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2020 General Election Judicial Endorsements

Texas Civil Justice League PAC
2020 General Election Judicial Endorsements
General Election Day November 3, 2020
Early Voting Begins October 13, 2020
Early Voting Ends October 30, 2020

TEXAS SUPREME COURT
9 Justices | Statewide

     Chief Justice:  Nathan Hecht* (R)
     Place 6:  Jane Bland* (R)
     Place 7:  Jeff Boyd* (R)
     Place 8:  Brett Busby* (R)

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
9 Justices | Statewide

     Place 3:  Bert Richardson* (R)
     Place 4:  Kevin Patrick Yeary* (R)
     Place 9:  David Newell* (R)

1st Court of Appeals
9 Justices | Based in Houston | Concurrent Jurisdiction with 14th Court of Appeals
10 Counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Grimes, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Washington & Waller

     Place 3:  Russell Lloyd* (R)
     Place 5:  Terry Adams* (R)

2nd Court of Appeals
7 Justices | Based in Fort Worth
12 Counties: Archer, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Hood, Jack, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, Wichita, Wise & Young

     Place 2:  Dana Womack* (R)
     Place 6:  Mike Wallach* (R)

3rd Court of Appeals
6 Justices | Based in Austin | Statewide for Administrative and Regulatory Appeals
24 Counties: Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Irion, Lee, Llano, Fayette, Hays, Milam, McCulloch, Mills, Lampasas, Runnels, San Saba, Schleicher, Sterling, Tom Green, Travis & Williamson

     Chief Justice:  Jeff Rose* (R)

4th Court of Appeals
7 Justices | Based in San Antonio

32 Counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brooks, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Mason, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Menard, La Salle, Real, Starr, Sutton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Wilson, Zapata & Zavala

     Chief Justice:  Renee Yanta (R)

5th Court of Appeals
13 Justices | Based in Dallas
6 Counties: Collin, Grayson, Kaufman, Dallas, Hunt & Rockwall

     Place 3:  David Evans* (R)
     Place 6:  John Browning* (R)
     Place 8:  Bill Whitehill* (R)

6th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Texarkana
19 Counties: Bowie, Camp, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Red River, Rusk, Titus

     Place 3:  Ralph Burgess* (R)

7th Court of Appeals 
4 Justices | Based in Amarillo
46 Counties: Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, Lamb, Lynn, Kent, King, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, Wilbarger & Yoakum

     Chief Justice:  Brian Quinn* (R)
     Place 4:  Larry Doss* (R)

8th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in El Paso
17 Counties: Andrews, Brewster, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Ward, & Winkler

     Chief Justice:  Jeff Alley* (R)

9th Court of Appeals
4 Justices | Based in Beaumont
10 Counties: Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto & Tyler

     Chief Justice:  Scott Golemon (R)

10th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Waco
18 Counties: Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Coryell, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Johnson, Leon, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Navarro, Robertson, Somervell & Walker

     Place 2:  Matt Johnson (R)
     Place 3:  John Neill* (R)

11th Court of Appeals
3 Justices  Based in Eastland
28 Counties: Baylor, Borden, Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Dawson, Eastland, Ector, Erath, Fisher, Gaines, Glasscock, Haskell, Howard, Jones, Knox, Martin, Midland, Mitchell, Nolan, Palo Pinto, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor & Throckmorton

     Place 2:  Bruce Williams (R)
     Place 3:  Stacy Trotter (R)

12th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Tyler
17 Counties: Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Houston, Nacogdoches, Rains, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt & Wood

     Chief Justice:  Jim Worthen* (R)

13th Court of Appeals
6 Justices | Based in Corpus Christi & Edinburg
20 Counties: Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Cameron, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Lavaca, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, San Patricio, Refugio, Hidalgo, Victoria, Wharton & Willacy

     Place 4:  Jaime Tijerina* (R)

14th Court of Appeals
9 Justices | Based in Houston | Concurrent Jurisdiction with 1st Court of Appeals
10 Counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Grimes, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Washington & Waller

     Chief Justice:  Tracy Elizabeth Christopher (R)
     Place 7:  Ken Wise* (R)

*Incumbent 

2020 Primary Runoff Endorsements 6-5-20

1st Court of Appeals, Place 5:  Terry Adams

9th Court of Appeals, Chief Justice:  Scott Golemon

7th Court of Appeals, Place 4:  Lawrence M. Doss*

*Incumbent

 

TEXAS SUPREME COURT
9 Justices | Statewide

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
9 Justices | Statewide

1st Court of Appeals
9 Justices | Based in Houston | Concurrent Jurisdiction with 14th Court of Appeals
Counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Grimes, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Washington & Waller

