Former 144th District Judge Ray Olivarri’s death from cancer in January made it necessary for Bexar County’s political parties to choose two nominees to run for the bench in November.

The Bexar County Democratic Party nominated 37th District Judge Michael Mery to run for the vacant bench. Mery had lost his primary election in March, but party chairs nominated him because it was too late for candidates to file to run after Olivarri’s death.