Dallas County Republican Party

Featured Candidate - Jennifer Balido

On December 14, 2009, Governor Rick Perry appointed Jennifer Balido as Judge of the 203^rd Judicial District Court.  Judge Balido formerly served as an Assistant Public Defender and an Assistant District Attorney for Dallas County.  She was appointed to fill the vacancy created in the court when Judge Lana Myers was appointed to the 5^th District Court of Appeals.  Judge Balido was sworn into office on December 21, 2009, and the Dallas Bar Association honored her with a formal Investiture ceremony on February 11, 2010.

After graduating Midland High School with honors, Judge Balido attended the University of Texas at Austin where she earned a BA in English, was named to the Dean’s List and was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta honor society.  She was also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and the University Panhellenic Council.  She then attended Texas Tech University School of Law, where she served as Vice-Chair of Appellate Advocacy for the Board of Barristers and was a member of the National Mock Trial Team.

Since moving to Dallas in 1991, Judge Balido has served as an officer of the Criminal Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association as well as the Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.  She has volunteered for the Junior League of Dallas, Habitat for Humanity, and Dallas Interfaith Coalition.  She serves on the Parent Board of Ursuline Academy and coaches the school’s Mock Trial Team.  She is also a homeroom parent and volunteer volleyball coach for St. Monica Catholic School.

With her appointment from the Governor, Judge Balido serves as the last Republican district court judge in the Dallas County criminal courthouse. In 2006, 42 Democrats were elected in a sweep that changed the face of the justice system in Dallas County.  She must stand for election for a full term in the November 2010 General Election.  She is unopposed in the Republican Primary, but must face one of three candidates who are facing off in the Democratic primary.  Since taking the bench, Judge Balido has presided over 6 jury trials and has disposed of more than 500 felony criminal cases.  Her court has consistently had the some of the lowest numbers of pending felony cases where the defendant is in jail, saving thousand of dollars for the tax-payers of Dallas County.

“I am honored and humbled that the Governor appointed me to this bench.  I hope to continue my service to the citizens of Dallas County for many years to come.”—Judge Jennifer Balido.

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