2nd Court of Appeals
7 Justices | Based in Fort Worth
Counties: Archer, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Hood, Jack, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, Wichita, Wise & Young

3rd Court of Appeals
6 Justices | Based in Austin | Statewide for Administrative and Regulatory Appeals
Counties: Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Irion, Lee, Llano, Fayette, Hays, Milam, McCulloch, Mills, Lampasas, Runnels, San Saba, Schleicher, Sterling, Tom Green, Travis & Williamson

4th Court of Appeals
7 Justices | Based in San Antonio
Counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brooks, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Mason, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Menard, La Salle, Real, Starr, Sutton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Wilson, Zapata & Zavala

5th Court of Appeals
13 Justices | Based in Dallas
Counties: Collin, Grayson, Kaufman, Dallas, Hunt & Rockwall

6th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Texarkana
Counties: Bowie, Camp, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Red River, Rusk, Titus

7th Court of Appeals 
4 Justices | Based in Amarillo
Counties: Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, Lamb, Lynn, Kent, King, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, Wilbarger & Yoakum

9th Court of Appeals
4 Justices | Based in Beaumont
Counties: Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto & Tyler

10th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Waco
Counties: Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Coryell, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Johnson, Leon, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Navarro, Robertson, Somervell & Walker

11th Court of Appeals
3 Justices  Based in Eastland
Counties: Baylor, Borden, Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Dawson, Eastland, Ector, Erath, Fisher, Gaines, Glasscock, Haskell, Howard, Jones, Knox, Martin, Midland, Mitchell, Nolan, Palo Pinto, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor & Throckmorton

12th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Tyler
Counties: Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Houston, Nacogdoches, Rains, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt & Wood

13th Court of Appeals
6 Justices | Based in Corpus Christi & Edinburg
Counties: Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Cameron, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Lavaca, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, San Patricio, Refugio, Hidalgo, Victoria, Wharton & Willacy

14th Court of Appeals
9 Justices | Based in Houston | Concurrent Jurisdiction with 1st Court of Appeals
Counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Grimes, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Washington & Waller

Texas 2020 Primary Election - Top Judicial Races

Top Judicial Races

Texas Civil Justice League PAC

Primary Edition – February 4, 2020

The 2018 election resulted in a catastrophic wipeout of nearly two centuries of judicial experience on the intermediate courts of appeals. It likewise witnessed the defeat of dozens of experienced trial court judges, particularly in Dallas and Harris counties. With the elimination of straight ticket voting for the 2020 election and beyond, the circumstances have changed, but no one is quite sure of how or to what extent. Presidential election years attract substantially higher voter turnout than mid-term elections, casting further uncertainty regarding the impact of removal of the straight ticket. The good news, if we can call it that, is that there are fewer appellate judicial offices on the ballot this year, offering an opportunity to concentrate resources on a relatively small number of critical races. We should also consider whether an independent effort aimed at informing voters of the importance of judicial elections and of staying with the ballot may be necessary to maximize our prospects.

TCJL has identified eleven appellate court races, the outcome of which could make the difference between the further erosion of judicial experience on our courts and the stabilization of the appellate courts in the wake of the 2018 disaster. These races are as follows:

Texas Supreme Court

Chief Justice Nathan Hecht*: The longest serving and most experienced justice on the Texas Supreme Court, Justice Hecht will face on of two Democratic challengers in November: Amy Clark Meachum, a former McGinnis, Lockridge & Kilgore partner and since 2011 judge of the 201st District Court in Austin, or Gerald Zimmerer, a Houston lawyer who was elected to the 14th Court of Appeals in 2018. Judge Meachum would likely pose the strongest challenge and would no doubt run a competitive and well-funded campaign. While we expect the statewide vote to continue to favor the GOP in general, the numbers are narrowing, and we cannot afford to take this race for granted.

Justice Jane Bland* (Place 6): One of the most outstanding legal scholars and experienced judges serving in Texas today, Justice Bland was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court last year to succeed Justice Jeff Brown. Justice Bland served on the district court bench in Houston from 1997 to 2003. Voters then elevated her to the 14th Court of Appeals, where she served until 2018. Like Chief Justice Hecht, Justice Bland will have a Democratic challenger in November, neither possible nominee with any judicial experience. Larry Praeger has practiced criminal and family law for 30 years in Dallas and is board certified in family law. Kathy Cheng has a Houston law firm that provides representation on business organizations, wills, estates and probate, and family law matters. She appears to have about 20 years of practice experience, but lists no bar-related activities or board certification. If qualifications and excellence were the criteria for selecting judges, this race would be no contest. Unfortunately, that is not yet the case. Justice Bland has to begin her race from ground zero, so we must redouble our efforts to assist this outstanding jurist maintain her seat on the Court.

