Dale Wainwright
Encyclopedia
Dale Wainwright is an Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court
. He was first elected to a six-year term on the Court in November 2002, and he was reelected in 2008 to a term that will end in 2014. He replaced Deborah Hankinson on the Court.
, Wainwright was the first African American
ever elected to the Texas Supreme Court. Jefferson, initially appointed by Governor Rick Perry
in 2001, was re-elected to his seat in 2002 in the same election where Wainwright won an open seat on the Court. Wainwright ran as a Republican
candidate.
in 1999 by Governor George W. Bush
, where he served until his election to the supreme court. He graduated summa cum laude from Howard University
and received his J.D.
from the University of Chicago Law School
.
Wainwright is married and has three sons.
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
. He was first elected to a six-year term on the Court in November 2002, and he was reelected in 2008 to a term that will end in 2014. He replaced Deborah Hankinson on the Court.
Historic 2002 election
Along with Wallace B. JeffersonWallace B. Jefferson
Wallace Bernard Jefferson is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. His current term ends on December 31, 2014.- Historic judicial appointments and election :Jefferson has three times made Texas judicial history...
, Wainwright was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
ever elected to the Texas Supreme Court. Jefferson, initially appointed by Governor Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
in 2001, was re-elected to his seat in 2002 in the same election where Wainwright won an open seat on the Court. Wainwright ran as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate.
2008 Reelection
In 2008, Wainwright sought his first reelection to the court. His main opponent was Democratic lawyer Sam Houston. Wainwright was reelected to a new six year term with 51% of the vote to Houston's 45%. Libertarian candidate David G. Smith received 3% of the vote.Background
Wainwright was appointed a district judge of the 334th Civil Court of Harris County, TexasHarris County, Texas
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 4,092,459, White Americans made up 56.6% of Harris County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 33.0% of the population. Black Americans made up 18.9% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.7% of Harris County's population...
in 1999 by Governor George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, where he served until his election to the supreme court. He graduated summa cum laude from Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
and received his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
.
Wainwright is married and has three sons.