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Dan Wood for Fifth District Court of Appeals
Dan Wood is the Democratic candidate for Justice on the Fifth Court of Appeals, Place 2. There is no incumbent running in this race.
DAN IS THE EXPERIENCED CHOICE
With over 40 appeals in just the Fifth Court of Appeals alone in the last 10 years, Dan has proven to be a talented and successful appeals lawyer. Dan argues before the Fifth Court of Appeals on a regular basis, but also has experience in other Texas courts of appeal as well as the U.S. 5th Circuit where he has presented oral argument.
ENDORSED AS QUALIFIED
The Dallas Bar Association’s Committee for a Qualified Judiciary endorses Dan Wood as qualified for the office of Justice on the Fifth Court of Appeals. After a thorough review of Dan’s qualifications, experience and personal history, the Committee issued its endorsement.
The Committee based its endorsement on legal ability, integrity, judicial temperament and commitment to the fair and impartial administration of justice. The purpose of the Committee is to advance the cause of competent, fair and impartial judicial system in Dallas County and the State of Texas based on merit and not political party or persuasion. For more details go to:http://www.cqjdallas.org/.
ABOUT DAN
Dan Wood spent a lot of time in the old Carnegie Library in Terrell as a kid. He read history and biographies, learning values that he would build his life on. He learned about hard work, the value of family and the cornerstone role that the rule of law plays in our society. The way he saw it, and still sees it, is that our system of laws provides a framework for individuals and businesses to build their lives on. The legal system is a help, not a hindrance.
After studying finance at Texas A&M, Dan came back home and successfully ran and owned a local business. While serving on the city council, Dan decided to attend Baylor and go to law school. “I wanted to be helpful and respected in the community,” he says. ““You opened an office and people came to you for help.”
“As a justice on the Fifth Court of Appeals, I will be fair, compassionate and devoted to the rule of law,” Dan promises.
Career
For more than 25 years Dan, has practiced law near his family home in Kaufman County. While he has served as an assistant district attorney twice, he has spent most of his career helping local families and businesses with their legal needs. For many years he has concentrated on complicated appeals, giving him unique insight into the appeals court process.
He has argued many cases before the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas, the court he is running to serve. He’s also argued cases in other Texas courts of appeals and in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Appeals courts interpret law and make sure proper procedures have been followed, working to make sure that trials are a fair for all parties. Dan first discovered his talent for arguing appeals while in law school at Baylor University and began thinking then about concentrating in appeals practice.
But his first job was as an assistant district attorney in Kaufman County. He set up a private law practice but returned to the district attorney’s office for a second stint. He again opened a private practice and has been representing local residents and companies since 1989.
Before his law career, Dan had a political career. He was elected to the Terrell City Council in 1980 when he was just 24. Two years later, he was elected citywide as mayor pro tem. He had been overseeing a dental lab, but after dealing with a number of respected lawyers as part of city business, decided that law suited him as a career.
He took some time off from law school to run for a state representative’s position, but finished fourth in the seven contestant special election. Dan was also the Democratic nominee for Criminal District Attorney for Kaufman County in 2002.
Family
Dan grew up in Terrell and now lives on the Wood Farm in northeast Kaufman County with his wife of 35 years, Laura.
Their daughter, Jennifer, died suddenly of cancer and its complications in 2004. Laura and Dan are blessed with five nieces and nephews and are especially proud of Nephew Michael who has begun his first year at the United States Military Academy at West Point with the new class of 2016.
Dan’s mother is Barbara Wood who is now living in Rockwall after having retired as a high school English teacher for the Dallas I.S.D. Dan’s father, Danny Wood, Sr., is now deceased, but he retired after a long career from the Garland Fire Department.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
- TEXAS BAR ASSOCIATION
- DALLAS BAR ASSOCIATION
- KAUFMAN COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
- BAR ASSOCIATION FOR THE U.S. 5TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
- “CJA” VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY PANEL FOR INDIGENT DEFENSE IN THE U.S. DISTRICT COURTS, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS.
COURTS OF ADMITTANCE:
- TEXAS STATE COURTS
- U.S. DISTRICT COURTS, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
- U.S. DISTRICT COURTS, EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
- U.S. 5TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
- U.S. SUPREME COURT
EDUCATION:
- TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY, FINANCE MAJOR
- BAYLOR LAW SCHOOL, J.D. '86