Justice Jeff Boyd* (Place 7): Appointed to the Court in 2012, Justice Boyd has established a superb record as a jurist. Prior to his appointment to the high court, Justice Boyd gained extensive litigation experience, first as a partner at Thompson & Knight in Dallas and then as Deputy Attorney General for Civil Litigation. He also served former Governor Rick Perry as both General Counsel and Chief of Staff. His potential opponents, McAllen lawyer Brandy Voss and Dallas District Judge Staci Williams, have relevant experience and could well pose a significant challenge. Voss is board certified in Civil Appellate Law, served as briefing attorney for former Chief Justice Tom Phillips and Justice Gina Benavides of the Thirteenth Court of Appeals, and is active in the State Bar Appellate Law Section. Judge Williams was elected to the district bench in 2014 after a long career as a labor lawyer in Dallas and service as a municipal and administrative judge.

Justice Brett Busby* (Place 8): Governor Abbott appointed Justice Busby to succeed longtime Justice Phil Johnson. An outstanding jurist known for his scholarship and integrity, Justice Busby began his career with a prestigious clerkship at the United States Supreme Court, followed by 12 years of trial and appellate practice in Houston. He was elected to the 14th Court of Appeals in 2012, but, like Justice Bland, was swept out of office in the 2018 tsunami. Recognizing his superlative qualifications, Governor Abbott made sure that Justice Busby’s service to our state continued on the high court. Justice Busby also faces one of two Democratic challengers: Justice Peter Kelly of the First Court of Appeals in Houston (elected 2018) and Justice Gisela Triana, a former Travis County prosecutor, Justice of the Peace, County Court-at-Law judge, and district judge who was elected to the Third Court of Appeals in 2018. Justice Triana has been extremely active and visible in Travis County for the better part of 30 years and is a proven campaigner. Assuming that she wins the Democratic primary, she could pose a formidable challenge. Justice Busby merits and requires all the support we can give him in this race.

Intermediate Appellate Courts

Justice Jaime Tijerina* (13th Court of Appeals – Place 4): We consider Justice Tijerina’s race to be among the most critical of all appellate court contests this cycle. A veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan and current Army JAG officer, Justice Tijerina has practiced law and served in various judicial offices in Hidalgo County for more than 20 years. After serving for 13 years as County Attorney of Kenedy County, Justice Tijerina was appointed to a district bench in Hidalgo County. Though defeated in the 2014 election, Justice Tijerina ran a strong race in an historically Democratic county. In 2018 Justice Tijerina narrowly lost a race for the Thirteenth Court of Appeals, garnering 49.63% of the vote and nearly bucking the Democratic trend. Governor Abbott promptly appointed him to the Thirteenth Court, where he faces a difficult challenge from Judge Migdalia Lopez, the district judge for juvenile matters in Cameron and Willacy counties (197th Judicial District). Prior to her election to the district bench in 1998, Judge Lopez served as a county court-at-law judge in Brownsville and Assistant District Attorney of Cameron County. She has run unopposed for the district bench in each of the past five elections. This is going to be a tough and expensive race, and one of immense importance to bringing balance to the Corpus Christi Court of Appeals. Justice Tijerina recently won the State Bar Poll for this seat, earning more votes than Judge Lopez.  If we want to hold on to one of the best and brightest appellate justices in our state, we have to go all out for Justice Tijerina.

Chief Justice Jeff Rose* (3rd Court of Appeals): In view of the wholesale turnover of the Austin Court of Appeals in 2018, we cannot afford to lose the chief of this court.  Chief Justice Rose has extensive judicial experience and a reputation for exceptional scholarship and productivity. He has had a distinguished legal career in private practice (where he earned board certification in Civil Trial Law), as Deputy First Assistant Attorney General to now-Governor Greg Abbott, and on the bench. Appointed by Governor Perry to the 353rd District Court in 2009, Justice Rose was elected to the 3rd Court in 2010. In 2014 he defeated former Justice Diane Henson in the race for Chief Justice and has served with distinction since then. His likely opponent, Austin District Judge Darlene Byrne, has served on the bench since 2001 and run opposed in the last four elections. The other Democrat in the race, Keith Hampton, is a prominent criminal defense attorney in Austin with no prior judicial experience. It is imperative that we keep Chief Justice Rose on the bench. The Austin Court functions as a statewide court for administrative matters. Chief Justice Rose’s experience simply cannot be replaced or replicated.

