There are two courts of last resort in Texas: the Texas Supreme Court, which is the court of last resort on civil matters, and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which decides criminal cases. On both courts, judges serve six-year terms. Texas held a primary election on March 3, 2020 and held a general election on November 3.
Four seats were up for election on the Texas Supreme Court. For Place 1, incumbent Chief Justice Nathan Hecht ran unopposed in the Republican primary. He was being challenged by District Court Judge Amy Clark Meachum who defeated Court of Appeals Judge Jerry Zimmerer in the Democratic primary, and attorney Mark Ash, who ran unopposed in the Libertarian primary. For place 6, incumbent Justice Jane Bland ran against attorney Kathy Cheng for her seat. Bland ran unopposed in the Republican primary, and Cheng defeated attorney Larry Praeger in the Democratic primary. For place 7, incumbent justice Jeffery S. Boyd competed against District Court Judge Staci Williams and attorney William Bryan Strange in the general election. Both Boyd and Strange ran unopposed in the Republican and Libertarian primaries respectively, while Williams defeated attorney Brandy Voss in the Democratic primary. For place 8, incumbent Justice Brett Busby competed against Court of Appeals Judge Gisela Triana and Tom Oxford. Both Busby and Oxford ran unopposed in the Republican and Libertarian primaries respectively, whereas Triana defeated Court of Appeals Judge Peter Kelly in the Democratic primary. In the general election, incumbent Justices Hecht, Bland, Boyd, and Busby all held on to their seats with 53%, 55%, 54%, and 54% of the vote respectively.
There were three seats up for election on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. For place 3, incumbent Justice Bert Richardson competed against former District Court Judge Elizabeth Davis Frizell. In the Republican primary, Richardson defeated attorney Gina Parker. In the Democratic primary, Frizell defeated former Terrell city councilman Dan Wood and attorney William Demond. For place 4, incumbent Justice Kevin Patrick Yeary competed against District Court Judge Tina Yoo Clinton. While Yeary ran unopposed in the Republican primary, Yoo Clinton defeated attorney Steven Miears in the Democratic primary. For place 9, incumbent Justice David Newell competed against District Court Judge Brandon Birmingham. Both ran unopposed in the Republican and Democratic primaries, respectively. In the general election, incumbent Justices Richardson, Yeary, and Newell all held on to their seats with 55%, 55%, and 56% of the vote, respectively.
Kantar Media/CMAG: Estimated Total TV Spending: $2,180,060*
- Estimated spending by Judicial Fairness PAC: $2,137,390
- Estimated spending by Gisela Triana: $42,670
*Spending figures last updated November 10, 2020
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September 30 – Heroes
This ad shows an image of medical professions and then says that “heroes on the front lines stepped up to serve. They need a champion on the bench like Nathan Hecht.”
Sponsor: Judicial Fairness PAC
Estimated Spending: $1,031,400
September 30 – Honors
This ad says that Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court Nathan Hecht “shares values with his fellow Republican Judges on the Court.”
Sponsor: Judicial Fairness PAC
Estimated Spending: $1,105,990
October 22 – Like Many of You
In this ad, Gisela Triana says “like many of you, I’m a working mom.” She goes on to say “my job is to provide equal justice to all. Protecting our families, protecting our rights.”
Sponsor: Gisela Triana
Estimated Spending: $42,670