The U.S., Texas, Williamson County, and Municipal Judicial Systems

U.S., Texas, Williamson County, and municipal judicial officials are elected, or sometimes appointed to represent us in federal, state, county, and municipal courts. This list has the contact information, salary (if any) for the position, and the term ending. It will also list Democratic candidates who have filed for the position.

Federal Judicial System


Federal Court System

United States Supreme Court

Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President of the United States when there is a vacancy. The Senate votes to confirm the nominee, which requires a simple majority. They serve a life tenure.

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal appellate court with appellate jurisdiction. It hears appeals from the circuit courts within its jurisdiction and its rulings may be appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States. Appeals are heard in the John Minor Wisdom U.S. Courthouse in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Federal circuit court judges are appointed by the president for life. There are 16 active judges (4 Democrats, 12 Republicans), and there are 10 Senior Judges (semi-retired) of which 3 are Democrats, and 7 are Republicans. The Senate votes to confirm the nominee, which requires a simple majority. They are paid approximately $179,500 annually.

ballotpedia.org/United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_Fifth_Circuit

United States District Court for the Western District of Texas

The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas has jurisdiction over Williamson County. Williamson County is in the Austin Division of the Western District.

Texas Federal Courts District Map

ballotpedia.org/Courts_in_Texas

Judges are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by a majority of the U.S. Senate.

Appeals from the Western District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

Texas Federal Courts District Map code




ballotpedia.org/United_States_District_Court_for_the_Western_District_of_Texas






Texas Judicial System

court of appeals districts map

To understand the Texas Judicial System, view this chart: www.txcourts.gov/media



Texas Supreme Court

The Texas Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort for civil matters. The court has nine justices. The Chief Justice makes $171,000. Associate Justices make $168,000.

There is a partisan election of justices, but nearly all of them were originally appointed to their courts by the governor. When a vacancy occurs, the governor may appoint a Justice, subject to Senate confirmation, to serve the remainder of an unexpired term until the next general election.

Supreme Court Justices are elected to staggered terms of 6 years in statewide elections.

As of June 2021, all eight justices on the court identified with the Republican Party.

Supreme Court Building
201 W. 14th Street, Room 104
Austin, Texas 78701

Mailing Address:
Supreme Court of Texas
PO Box 12248
Austin, Texas 78711

(512) 463-1312

Nathan Hecht (Republican Party) is is the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court (Place 1). He assumed office on October 1, 2013. His current term expires on December 31, 2026.
ballotpedia.org/Nathan_Hecht

Jimmy Blacklock (Republican Party) is the Justice for Place 2 of the Texas Supreme Court. He assumed office on January 2, 2018. His current term expires on December 31, 2024.
ballotpedia.org/Jimmy_Blacklock

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE THAT WON THE PRIMARY FOR PLACE 2 Debra Lehrmann (Republican Party) is the Justice for Place 3 of the Texas Supreme Court. She assumed office on June 21, 2010. Her current term expires on December 31, 2026.
ballotpedia.org/Debra_Lehrmann

John Devine (Republican Party) is the Justice for Place 4 of the Texas Supreme Court. He assumed office on January 1, 2013. Term expires on December 31, 2024.
ballotpedia.org/John_Devine_(Texas)

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PLACE 4 Rebeca Huddle (Republican Party) is the Justice for Place 5 of the Texas Supreme Court. She assumed office on October 30, 2020. Her current term expires on December 31, 2026.
ballotpedia.org/Rebeca_Huddle

Jane Bland (Republican Party) is the Justice for Place 6 of the Texas Supreme Court. Her current term expires on December 31, 2024.
ballotpedia.org/Jane_Bland

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE THAT WON THE PRIMARY FOR PLACE 6 Jeffrey S. Boyd (Republican Party) is the Justice for Place 7 of the Texas Supreme Court. He was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2012. His current term expires on December 31, 2026.
ballotpedia.org/Jeffrey_S._Boyd