Justice Tracy Christopher (14th Court of Appeals – Chief Justice): Another race of critical importance in maintaining balance and experience on the busy and influential 14th Court of Appeals in Houston is the open seat for Chief Justice. Ten-year incumbent Justice Tracy Christopher will face one of two Democratic opponents. Widely recognized as one of the most brilliant and productive appellate justices in the state, Justice Christopher served for 14 years on the district bench in Houston before her elevation to the appellate court. Prior to that, she logged 13 years as a trial and appellate practitioner for Vinson & Elkins and Susman Godfrey in Houston. Justice Christopher has also served as chair of the Supreme Court’s Pattern Jury Charge Oversight Committee and as a member of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee, which considers changes to the rules of civil procedure. Justice Christopher is board certified in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law. Of the two Democrats in the race, one, Jane Robinson, is a 20-year trial and appellate lawyer with board certification in Civil Appellate Law, and the other, Jim Evans, is a family lawyer who has served as a Family Law Associate Judge in Harris County since 2017. Evans also lost a race for a family law district bench in Houston in 2014. This race presents a rare opportunity to elect a chief justice who is not only the most experienced and qualified candidate, but who has served with distinction and integrity for a quarter century.

Justice Ken Wise* (14th Court of Appeals – Place 7): Justice Wise has served on the 14th Court since 2013, following nine years on the district bench in Harris County. With the retirement of longtime Chief Justice Kem Frost (who has served on the 14th Court since 1999), Justices Wise and Christopher are the only justices on the eight-member court who have been there longer than three years (one elected in 2016, five in 2018). None of the five Democrats vying for the seat have trial or appellate court experience. Two have board certifications, Walter Kronzer in Civil Appellate Law and Lennon Wright in Personal Injury Trial Law. Another, Cheri Thomas, has experience as a staff attorney for the 14th Court and as a practitioner with Baker Botts and other firms. A fourth, Tamika Craft, has worked as an administrative law judge for the Texas Education Agency since 2013. The fifth, Velda Faulkner, owns her own general practice firm in Houston. Here is yet another race that underscores the necessity of supporting candidates with the experience and qualifications our courts desperately require. If Justices Wise and Christopher were to lose, the sum total of judicial experience on one of the most important intermediate appellate courts in the state would come to exactly 14 years.

Renee Yanta (4th Court of Appeals – Chief Justice): In an open race for Chief Justice of the San Antonio Court, we strongly back Renee Yanta, a board-certified appellate lawyer who has previously served on the district bench in Bexar County. Judge Yanta has twice defeated Democratic challengers in Bexar County and brings to this race more than 25 years of trial and appellate experience as a practitioner and judge. Her opponent, incumbent Justice Rebeca Martinez, has served on the 4th Court since 2013. Prior to her election, Justice Martinez practiced civil litigation and clerked for a US Magistrate Judge and Justice Federico Hinojosa of the 13th Court of Appeals. This race presents an opportunity to elect a superior candidate with both trial and appellate experience to succeed retiring Chief Justice Sandee Bryan Marion, who has served on the court since 2002 as both justice and chief justice.

Scott Golemon (Ninth Court of Appeals – Chief Justice): In this five-way race to succeed retiring Chief Justice Steve McKeithen, TCJL favors Conroe civil litigation specialist Scott Golemon over four other candidates in the GOP primary. There is no Democrat in the race, so voters will pick the winner on March 3. The other four candidates, each of whom practices in Conroe, appear to have little or no relevant trial or appellate experience. Charles Meyer practices intellectual property law; Jarrod Walker is a criminal defense attorney; Jay Wright is a former Assistant Nueces County Attorney who headed the office’s Civil and Criminal Divisions at different times; and Colleen Rice practices wills, trusts, and probate law. Golemon, on the other hand, has tried over 300 cases to a jury and also has family and criminal law experience. Of the five candidates, Golemon possesses the best combination of practice experience to be an effective and productive chief justice of a court that, among other things, has played a central role in developing the law of eminent domain in Texas.

Lawrence M. Doss* (Seventh Court of Appeals – Place 4): TCJL endorses incumbent Justice Larry Doss, who is running for a full term after his appointment to the Amarillo Court of Appeals last fall. A native of Abilene, Justice Doss clerked for U.S. District Judge Sam Cummings in Lubbock before joining the Lubbock-based law firm of Mullin Hoard & Brown. A board-certified civil appellate specialist, Justice Doss has 20 years of experience in both state and federal courts and has authored numerous amicus curiae briefs on behalf of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel. His opponent, Steven Denny, is a 15-year criminal defense attorney who served for five years as an Assistant District Attorney for Potter and Armstrong counties. In appointing Justice Doss to the appellate bench, Governor Greg Abbott selected the most qualified and experienced lawyer for the job. TCJL agrees.

