Dec. 21, 2007 - Governor Rick Perry appoints former HISD board
president and member Jeff Shadwick to replace Judge Jeff Brown

Court location for 55th District Court: 201 Caroline, 9th Fl. Houston, TX 77002
For contact Information including telephone number
see --> Official web page for the 55th District Court of Harris County   
Current Judge of this court: Hon. Jeffrey Shadwick
Judge Shadwick was appointed by Governor Perry January 2, 2008
Former presiding judge: Hon. Jeffrey Vincent Brown aka Judge Jeff Brown, who now sits as a justice
on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals

2008 PRIMARY AND GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR THE 55TH DISTRICT COURT BENCH

Incumbent: Republican Jeff Shadwick

Four candidates competed for this bench in the 2008 primary elections: Melissa Fertel, Eric
Lunceford, Dion Ramos, and Jeff Shadwick.

The Houston Bar Association's Judicial Candidate Qualification Poll shows that even among
participating lawyers the winner was not a foregone conclusion, although Shadwick and Ramos had
the edge.














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."



Recent Appeals from cases in the 55th District (Judge Shadwick)

[forthcoming in 2008]

See --> Appeals from cases heard by Former District Court Judge Jeff Brown
55th District Court Race: Incumbent Republican Appointee Jeff Shadwick loses to Democrat Dion Ramos
Houston Opinions

HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT JUDGES (CIVIL DIVISION)

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)

2008 ROSTER
Judge Mark Davidson (11th District Court)  
Judge Jeffrey Brown (Former Judge of 55th Court)
Judge Jeff Shadwick (appointed to 55th)
Judge John Donovan (61st District Court)
Judge Lynn Bradshaw-Hull (80th District Court)
Judge Patricia Hancock (113th District Court)
Judge John Coselli (125th District Court)
Judge Sharolyn Wood (127th District Court)
Judge Grant Dorfman (129th District Court)
Judge Lamar McCorkle (133rd District Court)
Judge Caroline E. Baker (151st District Court)
Judge Kenneth Wise (152nd District Court)
Judge Randall Wilson (157th District Court)
Judge Martha Hill Jamison (164th District Court)
Judge Elizabeth Ray (165th District Court)
Judge Bill Burke (189th District Court)
Judge Patricia Kerrigan (190th District Court)
Judge Jennifer W. Elrod (Former judge of 190th)
Judge Levi Benton (215th District Court)
Judge Reece Rondon (234th District Court)
Judge John T. Wooldridge (269th District Court)
Judge Brent Gamble (270th District Court)
Judge Tony Lindsay (280th District Court)
Judge David J. Bernal (281st District Court)
Judge Tracy E. Christopher (295th District Court)
Judge Joseph James Halbach Jr. (333rd Distric Court)
Judge Sharon McCally (334th District Court)
Harris County Civil Courts
and Judges (Non-family)
Candidate
Not Qualified
Qualified
Well Qualified
Qualified and
Well Qualified
% of Votes
Cast
FERTEL
233
66
57
123
 
LUNCEFORD
191
94
106
200
 
RAMOS
154
127
240
367
 
SHADWICK
245
210
260
470
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
cript src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript">
Melissa Fertel Photo of Judicial Campaign for 55th District Court Billboard

APPEALS FROM THE 55TH DISTRICT COURT

In re Allen and Martin Lewis Revocable Trust (Tex.App. - Houston [1st Dist.] Feb. 16, 2010)
(per curiam) (mandamus denied re: trial court’s decision on the special exception,
evidentiary objections, and motion for leave to late-file summary judgment evidence)
DENY PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS: Per Curiam     
Before Justices Keyes, Sharp and Massengale   
01-09-00294-CV  In re Allen and Martin Lewis Revocable Trust, et al.      
Appeal from 55th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge:  Hon. Jeffrey A. Shadwick   

