RICHARDSON, Texas (Jan. 9, 2003) - The Center for the Study of Texas Politics at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) will host a panel discussion Friday, Jan. 24, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. about the important issue of judicial selection in the state.

The discussion will take place in Room GR 2.302 of UTD's Cecil H. Green Hall. The event is free to UTD students, faculty and staff and $15 for all others.

The moderator will be Dr. Anthony Champagne, a professor of government and politics at UTD, and panelists will include Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips, State Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock and Fifth Court of Appeals Justice Tom James.

The non-partisan Center for the Study of Texas Politics is housed in the university's School of Social Sciences and is headed by Dr. Greg Thielemann, a political scientist and professor of government, politics and political economy at UTD. The center is dedicated to creating opportunities for citizens to interact with Texas' leading policymakers and sponsors four policy-driven programs each year on campus.

The Jan. 24 panel discussion is the third in a series of four during the current academic year. For reservations or more information, please call (972) 883-4929 or e-mail texascenter@utdallas.edu.

About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor, enrolls more than 13,000 students. The school's freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university's web site at http://www.utdallas.edu.