Political advertising paid by Texas Civil Justice League PAC, 400 West 15th Street, Suite 1400, Austin, Texas 78701

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TEXAS SUPREME COURT
9 Justices | Statewide

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
9 Justices | Statewide

1st Court of Appeals
9 Justices | Based in Houston | Concurrent Jurisdiction with 14th Court of Appeals
Counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Grimes, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Washington & Waller

2nd Court of Appeals
7 Justices | Based in Fort Worth
Counties: Archer, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Hood, Jack, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, Wichita, Wise & Young

3rd Court of Appeals
6 Justices | Based in Austin | Statewide for Administrative and Regulatory Appeals
Counties: Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Irion, Lee, Llano, Fayette, Hays, Milam, McCulloch, Mills, Lampasas, Runnels, San Saba, Schleicher, Sterling, Tom Green, Travis & Williamson

4th Court of Appeals
7 Justices | Based in San Antonio
Counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brooks, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Mason, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Menard, La Salle, Real, Starr, Sutton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Wilson, Zapata & Zavala

5th Court of Appeals
13 Justices | Based in Dallas
Counties: Collin, Grayson, Kaufman, Dallas, Hunt & Rockwall

6th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Texarkana
Counties: Bowie, Camp, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Red River, Rusk, Titus

7th Court of Appeals 
4 Justices | Based in Amarillo
Counties: Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, Lamb, Lynn, Kent, King, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, Wilbarger & Yoakum

9th Court of Appeals
4 Justices | Based in Beaumont
Counties: Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto & Tyler

10th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Waco
Counties: Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Coryell, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Johnson, Leon, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Navarro, Robertson, Somervell & Walker

11th Court of Appeals
3 Justices  Based in Eastland
Counties: Baylor, Borden, Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Dawson, Eastland, Ector, Erath, Fisher, Gaines, Glasscock, Haskell, Howard, Jones, Knox, Martin, Midland, Mitchell, Nolan, Palo Pinto, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor & Throckmorton

12th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Tyler
Counties: Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Houston, Nacogdoches, Rains, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt & Wood

13th Court of Appeals
6 Justices | Based in Corpus Christi & Edinburg
Counties: Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Cameron, DeWitt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Lavaca, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, San Patricio, Refugio, Hidalgo, Victoria, Wharton & Willacy

14th Court of Appeals
9 Justices | Based in Houston | Concurrent Jurisdiction with 1st Court of Appeals
Counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Grimes, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Washington & Waller

2018 General Election Endorsements - 9/15/2018

TEXAS SUPREME COURT
9 Justices | Statewide
Place 2:  Jimmy Blacklock* (R)
Place 4:  John Devine* (R)
Place 6:  Jeff Brown* (R)

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
9 Justices | Statewide
Presiding Judge:  Sharon Keller* (R)
Place 7:  Barbara Parker Hervey* (R)
Place 8:  Michelle Slaughter (R)

1st Court of Appeals
9 Justices | Based in Houston
Counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Grimes, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Washington & Waller

  • Place 2: Jane Bland* (R)
  • Place 6: Harvey G. Brown* (R)
  • Place 7: Terry Wayne Yates (R)
  • Place 8: Michael C. Massengale* (R)
  • Place 9: Jennifer V. Caughey* (R)

2nd Court of Appeals
7 Justices | Based in Fort Worth
Counties: Archer, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Hood, Jack, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, Wichita, Wise & Young

  • Chief Justice: Bonnie Sudderth* (R)
  • Place 4: Wade Birdwell* (R)
  • Place 5: Dabney Bassel* (R)
  • Place 6: Mark T. Pittman* (R)

3rd Court of Appeals
6 Justices | Based in Austin
Counties: Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Irion, Lee, Llano, Fayette, Hays, Milam, McCulloch, Mills, Lampasas, Runnels, San Saba, Schleicher, Sterling, Tom Green, Travis & Williamson

  • Place 2: Cindy Bourland* (R)
  • Place 3: Scott Field* (R)
  • Place 5: David Puryear* (R)
  • Place 6: Mike Toth (R)

4th Court of Appeals

7 Justices | Based in San Antonio
Counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brooks, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Mason, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Menard, La Salle, Real, Starr, Sutton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Wilson, Zapata & Zavala

  • Place 2: Marialyn Barnard* (R)
  • Place 3: Jason Pulliam (R)
  • Place 4: Patrick Ballantyne (R)
  • Place 5: Rebecca Simmons (R)
  • Place 7: Shane Stolarczyk (R)

5th Court of Appeals
13 Justices | Based in Dallas
Counties: Collin, Grayson, Kaufman, Dallas, Hunt & Rockwall