Brett Busby (Republican Party) is the Justice for Place 8 of the Texas Supreme Court. He was appointed March 20, 2019 by Gov. Greg Abbott. His current term expires on December 31, 2026.
ballotpedia.org/Brett_Busby

Evan Young, (Republican Party) is the justice for Place 9 of the Texas Supreme Court. He was appointed on November 9, 2021. The term expires on December 31, 2028.
ballotpedia.org/Evan_Young

ballotpedia.org/Texas_Supreme_Court

ballotpedia.org/Texas_Supreme_Court_elections,_2022



Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the state's court of last resort for criminal matters and has nine judges. The current chief of the court is Sharon Keller.

The court is composed of a presiding judge and eight judges. Each judge serves a six-year term. They are elected in staggered partisan elections.

The governor may appoint, subject to senate confirmation, a judge to serve out the remainder of any unexpired term until the next general election.
Chief Judge Salary is $187,800 and Associates: $184,800

The address for the court is 201 W 14th St, Austin, TX 78701

www.txcourts.gov/cca/

ballotpedia.org/Texas_Court_of_Criminal_Appeals

Presiding Judge - Sharon Keller - Term expires 2024 - Republican - Salary: $204,600

CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDING JUDGE Place 2 - Mary Lou Keel - Term expires 2028 - Republican - Salary: $201,600

Place 3 - Bert Richardson - Current Term expires 2026 - Republican - Salary: $201,600

Place 4 - Kevin Patrick Yeary - Current Term expires 2026 - Republican - Salary: $184,800

Place 5 - Scott Walker - Term expires 2028 - Republican - Salary: $168,000

Place 6 - Jesse F. McClure III - Term expires 2028 - Republican - Salary $168,000.00

Place 7 - Barbara Hervey - Elected Term expires 2024 - Republican

Place 8 - Michelle Slaughter - Elected Term expires 2024 - Republican

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PLACE 8: Place 9 - David Newell -Elected Term expires 2026 - Republican



Texas Court of Appeals

There are currently 14 Courts of Appeals Districts in Texas, with 80 judges.

Williamson County is in the Third Court of Appeals District: ballotpedia.org/Texas_Third_District_Court_of_Appeals. Known as the Third Appellate District of Texas or the Texas Third Court of Appeals The court consists of six judges, one chief justice and five justices, hearing cases from 24 counties. The Third Court of Appeals is an intermediate appellate court that hears all the criminal and civil appeals for 24 counties, with the exception of capital murder cases. Anyone who wants to appeal a Third Court decision goes to the Court of Criminal Appeals (COCA) for criminal cases and to the Texas Supreme Court (TSC) for civil cases.

It has intermediate appellate jurisdiction
  • in civil cases where judgment rendered exceeds $250, exclusive of costs
  • other civil proceedings as provided by law
  • in criminal cases except in post-conviction writs of habeas corpus and where the death penalty has been imposed
  • Price Daniel Sr. Building
    209 West 14th Street, Room 101
    Austin, Texas 78701

    Mailing Address:
    Third Court of Appeals
    PO Box 12547
    Austin, Texas 78711

    Telephone: (512) 463-1733

    Map of the Court of Appeals Districts in Texas:
    court of appeals districts map
    Williamson County is in Third Court of Appeals District (the green in the middle). https://libguides.law.ttu.edu/c.php?g=478525&p=3303546

    Place 1 - Chief Judge
    Darlene Byrne
    P O Box 412
    Austin Tx 78767
    E-Mail: byrnecampaign@gmail.com
    Party: Democrat
    Occupation: Judge
    Next Election 2026. Term expires December 31, 2026

    Place 2 - Edward Smith - Democrat elected in 2019 - Term expires December 31, 2024
    smithforjustice.com/

    DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN PRIMARY RUNOFF AGAINST EDWARD SMITH FOR PLACE 2 Place 3 - Chari Kelly - Elected in 2019 - Term expires 2024 – Democrat - charikelly.com/

