History was made tonight as Jefferson County voters selected the county's first elected female 252nd District Court judge.
12News and The Beaumont Enterprise declared Raquel West the winner, defeating Carolyn Drawhorn Wiedenfeld with 80% of the votes counted.
West will take the bench following Judge Lindsey Scott who was appointed in January by Governor Rick Perry following the resignation of Judge Layne Walker.
West, a Democrat, is a long-time defense attorney and was endorsed by the Beaumont Enterprise. She has over 18-years experience practicing law, focusing mainly on criminal and family law.
"I have handled the exact type of cases that are in this court and I think that makes a huge difference," West said to 12News before Tuesday's election.
The Hardin-Jefferson graduate attended St. Mary's School of Law in San Antonio and earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence. She also attended Texas A&M University, College Station where she earned a BA in English and a Minor in French.
Wiedenfeld, a Republican, is also an attorney. She was born in Port Arthur and grew up in Port Neches. She earned a Bachelor's in Business Administration from Texas A&M University. She graduated from law school and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in November of 2001.
Wiedenfeld spoke to 12News before Tuesday's election.
"Family law and criminal law are people intensive areas of the law," Wiedenfeld said.
"You're face to face with people all day long, it's not a corporation."
