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Texas voters choose first justices for 15th Court of Appeals

Texas voters will elect justices to the 15th Court of Appeals for the first time. The court, created by the state Legislature in 2023, reviews civil cases involving the state, cases exceeding $10 million between businesses, and constitutional challenges where the attorney general is a party.

Where
Statewide
When
General election in November 2026
Sources
One outlet

Taxes and money

None stated in sources.

Does this affect you?

Who's involved

  • Scott BristerChief Justice, 15th Court of Appeals; appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott
  • Scott FieldJustice in Place 2, 15th Court of Appeals; appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott
  • April FarrisJustice in Place 3, 15th Court of Appeals; appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott
  • Greg AbbottGovernor; appointed first three justices
  • Texas LegislatureCreated the 15th Court of Appeals in 2023
  • Ken PaxtonAttorney General; filed lawsuit in 2025 against Beto O'Rourke

The facts

  • Texas Legislature created the 15th Court of Appeals in 2023 with statewide jurisdiction over three types of civil cases.1
  • The 15th Court reviews cases involving the state, state agencies, and state officials; appeals from business courts handling disputes over $10 million; and constitutional challenges where attorney general is a party.1
  • The 15th Court has statewide jurisdiction regardless of where cases originate, unlike the other 14 courts of appeals which are geographically based.1
  • A Dallas County lawsuit challenged the 15th Court's constitutionality; Texas Supreme Court rejected the challenge in August 2024.1
  • The 15th Court began operations on Sept. 1, 2024, with three justices appointed by Gov. Abbott.1
  • Chief Justice Brister has 20 years of judicial experience including six years on Texas Supreme Court.1
  • Paxton's office filed a 2025 lawsuit accusing Beto O'Rourke of bribery, fraud, and campaign finance violations related to donations to Democratic legislative candidates.2
  • The 15th Court refused to stop O'Rourke from paying hotel bills for Democratic legislative candidates who left the state.2

Who said what

These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.

  • San Antonio Express-News All three incumbent justices are highly qualified Republicans with decades of judicial experience.1
  • Republican State Sen. Joan Huffman Cases with statewide implications deserve to be heard by judges accountable to voters statewide.2
  • Democrats The 15th Court undermined judicial independence by giving Abbott power to handpick first justices and gives businesses preferential treatment.2
  • Ken Paxton Called Brister, Field and Farris activist judges on the Beto-loving 15th Court of Appeals.2

Where the sources disagree

  • Whether the 15th Court was created to steer cases away from the 3rd Court of Appeals Source [1] notes opposition from those who viewed its creation this way; Source [2] notes Republicans had no problem with Austin court handling cases until 2018 blue wave flipped it to Democratic control

How they headlined it

The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.

Sources

Outlets: 2 not rated Who's covering Texas →

These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.

  1. All three Republicans superior in Texas 15th Court of Appeals races San Antonio Express-News Not rated, October 11, 2026
  2. 'Beto-loving' Republicans on 15th Court of Appeals proved their independence Houston Chronicle Not rated, October 12, 2026

This sheet was written by AI from the sources above and adds nothing they don't state. Read the originals for full context.

Spot an error on this sheet?

All corrections and updates

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