Texas to Hold First 15th Court of Appeals Election
The statewide court established in 2023 will face its first electoral test during the November 2026 cycle.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Law
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Texas voters will head to the polls in November 2026 to select the members of the newly formed 15th Court of Appeals. The court, which consists of three justices, was created by the state legislature in 2023 to oversee cases involving state government actions.
Why it matters
The court holds significant influence over state policy, having already issued rulings on abortion travel funding and school accountability ratings. Its creation is viewed by some as an effort to ensure judicial outcomes aligned with the executive branch.
The court functions with three statewide members, distinguishing it from the 14 other appellate courts in Texas that serve specific regions. The upcoming November 2026 election will determine the permanent tenure of these judicial seats.
The players
Greg Abbott
He is the Governor of Texas who appointed the three current incumbent justices to the 15th Court of Appeals.
Scott Brister
He is the current Chief Justice of the 15th Court of Appeals and a former justice who served on the Texas Supreme Court from 2003 to 2009.
Jerry Zimmerer
He is a challenger for the Chief Justice position who has served on the 14th Court of Appeals since his 2018 election.
Scott Field
He is an incumbent justice on the 15th Court of Appeals seeking election to his current seat.
April Farris
She is an incumbent justice on the 15th Court of Appeals currently defending her seat against challenger Marc Meyer.
The details
The court’s current three Republican incumbents, all appointed by Governor Greg Abbott, are facing challengers as they seek election. Recent rulings by the court include blocking San Antonio from covering abortion travel costs, allowing the Texas Education Agency to release school ratings, and permitting litigation against Yelp regarding pro-life resource information.
Timeline
The Texas Legislature established the 15th Court of Appeals during its 2023 session.
The first statewide election for the three court seats is scheduled for November 2026.
Political Context
Opponents of the court’s structure have expressed concerns regarding the shift toward statewide jurisdiction for cases involving state government actions. Critics argue this configuration reduces local judicial oversight by centralizing authority in a court appointed by the executive.
The court's decisions directly impact state-level regulations, including school accountability metrics and local government mandates. Residents may see changes in legal precedents that govern how state agencies operate and how local policies are challenged in court.
The takeaway
Voters should monitor the upcoming 2026 election to understand how these judicial positions will be filled for the future. The outcome will influence the composition of a court that serves as a central venue for litigation against the state government.
What happens next
The 15th Court of Appeals is scheduled to hold its first election in November 2026.
Further reading
For more background on the state judiciary, visit the Texas Law section.
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Do you trust that creating specialized state-wide courts improves the fairness of judicial outcomes?
