traditionally in texas judges initially obtain their positions by
Judiciary of Texas Judges are elected in partisan elections.[5][24] Trial judges are elected for 4 years, and appeals court judges are elected for 6 years.[5] The Governor may fill vacancies until the next election, and judges traditionally leave office before their last term is completed.[5] Judges may be removed by voters in retention elections, by trial by jury, or by legislative address or impeachment if state judges.[25] 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).