Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 4
6-year termIncumbent Kevin Yeary, first elected in 2014, is seeking reelection. Ballot order: Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, as shown on the SOS statewide sample ballot. No Libertarian or other candidate appears for this seat.Partially researched. Last researched Oct 20, 2026Report a correction
Texas judicial ethics rules limit what judicial candidates may say about issues that could come before them, so this page compares qualifications instead of positions.
RepublicanIncumbent
Democratic
Current position
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals
Judge, Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 3
Years licensed
Not stated in available records.
Not stated in available records.
Board certification
Not stated in available records.
Not stated in available records.
Law school
St. Mary's University School of Law
Not stated in available records.
Prior judicial service
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals (2015-present); Member, State Commission on Judicial Conduct (appointed by Supreme Court order, term beginning Jan. 1, 2026)
Judge, Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 3 (elected 2020)
Practice areas
Appellate criminal prosecution; Criminal defense
Criminal prosecution; Criminal defense
Bar association poll
State Bar of Texas 2026 Judicial Poll (conducted before March 2026 primaries; vote counts among all candidates then running): 1,467 of 3,306 votes (44.4%)
State Bar of Texas 2026 Judicial Poll (conducted before March 2026 primaries; vote counts among all candidates then running): 1,839 of 3,306 votes (55.6%)
Qualification 1 of 7
Current position
RepublicanIncumbent
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals
Democratic
Judge, Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 3
Sources for this contest (3)
- 2026 General Election Sample Ballot (statewide template), Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved Oct 20, 2026.
- General and Special Elections sample ballot, November 3, 2026, Harris County Clerk / HarrisVotes. Retrieved Oct 20, 2026.
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals 2026 election: Who is running and what to know, The Texas Tribune. Retrieved Oct 20, 2026.