Paul W. Green
Encyclopedia
Paul W. Green is a Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas. He was elected to that court in November 2004 and began his term on January 1, 2005. His current term ends on December 31, 2010.
and received his J.D.
from St. Mary's University School of Law
in San Antonio. Prior to joining the Court, Green was a Justice on one of the Texas Courts of Appeals
, the Fourth Court of Appeals of Texas, in San Antonio.
. Smith, though a new member of the Court at the time, was opposed by Texas Governor Rick Perry
. Senator John Cornyn
, a former Texas Supreme Court Justice himself for seven years, also supported Green over Smith. Smith then sought to get return to the Court in 2006 by entering the primary contest against recent Perry appointee Don Willett
, but Willett won the contested vote by a single percentage point.
Background
Green graduated from the University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
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 St. Mary's University School of Law
St. Mary's University School of Law
St. Mary's University School of Law is one of the professional graduate schools of St. Mary's University. The law school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and is the oldest Catholic law school in the American Southwest. The University is a private Catholic university...
in San Antonio. Prior to joining the Court, Green was a Justice on one of the Texas Courts of Appeals
Texas Courts of Appeals
The Texas Courts of Appeals are part of the Texas judicial system. In Texas, all cases appealed from the district level, both criminal and civil, may be heard by one of the fourteen Texas Courts of Appeals. The exception is for cases where the death penalty is a factor; these cases go directly to...
, the Fourth Court of Appeals of Texas, in San Antonio.
2004 election
Green won the Republican nomination to his seat on the Court in a contested primary against then-Justice Steven Wayne SmithSteven Wayne Smith
Steven Wayne Smith , is a Republicanformer Texas Supreme Court associate justice, who was defeated for renomination in 2004 through the active opposition of Governor Rick Perry. He was unseated by Paul W. Green. Smith again lost – very narrowly – a bid for nomination to the court in the March 7,...
. Smith, though a new member of the Court at the time, was opposed by Texas 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...
. Senator John Cornyn
John Cornyn
John Cornyn, III is the junior United States Senator for Texas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was elected Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 111th U.S. Congress....
, a former Texas Supreme Court Justice himself for seven years, also supported Green over Smith. Smith then sought to get return to the Court in 2006 by entering the primary contest against recent Perry appointee Don Willett
Don Willett
Don R. Willett is a Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas. He was appointed by Governor Rick Perry on August 24, 2005 to fill the vacancy created when former Justice Priscilla Owen joined the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit...
, but Willett won the contested vote by a single percentage point.