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James Sullivan (Texas)
James Sullivan (Republican Party) is a judge for Place 2 of the Texas Supreme Court. He assumed office on January 6, 2025. His current term ends on December 31, 2026.
Sullivan (Republican Party) is running for re-election for the Place 2 judge of the Texas Supreme Court. He is on the ballot in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026.[source]
Sullivan first became a member of the Texas Supreme Court through an appointment. Governor Greg Abbott (R) first appointed Sullivan to the Texas Supreme Court on January 6, 2025, to replace Justice Jimmy Blacklock, who was appointed to Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court.[1] To learn more about this appointment, click here.
Biography
Education
Sullivan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rice University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.[2]
Career
- 2025 - Present: Justice, Texas Supreme Court
Prior to his appointment to the Texas Supreme Court, Sullivan served as general counsel to Gov. Greg Abbott (R) from 2021 to 2025. He previously served as Assistant Solicitor General of Texas and Deputy General Counsel to the governor.[3]
Appointments
2025
Governor Greg Abbott (R) appointed James Sullivan to replace outgoing Texas Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Blacklock, who ascended to the Chief Justice position on January 6, 2025. Sulivan was Governor Abbott's (R) seventh nominee to the nine-member supreme court.[4]
In Texas, state supreme court justices are elected in partisan elections. There are eight states that use this selection method. To read more about the partisan election of judges, click here.
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement who must be confirmed by the Texas Senate. The appointee serves until the next general election, in which he or she may compete to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.[5]
Elections
2026
See also: Texas Supreme Court elections, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on March 3, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Democratic primary
Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 2
Chari Kelly (D) is running in the Democratic primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 2 on March 3, 2026.
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 | Chari Kelly | |
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Republican primary
Republican primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 2
Incumbent James Sullivan (R) is running in the Republican primary for Texas Supreme Court Place 2 on March 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | James Sullivan | |
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
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Campaign finance summary
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
State supreme court judicial selection in Texas
- See also: Judicial selection in Texas
The nine justices of the Texas Supreme Court are selected in statewide partisan elections. The elected justices serve six-year terms, after which they must run for re-election if they wish to remain on the court.[5]
Qualifications
To serve on the Supreme Court, a justice must be:
- a U.S. citizen;
- a resident of Texas;
- licensed to practice law in the state;
- between the ages of 35 and 75;[6][7] and
- a practicing lawyer and/or justice for at least 10 years.[5]
Chief justice
The chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court is selected by voters at large. He or she serves in that capacity for a full six-year term.[5]
Vacancies
In the event of a midterm vacancy, the governor appoints a replacement who must be confirmed by the Texas Senate. The appointee serves until the next general election, in which he or she may compete to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.[5]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
|
Officeholder Texas Supreme Court Place 2 |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Jimmy Blacklock named new chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court," January 6, 2024
- ↑ Texas Judicial Branch, "The Supreme Court of Texas welcomes James P. Sullivan as its newest justice," January 6, 2024
- ↑ Texas Judicial Branch, "The Supreme Court of Texas welcomes James P. Sullivan as its newest justice," January 6, 2024
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, "Jimmy Blacklock named new chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court," January 6, 2025
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Texas," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑ While no justice older than 74 may run for office, sitting justices who turn 75 are permitted to remain on the court until their terms expire.
- ↑ Texas State Historical Association, "Judiciary," accessed September 12, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jimmy Blacklock (R) |
Texas Supreme Court Place 2 2025-Present |
Succeeded by - |
Federal courts:
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas
State courts:
Texas Supreme Court • Texas Court of Appeals • Texas Court of Criminal Appeals • Texas District Courts • Texas County Courts • Texas County Courts at Law • Texas Statutory Probate Courts • Texas Justice of the Peace Courts
State resources:
Courts in Texas • Texas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Texas
 |
State of Texas Austin (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
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| Government |
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