Renee Yanta

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Renee Yanta

Republican Party

Prior offices

Texas 150th District Court

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Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

University of Texas at Austin, 1981

Law

St. Mary's University School of Law, 1993

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

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Renee Yanta (Republican Party) was a judge of the Texas 150th District Court. She left office in 2018.

Yanta (Republican Party) ran for election for judge of the Texas 225th District Court. She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Yanta completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Yanta is a former Republican judge of the Texas 150th District Court in Texas. She was first elected to the court in 2014. She was defeated in the general election on November 6, 2018.

Yanta was previously a judge of the 73rd District Court. She was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry (R) in December 2009, won election for the first time in 2010, and lost her re-election bid in 2012.

Biography

Renee Yanta earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas in 1981. Yanta was a public school teacher for nine years before she went to law school. She earned her J.D. from St. Mary's University School of Law in 1993. After finishing law school, Yanta worked in private practice as a litigator at Fulbright & Jaworski and then as head of the appellate practice group at Cox Smith. She has been an adjunct law professor at St. Mary's University School of Law and also speaks at continuing legal education courses.

Elections

2022

See also: Municipal elections in Bexar County, Texas (2022)

General election

General election for Texas 225th District Court

Christine Hortick defeated Renee Yanta in the general election for Texas 225th District Court on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christine Hortick (D)	56.2	292,115
		Renee Yanta (R)	43.8	228,020

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 520,135
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas 225th District Court

Christine Hortick defeated Shannon Salmón in the Democratic primary for Texas 225th District Court on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christine Hortick	54.2	45,762
		Shannon Salmón	45.8	38,708

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 84,470
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas 225th District Court

Renee Yanta advanced from the Republican primary for Texas 225th District Court on March 1, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Renee Yanta	100.0	65,962

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 65,962
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Yanta's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

2020

See also: Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2020

General election

General election for Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice

Rebeca Martinez defeated Renee Yanta in the general election for Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rebeca Martinez (D)	52.7	592,716
		Renee Yanta (R)	47.3	532,769

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,125,485
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice

Rebeca Martinez advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rebeca Martinez	100.0	220,215

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 220,215
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice

Renee Yanta advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Fourth District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Renee Yanta	100.0	134,271

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 134,271
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

General election

General election for Texas 150th District Court

Monique Diaz defeated incumbent Renee Yanta in the general election for Texas 150th District Court on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Monique Diaz (D)	56.2	300,682
		Renee Yanta (R)	43.8	234,537

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 535,219
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas 150th District Court

Monique Diaz advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas 150th District Court on March 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Monique Diaz	100.0	70,009

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 70,009
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas 150th District Court

Incumbent Renee Yanta advanced from the Republican primary for Texas 150th District Court on March 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Renee Yanta	100.0	51,639

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 51,639
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2014

See also: Texas judicial elections, 2014

Yanta ran for election to the 150th District Court.
Primary: She ran unopposed in the Republican primary on March 4, 2014.
General: She defeated Edna Elizondo in the general election on November 4, 2014, receiving 54.0 percent of the vote.

2012

See also: Texas judicial elections, 2012

Yanta ran for re-election to the 73rd District Court and was defeated by challenger David A. Canales.

2010

See also: Texas district court judicial elections, 2010

Yanta defeated Democrat Roberto Rios in the general election for the 73rd District Court, winning 55.7 percent of the vote.

Selection method

See also: Partisan election of judges

The judges of the Texas District Courts are chosen in partisan elections. They serve four-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving.

Though Texas is home to more than 400 district courts, the courts are grouped into nine administrative judicial regions. Each region is overseen by a presiding judge who is appointed by the governor to a four-year term. According to the state courts website, the presiding judge may be a "regular elected or retired district judge, a former judge with at least 12 years of service as a district judge, or a retired appellate judge with judicial experience on a district court."

Qualifications
To serve on the district courts, a judge must be:

• a U.S. citizen;
• a resident of Texas;
• licensed to practice law in the state;
• between the ages of 25 and 75;*
• a practicing lawyer and/or state judge for at least four years; and
• a resident of his or her respective judicial district for at least two years.

