Charles Holcomb
Encyclopedia
Judge Charles Holcomb, born 1933, attended Lee College
in Baytown
and Lamar University
in Beaumont, Texas
for his undergraduate education. He served in the Air Force Reserves 1951-1953, and was graduated from South Texas College of Law
in 1958.
From 1959 to 1966, he was the City Attorney
, first for Deer Park
and then for Orange, Texas
. In 1967 he was elected to the County Court at Law of Orange County
and served until 1972. During the school term of 1970-1971, he was also Adjunct Professor of Government at Lamar University Extension in Orange.
From 1972 to 1981, he was in private practice with Cox, Holcomb & Sinclair, contemporaneously serving Cherokee County
as County Attorney
from 1974 until 1981, when elected District Attorney
for the same county and served until 1991.
In 1992, he was elected Justice of the Twelfth Court of Appeals and served until 1998. From 1998 to 2000, he sat by assignment in trial and appellate courts as a Senior Judge. Judge Holcomb was elected to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
in 2000. His term on the Court began in 2001. Holcomb, 71, would be required by law not to serve as an active judge after he turns 75 in September 2008.
He faced two challengers for re-election in 2006, Judge Robert Francis of Dallas
, and then representative Terry Keel
of Austin
. Keel challenged both Holcombe and Francis for technical flaws in their applications to be on the ballot. Holcomb's candidacy was affirmed by the Texas Supreme Court
.
Lee College
Lee College is a comprehensive community college located in Baytown, Texas, approximately east of Houston, Texas.Lee College's main campus occupies landscaped near downtown Baytown and maintains extension campuses throughout its service area...
in Baytown
Baytown, Texas
Baytown is a city within Harris County and partially in Chambers County in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. state of Texas. Located within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, it lies along both State Highway 146 and Interstate 10. As of 2010, Baytown had an population of 71,802...
and Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
in Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
for his undergraduate education. He served in the Air Force Reserves 1951-1953, and was graduated from South Texas College of Law
South Texas College of Law
South Texas College of Law is a private American Bar Association accredited law school and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools...
in 1958.
From 1959 to 1966, he was the City Attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
, first for Deer Park
Deer Park, Texas
Deer Park is a city in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. The city is located in Harris County and is situated in Southeast Texas. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Deer Park was 32,010....
and then for Orange, Texas
Orange, Texas
Orange is a city in Orange County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 18,643. It is the county seat of Orange County, and is the easternmost city in Texas. Located on the Sabine River at the border with Louisiana, it is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur...
. In 1967 he was elected to the County Court at Law of Orange County
Orange County, Texas
Orange County is one of 254 counties of the State of Texas and its county seat is the city of Orange, Texas. In the year 2000, the population of Orange County was about 85,000. Orange County is the county in the very southeastern corner of Texas, with a boundary with Louisiana and a seacoast on the...
and served until 1972. During the school term of 1970-1971, he was also Adjunct Professor of Government at Lamar University Extension in Orange.
From 1972 to 1981, he was in private practice with Cox, Holcomb & Sinclair, contemporaneously serving Cherokee County
Cherokee County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,659 people, 16,651 households, and 12,105 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 19,173 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
as County Attorney
County attorney
A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
from 1974 until 1981, when elected District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for the same county and served until 1991.
In 1992, he was elected Justice of the Twelfth Court of Appeals and served until 1998. From 1998 to 2000, he sat by assignment in trial and appellate courts as a Senior Judge. Judge Holcomb was elected to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for all criminal matters in the State of Texas, United States. The Court, which is based in the Supreme Court Building in Downtown Austin, is composed of a Presiding Judge and eight judges....
in 2000. His term on the Court began in 2001. Holcomb, 71, would be required by law not to serve as an active judge after he turns 75 in September 2008.
He faced two challengers for re-election in 2006, Judge Robert Francis of Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, and then representative Terry Keel
Terry Keel
Terrence McCauley "Terry" Keel , is a founding partner of the Keel & Nassour law firm in Austin, and he served as the Parliamentarian of the Texas House of Representatives from May 25, 2007 until January 13, 2009. He was appointed by Speaker Tom Craddick of Midland...
of Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. Keel challenged both Holcombe and Francis for technical flaws in their applications to be on the ballot. Holcomb's candidacy was affirmed by the Texas Supreme Court
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...
.