    Place 4 - Rosa Lopez Theofanis - Elected in 2022 - Term expires 2028 - Democrat

    Place 5 - Thomas J. Baker - 2019 - Present - Term expires 2024 – Democrat www.justicetombaker.com
    DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE THAT WON THE PRIMARY FOR PLACE 5 Place 6 - Gisela Triana - 2018 - Present - Term expires 2024 – Democrat
    www.judgetriana.com

    CAUTION:

    Texas is creating a 15th Court of Appeals Types of Cases
  • Mask mandates
  • Gender-affirming care
  • COVID-era curfews
  • Investigations into trans families
  • Paid sick leave
  • Mail-in ballot access



  • Texas Judicial District Courts in Williamson County

    District Courts handle: There are 478 district courts in Texas with 478 Judges. 381 districts contain one county, and 97 districts contain more than one county. The 26th, 277th, 368th, 395th, 425th, and 480th District Courts are in Williamson County.

    This is the map of District Courts in Texas: www.txcourts.gov/media/1455548/district-courts-january-2023.pdf

    District Judges are elected for 4 year terms. Their salary is set by the legislature and the range typically falls between $168,169 and $191,864.

    Texas Judicial District 26

    Judge: Donna King - Republican
    26th District Court Judge
    Williamson County Justice Center
    405 Martin Luther King Jr St, Georgetown, TX 78626
    (512) 943-1100
    Term expires on December 31, 2024.

    Texas Judicial District 277

    Judge: Stacey Mathews - Republican
    277th District Court Judge
    405 Martin Luther King Jr St, Georgetown, TX 78626
    (512) 943-1277
    Current term expires on December 31, 2026.

    Texas Judicial District 368

    Judge: Rick J. Kennon - Republican
    368th District Court Judge
    405 M.L.K. Street
    Suite 117, Box 8
    Georgetown, TX 78626
    (512) 943-1368
    Current term expires on December 31, 2026.

    Texas Judicial District 395

    Judge: Ryan D. Larson - Republican
    405 Martin Luther King, Box 15
    Georgetown, TX 78626
    Office: (512) 943-1395
    Current term expires on December 31, 2024

    Texas Judicial District 425

    Judge: Betsy Lambeth - Republican
    405 M.L.K. Street
    Georgetown, TX 78626
    Phone: (512) 943-3380
    Current term expires on December 31, 2024.


    Texas Judicial District 480 (new)

    Judge: Scott K. Field - Republican
    405 M.L.K. Street
    Georgetown, TX 78626
    Phone:
    www.wilco.org/Elected-Officials/District-Courts/480th-District-Court
    Current term expires on December 31, 2024.



    Williamson County Courts

    Williamson County Courts at Law

    The Williamson County Courts at Law are trial courts in Williamson County, Texas with concurrent jurisdiction over many cases with the district courts and county courts in the county. They are elected to 4-year terms.

    County-Level Courts are Constitutional County Courts, Statutory County Courts, and Statutory Probate Courts:
    Williamson County, Texas now has five Constitutional County Courts at Law:

    County Courts Division

    Judge - County Court at Law No. 1 - Brandy Hallford - Republican
    County Court at Law #1
    405 M.L.K. Street
    Georgetown, TX 78626
    Phone: (512) 943-1200
    Term expires on December 31, 2026

    Judge - County Court at Law No. 2 - Laura Barker - Republican
    405 M.L.K. Street
    Georgetown, TX 78626
    Main Line: (512) 943-1410
    Term expires on December 31, 2026

    Judge - County Court at Law No. 3 Doug Arnold - Republican
    Williamson County Justice Center
    405 Martin Luther King, Box 16
    Georgetown, Texas 78626
    Phone (512) 943-1160
    Term expires on December 31, 2026

    Judge - County Court at Law No. 4 John B. McMaster - Republican
    County Court at Law #4
    405 M.L.K. Street, Box 17
    Georgetown, TX 78626
    Phone: (512) 943-1681
    Term expires on December 31, 2026

    Judge - County Court at Law No. 5 Will Ward - Republican
    County Court at Law #4
    405 M.L.K. Street, Box 23
    Georgetown, TX 78626
    Phone: (512) 943-3671
    Term expires on December 31, 2024


    Williamson County Justice of the Peace Courts

    Justices in the Justice of the Peace Courts in Texas are elected in partisan elections and serve four-year terms. They are elected in a precinct-wide election.

