Election Notice:  Monday, October 7, 2024 is the last day to register to vote for the November 5, 2024 Uniform Election  |  Visit VoteTexas.gov for more election information
EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2023, OUR LOBBY WALK-IN HOURS WILL BE 9 A.M. - 4 P.M. (CENTRAL), MONDAY - FRIDAY.

Running for a Judicial Office in 2024

NEW LAW: Pursuant to HB 2384 (88th Leg., R.S.), effective September 1, 2023, candidates for the following judicial offices must provide additional information with their application:

The new requirements do not apply to a county judge under Article V, Section 15 of the Texas Constitution.

NOTE: SB 1045 (2023, R.S.) created the Fifteenth Court of Appeals. Although SB 1045 has an effective date of September 1, 2023, because the bill specifically states that the court of appeals will not be created until September 1, 2024, the initial vacancies for chief justice and justice places 2 and 3 will be filled by appointment, and the offices will not appear on the ballot until the next general election cycle in 2026.

Candidate Application & Filing Period

Required Information – All Judicial Candidates

NEW LAW: Pursuant to HB 2384 (88th Leg., R.S.), effective September 1, 2023, a candidate for the office of chief justice or justice of the Supreme Court, presiding judge or judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, chief justice or justice of a Court of Appeals, district judge (including a criminal district judge), or judge of a statutory county court must provide the following information ALONG WITH their application:

Additional Required Information – Specific Judicial Offices (Non-Incumbents Only)

NEW LAW: Pursuant to HB 2384 (88th Leg., R.S.), effective September 1, 2023, a candidate who does not hold or has not previously held the office of chief justice or justice of the Supreme Court, presiding judge or judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, or chief justice or justice of a Court of Appeals must include a description of the following information in their application:

Public Office Sought in 2024

Any public sanction or censure by State Commission on Judicial Conduct or review tribunal
Any public disciplinary sanction by State Bar of Texas
Any public disciplinary sanction by entity in another state
Nature of candidate’s legal practice, including any area of specialization
(last 5 years)
Courtroom experience (last 5 years) Final conviction of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor (last 10 years)
Additional Petition

(Primary candidates ONLY)
Candidates who do not hold or Have not previously held the office

Appellate court briefs
(last 5 years)

Oral arguments presented before any appellate court (last 5 years)

Chief Justice & Justice, Supreme Court

x x x x x x xb xa xa

Presiding Judge & Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals

x x x x x x xb xa xa

Chief Justice and Justice, Court of Appeals

x x x x x x xc xa xa

District Judge

x x x x x x xc - -

Criminal District Judge

x x x x x x xc - -

Family District Judge

x x x x x x xc - -

Judge, County Court-at-Law

x x x x x x xc - -

Judge, County Criminal Court

x x x x x x xc - -

Judge, County Probate Court

x x x x x x xc - -
  § 141.0311(b) § 172.021 § 141.0311(c)
  1. The information is only required if the candidate does not hold or has not previously held any of those judicial offices. (Section 141.0311(c), Texas Election Code).
  2. Section 172.021(g) of the Texas Election Code provides that a candidate for the office of chief justice or justice of the Supreme Court, or presiding judge or judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, who chooses to pay the filing fee must also accompany the application and fee with a petition. The minimum number of signatures that must appear on the petition is 50 from each of the fourteen court of appeals districts, for a total requirement of 700 signatures.
  3. Section 172.021 of the Texas Election Code states petition requirements for certain judicial candidates. For candidates running for Courts of Appeals in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 14th Districts and all candidates running for judicial offices in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Tarrant Counties, a 250-signature judicial petition is required in addition to the filing fee, or 750 signatures must be collected on the petition in lieu of filing fee.