  • Chief Justice: Douglas S. Lang (R)
  • Place 2: David Evans* (R)
  • Place 5: Craig Stoddart* (R)
  • Place 9: Jason Boatright* (R)
  • Place 10: Molly Francis* (R)
  • Place 11: John G. Browning (R)
  • Place 12: Jim Pikl (R)
  • Place 13: Elizabeth Lang-Miers* (R)

6th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Texarkana
Counties: Bowie, Camp, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Red River, Rusk, Titus, Upshur & Wood

  • Place 2: Scott Stevens (R)

7th Court of Appeals 
4 Justices | Based in Amarillo
Counties: Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, Lamb, Lynn, Kent, King, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, Wilbarger & Yoakum

  • Place 2: Judy C. Parker* (R)
  • Place 3: Patrick A. Pirtle* (R)

9th Court of Appeals
4 Justices | Based in Beaumont
Counties: Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto & Tyler

  • Place 3: Leanne Johnson* (R)
  • Place 4: Hollis Horton* (R)

10th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Waco
Counties: Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Coryell, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Johnson, Leon, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Navarro, Robertson, Somervell & Walker

  • Chief Justice: Tom Gray* (R)

11th Court of Appeals
3 Justices  Based in Eastland
Counties: Baylor, Borden, Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Dawson, Eastland, Ector, Erath, Fisher, Gaines, Glasscock, Haskell, Howard, Jones, Knox, Martin, Midland, Mitchell, Nolan, Palo Pinto, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor & Throckmorton

  • Chief Justice: John Bailey* (R)

12th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Tyler
Counties: Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Houston, Nacogdoches, Rains, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt & Wood

  • Place 2: Greg Neeley* (R)

13th Court of Appeals
6 Justices | Based in Corpus Christi & Edinburg
Counties: Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Cameron, De Witt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Lavaca, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, San Patricio, Refugio, Hidalgo, Victoria, Wharton & Willacy

  • Chief Justice: Ernest Aliseda (R)
  • Place 2: Greg Perkes (R)
  • Place 4: Jaime Tijerina (R)
  • Place 5: Clarissa Silva (R)

14th Court of Appeals
9 Justices | Based in Houston
Counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Grimes, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Washington & Waller

  • Place 3: Brett Busby* (R)
  • Place 4: Marc Brown* (R)
  • Place 5: Martha Hill Jamison* (R)
  • Place 6: William J. Boyce* (R)
  • Place 8: John Donovan* (R)
2018 General Election Endorsements - 9/15/2018

TEXAS SUPREME COURT
9 Justices | Statewide
Place 2:  Jimmy Blacklock* (R)
Place 4:  John Devine* (R)
Place 6:  Jeff Brown* (R)

TEXAS COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
9 Justices | Statewide
Presiding Judge:  Sharon Keller* (R)
Place 7:  Barbara Parker Hervey* (R)
Place 8:  Michelle Slaughter (R)

1st Court of Appeals
9 Justices | Based in Houston
Counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Grimes, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Washington & Waller

  • Place 2: Jane Bland* (R)
  • Place 6: Harvey G. Brown* (R)
  • Place 7: Terry Wayne Yates (R)
  • Place 8: Michael C. Massengale* (R)
  • Place 9: Jennifer V. Caughey* (R)

2nd Court of Appeals
7 Justices | Based in Fort Worth
Counties: Archer, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Hood, Jack, Montague, Parker, Tarrant, Wichita, Wise & Young

  • Chief Justice: Bonnie Sudderth* (R)
  • Place 4: Wade Birdwell* (R)
  • Place 5: Dabney Bassel* (R)
  • Place 6: Mark T. Pittman* (R)

3rd Court of Appeals
6 Justices | Based in Austin
Counties: Bastrop, Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Coke, Comal, Concho, Irion, Lee, Llano, Fayette, Hays, Milam, McCulloch, Mills, Lampasas, Runnels, San Saba, Schleicher, Sterling, Tom Green, Travis & Williamson

  • Place 2: Cindy Bourland* (R)
  • Place 3: Scott Field* (R)
  • Place 5: David Puryear* (R)
  • Place 6: Mike Toth (R)

4th Court of Appeals

7 Justices | Based in San Antonio
Counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Brooks, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Mason, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Menard, La Salle, Real, Starr, Sutton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Wilson, Zapata & Zavala

  • Place 2: Marialyn Barnard* (R)
  • Place 3: Jason Pulliam (R)
  • Place 4: Patrick Ballantyne (R)
  • Place 5: Rebecca Simmons (R)
  • Place 7: Shane Stolarczyk (R)

