Chief Justice, Fifteenth Court of Appeals
6-year termThe Fifteenth Court of Appeals was created in 2024 with statewide jurisdiction; all three sitting justices were appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2024 and are running for election for the first time. No third-party or write-in candidates appear on the SOS or Harris County sample ballots.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
Chief Justice, Fifteenth Court of Appeals
Attorney, private practice
Years licensed
Not stated in available records.
Not stated in available records.
Board certification
Civil Appellate Law; Civil Trial Law; Personal Injury Trial Law
Not stated in available records.
Law school
Harvard Law School (1980)
South Texas College of Law Houston (1984)
Prior judicial service
Chief Justice, Fifteenth Court of Appeals (2024-present); Justice, Supreme Court of Texas (2003-2009); Justice and Chief Justice, First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals (2001-2003); Judge, 234th District Court (1989-2000)
Justice, Fourteenth Court of Appeals (2019-2024)
Practice areas
Appellate litigation; Civil trial
Cybersecurity; Health law; Commercial arbitration
Bar association poll
State Bar of Texas 2026 Judicial Poll (conducted before March 2026 primaries; vote counts among all candidates then running): 1,957 of 3,551 votes (55.1%)
State Bar of Texas 2026 Judicial Poll (conducted before March 2026 primaries; vote counts among all candidates then running): 1,594 of 3,551 votes (44.9%)
Qualification 1 of 7
Current position
RepublicanIncumbent
Chief Justice, Fifteenth Court of Appeals
Democratic
Attorney, private practice
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 15th Court of Appeals race: Who is running and what to know, The Texas Tribune. Retrieved Oct 20, 2026.