SWP Remic Properties II LP  v. HCAD (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Jan. 7, 2010)
(Sullivan)(trial court’s order granting Harris County Appraisal District’s (“HCAD”) plea to the
jurisdiction affirmed; ad valorem tax protest appeal judicial review suit not brought by owner
of property. Rule 28 inapplicable)
AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Sullivan         
14-08-00425-CV  SWP Remic Properties II LP as the Property Owners and the Property
Owners v. Harris County Appraisal District    
Appeal from 55th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Jeff Shadwick   

Leigh v. Kuenstler (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Oct. 1, 2009)(Guzman)
(DTPA, dispute about allegedly inadequate UIM insurance coverage; insurance agent's
duty to procure insurance; judgment for defendant affirmed)
AFFIRMED: Opinion by Justice Eva Guzman   
Before Justices Anderson, Guzman and Boyce   
14-08-00245-CV Theresa Leigh v. Richard Kuenstler, Jr.   
Appeal from 55th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Jeff Shadwick

Rittger, MD v. Danos (Tex.App.- Houston [1st Dist.] Jun. 18, 2009)(Op. By Hanks)
(HCLC expert report sufficiency challenged, interlocutory appeal, ILA)
AFFIRM TC JUDGMENT: Opinion by Justice Hanks  
Before Justices Keyes, Hanks and Bland  
01-08-00588-CV  Kevin Rittger, M.D. v. Lou Virgina Danos    
Appeal from 55th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Hon. Jeffrey A. Shadwick

Lomax v. Thomas (Tex.App.- Houston [14th Dist.] Aug 28, 2008)(per curiam)
DISMISSED: Per Curiam  (DWOJ, interlocutory appeal not authorized)
Before Chief Justice Hedges, Justices Guzman and Brown
14-08-00163-CV        Mark Lomax v. Tommy B. Thomas Et Al
Appeal from 55th District Court of Harris County
Trial Court Judge: Jeff Shadwick
There is no statute providing for an interlocutory appeal of the court's ruling on indigency
for trial proceedings.  Therefore, we are without jurisdiction over this appeal.
2008 General Election Contest for the 55th District Court Bench:
Results: Rep. Jeff Shadwick 542,787 Votes: 49.28%
           Dem. Dion Ramos  558,548 Votes: 50.72%
websites)
[Former] 55th District Court Judge Jeff Shadwick
Dion Ramos - 2008 Dem. Candidate for 55th District Court in Harris County TX
THE INCUMBENT IN HIS OWN WORDS
 THE CHALLENGER IN HIS OWN WORDS
Jeff Shadwick
Republican
Currently Judge of the 55th District
Court; appointed by Governor Perry;
1981 law degree from Baylor; 27 years
of commercial litigation practice making
partner in two different firms; AV rated
(highest rating available); twice elected
member of HISD School Board. www.
jeffshadwick.com
 Dion Ramos
Democrat
I have spent 23 years of my life trying
civil cases in District Courts in Houston
and Southeast Texas. I am certified by
the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
in Personal Injury and Civil Trial Law.
An experienced trial attorney makes an
efficient and fair judge.
WHEN SHOULD A JUDGE RECUSE?
 WHEN SHOULD A JUDGE RECUSE?
Rule 18b clearly sets out when; a judge
should remember why. Recusal strengthens
the public’s confidence in the judicial
system. Without it, impartiality may
come into question. The courthouse is
full of qualified, alternate judges, so
there is no need to refuse recusal when
appropriate.
 Rule 18b outlines the conditions upon
which a judge has to disqualify himself.
These grounds generally involve a personal
interest in the case or a relationship
to one of the litigants. When his impartiality
might be reasonably questioned
or he has a personal bias concerning the
subject matter or a party, a judge should
recuse himself.
Source: LWV Voters Guide: Question to candidate
 Source: League of Women Voters Guide: Candidate Q&A
More on the incumbent from the Harris County
GOP judicial re-election web site:
Keep our Judges dot com
 More on this candidate form the Harris County
Democratice Party judicial campaign web site:
Judges for All dot com
EXPENSIVE
SELF-PROMOTION THAT
DID NOT PAY OFF
Jeff Shadwick defeated
by Dion Ramos with
razor-thin margin
                 (click name to
go to  campaign