    The justice of the peace presides over the justice court in cases involving misdemeanors, small civil disputes, landlord/tenant disputes and more. They also conduct death inquests and may perform marriage ceremonies. Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1 - KT Musselman - Democrat
    J.B. and Hallie Jester Annex
    1801 E Old Settlers Blvd, Ste 100
    Round Rock, Texas, 78664
    JP1@wilco.org
    Term expires on December 31, 2026

    Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2 - Angela Williams - Republican
    Williamson County Cedar Park Annex
    350 Discovery Blvd, Ste. 204
    Cedar Park, TX 78613
    Telephone: (512) 260-4210
    Salary $83,714
    JP2@wilco.org
    Term expires on December 31, 2026

    Website: www.wilco.org/jp2

    Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 - Evelyn McLean - Republican
    Georgetown Annex
    100 Wilco Way, Suite 204
    Georgetown, TX 78626
    Telephone: (512) 943-1501
    JP3@wilco.org
    Term expires on December 31, 2026

    Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4 - Judge Rhonda Redden - Republican
    211 W 6th St
    Taylor, Texas 76574
    Phone: (512) 352-4155
    JP4@wilco.org
    Term expires on December 31, 2026.


    Municipal Courts in Williamson County

    In Texas, the rules regarding judges of the Municipal Courts vary by each city's charter. Some of the judges are appointed to a two-year term by the city's governing body, and some compete in partisan elections.

    Functions: Cedar Park Municipal Court
    City courthouse · 911 Quest Pkwy · Cedar Park · (512) 260-4300
    Presiding Judge Joseph Oswald - Republican
    Associate Judge Daniel R Gonzalez
    www.cedarparktexas.gov/253/Municipal-Court

    Leander Municipal Court
    Pat Bryson Municipal Hall · 201 N. Brushy Street · Leander, Texas 78641
    Presiding Judge Cathy Riedel
    Associate Judge Mark Goodner
    leandertx.gov/municipalcourt

    Liberty Hill Municipal Court
    2801 Ranch Rd 1869, Liberty Hill, TX 78642
    Presiding Judge Kevin R. Madison
    Associate Judge Tracy V. Musch
    tx-libertyhill2.civicplus.com/204/Municipal-Court

    Round Rock Municipal Court
    City courthouse · Round Rock, TX · In Centennial Plaza · (512) 218-5480
    Presiding Judge Alan McGraw - Republican
    Associate Judge Sandra Fitzpatrick was appointed by City Council June, 2021
    Associate Judge Lucas Wilson was appointed by City Council June, 2021

    Georgetown Municipal Court
    City courthouse · Georgetown, TX · (512) 930-3625
    Presiding Judge Randall C. Stump
    Associate Judge David W. Scott


    Williamson County Attorney

    Doyle Hobbs Jr. - Republican
    405 Martin Luther King Jr St
    Georgetown, TX 78626
    Phone: (512) 943-1111
    Salary $153,142
    Term expires on December 31, 2024
    DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR COUNTY ATTORNEY:

    Williamson County District Attorney

    Shawn Dick - Republican
    405 M.L.K., Suite 229
    Georgetown, Texas 78626
    (512) 943-1111
    Salary $70,140
    Term expires on December 31, 2024


    REFERENCES

    Reference Websites

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    If you have anything to add or correct, please comment on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/groups/wilcoca2 or email the WebMaster: Cliff Anderson. Cliff's email:



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