5th Court of Appeals
13 Justices | Based in Dallas
Counties: Collin, Grayson, Kaufman, Dallas, Hunt & Rockwall

  • Chief Justice: Douglas S. Lang (R)
  • Place 2: David Evans* (R)
  • Place 5: Craig Stoddart* (R)
  • Place 9: Jason Boatright* (R)
  • Place 10: Molly Francis* (R)
  • Place 11: John G. Browning (R)
  • Place 12: Jim Pikl (R)
  • Place 13: Elizabeth Lang-Miers* (R)

6th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Texarkana
Counties: Bowie, Camp, Delta, Fannin, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Hunt, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Red River, Rusk, Titus, Upshur & Wood

  • Place 2: Scott Stevens (R)

7th Court of Appeals 
4 Justices | Based in Amarillo
Counties: Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, Lamb, Lynn, Kent, King, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, Wilbarger & Yoakum

  • Place 2: Judy C. Parker* (R)
  • Place 3: Patrick A. Pirtle* (R)

9th Court of Appeals
4 Justices | Based in Beaumont
Counties: Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto & Tyler

  • Place 3: Leanne Johnson* (R)
  • Place 4: Hollis Horton* (R)

10th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Waco
Counties: Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Coryell, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Johnson, Leon, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Navarro, Robertson, Somervell & Walker

  • Chief Justice: Tom Gray* (R)

11th Court of Appeals
3 Justices  Based in Eastland
Counties: Baylor, Borden, Brown, Callahan, Coleman, Comanche, Dawson, Eastland, Ector, Erath, Fisher, Gaines, Glasscock, Haskell, Howard, Jones, Knox, Martin, Midland, Mitchell, Nolan, Palo Pinto, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, Taylor & Throckmorton

  • Chief Justice: John Bailey* (R)

12th Court of Appeals
3 Justices | Based in Tyler
Counties: Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Houston, Nacogdoches, Rains, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Trinity, Upshur, Van Zandt & Wood

  • Place 2: Greg Neeley* (R)

13th Court of Appeals
6 Justices | Based in Corpus Christi & Edinburg
Counties: Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Cameron, De Witt, Goliad, Gonzales, Jackson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Lavaca, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, San Patricio, Refugio, Hidalgo, Victoria, Wharton & Willacy

  • Chief Justice: Ernest Aliseda (R)
  • Place 2: Greg Perkes (R)
  • Place 4: Jaime Tijerina (R)
  • Place 5: Clarissa Silva (R)

14th Court of Appeals
9 Justices | Based in Houston
Counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Grimes, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Washington & Waller

  • Place 3: Brett Busby* (R)
  • Place 4: Marc Brown* (R)
  • Place 5: Martha Hill Jamison* (R)
  • Place 6: William J. Boyce* (R)
  • Place 8: John Donovan* (R)
2018 Texas Primary Judicial Endorsements – 1/30/2018

Supreme Court of Texas (statewide)
Jimmy Blacklock* (R), Place 2
John Devine* (R), Place 4
Jeff Brown* (R), Place 6

3rd Court of Appeals
24 counties, based in Austin
Statewide for all administrative & regulatory appeals
• Cindy Bourland* (R), Place 2
• Scott Field* (R), Place 3
• David Puryear* (R), Place 5
• Place 6 endorsement TBA June 2018

13th Court of Appeals
20 counties, based in Corpus Christi & Edinburg
• Ernest Aliseda (R), Chief Justice
• Greg Perkes (R), Place2
• Jaime Tijerina (R), Place 4
• Clarissa Silva (R), Place 5

4th Court of Appeals
32 counties, based in San Antonio
• Marialyn Barnard* (R), Place 2
Place 3 Dual Endorsement
• Patricia Alvarez* (D) & Jason Pulliam (R), Place 3
• Patrick Ballantyne (R), Place 4
• Rebecca Simmons (R), Place 5
• Shane Stolarczyk (R), Place 7

1st & 14th Courts of Appeal
10 counties, based in Houston
• Jane Bland* (R), Place 2
• Harvey G. Brown* (R), Place 6
• Katy Boatman (R), Place 7
• Michael C. Massengale* (R), Place 8
• Jennifer V. Caughey* (R), Place 9
• Brett Busby* (R), Place 3
• Marc Brown* (R), Place 4
• Martha Hill Jamison* (R), Place 5
• William J. Boyce* (R), Place 6
• John Donovan* (R), Place 8

2nd Court of Appeals
12 counties, based in Fort Worth
• Bonnie Sudderth* (R), Chief Justice
• Mark T. Pittman* (R), Place 6