*While no judge older than 74 may run for office, sitting judges who turn 75 are permitted to continue serving until their term expires.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Renee Yanta completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Yanta's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Former Judge Renée Yanta served as a District Court Judge for seven years. She not only tried jury cases but also presided over the entire gamut of civil and commercial litigation. She ruled in personal injury, oil and gas, contract, breach of fiduciary duty, employment, and governmental cases, always focusing on applying the law correctly. Judge Yanta also served as the Judge in family law cases, developing deep experience in divorce, child support and custody, and child protection issues.

Before taking the Bench, Renée Yanta handled litigation and appeals all over Texas, including many in the Texas Supreme Court. She became Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2003 and was repeatedly named a Super Lawyer in the Appellate category.

Judge Yanta’s heart remains focused on protecting children and families. As a former public school teacher (for nine years), she is especially invested in improving the love and care provided to foster children. While presiding as Judge over child-protection cases, Renée saw the special challenges faced by teen girls in Foster Care. She deployed her judicial resources to change the lives of these amazing young women, creating a healing program called PEARLS Court. She remains deeply dedicated to this mission, serving as President of the PEARLS Foundation, sustaining PEARLS Court, and the recently created teen foster boys restorative court, EAGLES.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am the most qualified candidate: I have 7 years as a Judge and 29 as a lawyer; I've mediated 100s of cases and tried 1000+, both as a judge and lawyer.
• I have the deepest experience: I am a Former Public School Teacher; Board-Certified Appellate Lawyer; Litigator; Law Professor: and Legal Author and Speaker.
• I have the biggest heart: I'm a mother, grandmother and the founding Judge of PEARLS Court, a special program that helps teen girls in Foster Care

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am most passionate about protecting children, especially teens in Foster Care, and creating peace in families, especially those transitioning through a divorce.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I have been inspired by many people, but one of the most influential has been my uncle by marriage, Bishop John Yanta. He lived a life devoted to serving, especially focused on helping children. I would be so honored to emulate his heart and his dedication to making my community a place the helps children thrive and be surrounded by peace.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I lived at Clark Air Force Base as a child in the mid 1960's and saw the start of the military effort in the Vietnam War.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

McDonald's Fry Cook--1 year

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

This Court handles all types of civil litigation, so having a deep experience in procedure and evidence and vast experience in civil areas of law is especially helpful. I am Board certified in Civil Appellate Law and served on the Pattern Jury Charge Committee for 14 years, providing me with very deep expertise regarding the tasks performed by civil District Court judges.

This Court will also handle family law and child abuse and neglect cases. I have handled 1000s of such cases.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

I follow the law as established by the Legislature and the common law, in conformity with the Texas and United States Constitutions.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Absolutely.

Have you ever been rated by a Bar Association? If so, what was the rating?

There has not been a rating this year.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I have 7 years experience as a District Court Judge. As such, I am especially prepared to serve in this capacity. And, my heart remains to be of service to my community. I can do that best serving as a Judge.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

Renee Yanta did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

2018

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Renee Yanta completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Yanta's responses.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Continue to : Follow the law as written Provide a healing Court program for teen girls in Foster Care (PEARLS Court) Treat all parties and attorneys with respect

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Improving outcomes of children in Foster Care

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor?she showed courage and compassion to apply the law using amazing legal acumen with real common sense.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I am not politically focused. I am law focused. My favorite fictional law book is To Kill A Mockingbird.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

For a judge: strong and deep legal experience, compassion, patience dedication and courage.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have deep and strong legal experience as an almost 25-year lawyer and almost 7 years as a judge, handling 3000+ trials. I have shown that I have deep respect for and patience with the participants in the legal process. And my life work for children, including building and presiding over a healing court for teen girls in Foster Care confirms my heart and dedication.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Do Justice. Love Mercy. Walk Humbly.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I strive to continue the legacy of the Bexar County judiciary as dedicated legal professionals with a heart for those who need help and healing.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Desegregation in Sumter, South Carolina in 1968.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

McDonald's fry cook; 1 year.

What happened on your most awkward date?

My date ran out of gas in the middle of a bridge.

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

Christmas; I love to see the joy of my family.

What is your favorite book? Why?

See answer above.

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

My sofa, because my husband and I love to sit up next to each other and binge on shows like Better Call Saul.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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