland
Houston Opinions
Harris County Civil District
Courts and Judges (Non-family)
Harris County Civil Courthouse - Houston TX 77002
Judge Levi Benton Campaign Billboard on SW Fwy Houston Texas 215th District Court Judicial Election Race

Link to Official web page of the 215th District Court (Hon. Steve Kirkland)
Link to Houston Opinions web page for predecessor: --->  Judge Levi Benton

                                               2008 ELECTIONS: Kirkland beats Benton
                                               Republican incumbent Judge Levi Benton [click name for bio]
                                              defeated by Democratic Opponent
                                              Steve Kirkland a/k/a Steven E. Kirkland, formerly a municipal              
                                               court judge  
THE INCUMBENT (no message)
 THE CHALLENGER IN HIS OWN WORDS
[Visible but
keeping mum -
and letting the
record speak
for itself?]
Steven E. Kirkland, Democrat
I have six years judicial experience, seventeen years
legal experience, both as plaintiff and defendant,
which gives me the unique perspective to be a
balanced and fair. After leaving Texaco, I had my
own practice before becoming a Municipal Judge. BA
from Rice, JD from University of Houston.
WHEN SHOULD A JUDGE RECUSE?
 WHEN SHOULD A JUDGE RECUSE?
Levi J. Benton, Republican – No response
received by League of Women Voters

Source: LWV Voters Guide: Question to candidates
 The issue is fairness, in fact and in perception. The
law sets out minimum standards requiring recusal
when the Judge has a close personal, family or
business relationship with any of the litigants.
Beyond that, the Judge should recuse if the Judge
believes he cannot be fair or if presiding over a case
creates the appearance of impropriety.
  Source: League of Women Voters Guide: Candidate Q&A
More on the incumbents from the Harris County
GOP judicial re-election campaign web site:
Keep our Judges dot com (Levi Benton
omitted)
 More on this candidate form the Harris County
Democratice Party judicial elections campaign web
site: Judges for All dot com
Judge Steven Kirkland - Recent Appeals from the
215th District Court Judge in Harris County, Texas
2008 ELECTION OUTCOME:
REP Levi J. Benton 533,568 Votes: 48.70% -  DEM Steven E. Kirkland 62,135 Votes: 51.30%
See all Harris County Election Results

Harris County District Court Judges

11th  Judge Mike Miller (2009)
11th  Judge Mark Davidson (former)  
55th  Judge Dion Ramos (elected 2008)
55th  Judge Jeff Shadwick (former)
55th  Judge Jeff Brown (former)
61st  Judge Al Bennet (2009)
61st  Judge John Donovan (former)
80th  Judge Larry Weiman (2009)
80th  Judge Lynn Bradshaw-Hull (former)
113th  Judge Patricia Hancock
125th  Judge Kyle Carter (2009)
125th  Judge John Coselli (former)
127th  Judge R. K. Sandill (2009)
127th  Judge Sharolyn Wood (former)
129th  Judge Michael Gomez (2009)
129th  Judge Grant Dorfman (former)
133th  Judge Jaclanel McFarland (2009)
133th  Judge Lamar McCorkle (former)
151st   Judge Mike Engelhart (2009)
151st   Judge Caroline E. Baker (former)
152nd  Judge Robert Schaffer (2009)
152nd  Judge Kenneth Wise (former)
157th   Judge Randall Wilson
164th   Judge Alexandra Smoots-Hogan (2009)
164th   Judge Martha Hill Jamison (former)
165th   Judge Josefina Muniz Rendon (2009)
165th   Judge Elizabeth Ray (former)
189th   Judge Bill Burke
190th   Judge Patricia Kerrigan (reelected '08)
190th   Hon. Jennifer W. Elrod (now on 5th Cir)
215th   Judge Steven E. Kirkland (2009)
215th   Judge Levi Benton (former)
234th   Judge Reece Rondon
269th   Judge Dan Hinde (appointed 2008)
269th   John T. Wooldridge (resigned 2008)
270th   Judge Brent Gamble
280th   Judge Tony Lindsay
281st   Judge Sylvia Matthews (appt'd 2008)
281st   Judge David J. Bernal (resigned 2008)
295th   Judge Tracy E. Christopher
333rd  Judge Joseph James "Tad" Halbach Jr.
334th  Judge Sharon McCally (reelected 2008)
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