5th Court of Appeals
6 counties, based in Dallas
• David Evans (R), Place 2
• Craig Stoddart* (R), Place 5
• Jason Boatright* (R), Place 9
• Molly Francis* (R), Place 10
• John Browning (R), Place 11
• Elizabeth Lang-Miers* (R), Place 13

7th Court of Appeals
32 counties, based in Amarillo
• Judy C. Parker* (R), Place 2
• Patrick A. Pirtle* (R), Place 3

9th Court of Appeals
10 counties, based in Beaumont
• Leanne Johnson* (R), Place 3
• Hollis Horton* (R), Place 4

10th Court of Appeals
18 counties, based in Waco
Tom Gray* (R), Chief Justice

11th Court of Appeals
28 counties, based in Eastland
John Bailey (R), Chief Justice

12th Court of Appeals
17 counties, based in Tyler
Greg Neeley* (R), Place 2

*Incumbent

2018 Preliminary Judicial Endorsements Addendum - 11/28/2017

2018 Preliminary Judicial Endorsements – 11/28/2017


The TCJL PAC has announced preliminary endorsements for the primary election scheduled for March 6, 2018. The deadline for a candidate to file for a place on the 2018 primary ballot is December 11, 2017. This list was initially prepared on November 10, and will be updated as the cycle progresses and judicial endorsements are finalized.

November 28, 2017  |  Jimmy Blacklock (R) for Supreme Court

2018 Preliminary Judicial Endorsements - 11/10/2017

– 11/10/2017 2018 Preliminary Judicial Endorsements


The TCJL PAC has announced preliminary endorsements for the primary election scheduled for March 6, 2018. The deadline for a candidate to file for a place on the 2018 primary ballot is December 11, 2017. This list was initially prepared on November 10, and will be updated as the cycle progresses and judicial endorsements are finalized.

Texas Supreme Court
Don Willett* (R) Texas Supreme Court, Place 2
John Devine* (R) Texas Supreme Court, Place 4
Jeff Brown* (R) Texas Supreme Court, Place 6

Texas Courts of Appeals
Jane Bland* (R) 1st Court of Appeals – Houston, Place 2
Harvey G. Brown* (R) 1st Court of Appeals – Houston, Place 6
Michael C. Massengale* (R) 1st Court of Appeals – Houston, Place 8
Bonnie Sudderth* (R) 2nd Court of Appeals – Fort Worth, Chief Justice
Mark T. Pittman* (R) 2nd Court of Appeals – Fort Worth, Place 6
Cindy Bourland* (R) 3rd Court of Appeals – Austin, Place 2
Scott Field* (R) 3rd Court of Appeals – Austin, Place 3
David Puryear* (R) 3rd Court of Appeals – Austin, Place 5
Marialyn Barnard* (R) 4th Court of Appeals – San Antonio, Place 2
Patrick Ballantyne (R) 4th Court of Appeals – San Antonio, Place 4
Rebecca Simmons (R) 4th Court of Appeals – San Antonio, Place 5
Shane Stolarczyk (R) 4th Court of Appeals – San Antonio, Place 7
David Evans (R) 5th Court of Appeals – Dallas, Place 2
Craig Stoddart* (R) 5th Court of Appeals – Dallas, Place 5
Jason Boatright* (R) 5th Court of Appeals – Dallas, Place 9
Molly Francis* (R) 5th Court of Appeals – Dallas, Place 10
John Browning (R) 5th Court of Appeals – Dallas, Place 11
Elizabeth Lang-Miers* (R) 5th Court of Appeals – Dallas, Place 13
Judy C. Parker* (R) 7th Court of Appeals – Amarillo, Place 2
Patrick A. Pirtle* (R) 7th Court of Appeals – Amarillo, Place 3
Leanne Johnson* (R) 9th Court of Appeals – Beaumont, Place 3
Hollis Horton* (R) 9th Court of Appeals – Beaumont, Place 4
Tom Gray* (R) 10th Court of Appeals – Waco, Chief Justice
John Bailey (R) 11th Court of Appeals – Eastland, Chief Justice
Greg Neeley* (R) 12th Court of Appeals – Tyler, Place 2
Ernest Aliseda (R) 13th Court of Appeals – Corpus Christi/Edinburg, Chief Justice
Jaime Tijerina (R) 13th Court of Appeals – Corpus Christi/Edinburg, Place 4
Brett Busby* (R) 14th Court of Appeals – Houston, Place 3
Marc Brown* (R) 14th Court of Appeals – Houston, Place 4
Martha Hill Jamison* (R) 14th Court of Appeals – Houston, Place 5
William J. Boyce* (R) 14th Court of Appeals – Houston, Place 6
John Donovan* (R) 14th Court of Appeals – Houston, Place 8

*Incumbent

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