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Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals

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The Texas Eleventh Court of Appeals is one of 15 intermediate appellate courts in Texas.[1]

Published opinions of the Eleventh District Court of Appeals can be found here.
 
Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals
Intermediate Appellate Courts Seal-template.png
Court information
Judges:   3
Salary:  Associates: $192,500[2]
Judicial selection
Method:   Partisan election of judges
Term:   6 years

Jurisdiction

The Eleventh District Court of Appeals has appellate jurisdiction over appeals arising from district and county courts in 28 counties:

Texas Eighth District Court of AppealsTexas Seventh District Court of AppealsTexas Eleventh District Court of AppealsTexas Second District Court of AppealsTexas Fifth District Court of AppealsTexas Sixth District Court of AppealsTexas Twelfth District Court of AppealsTexas Ninth District Court of AppealsTexas Tenth District Court of AppealsTexas Third District Court of AppealsTexas Fourteenth District Court of AppealsTexas First District Court of AppealsTexas Thirteenth District Court of AppealsTexas Fourth District Court of AppealsTexas appeals court.png



Judges

Judge Tenure Appointed By

John Bailey

September 17, 2018 - Present

Greg Abbott

Stacy Trotter

January 1, 2021 - Present

Bruce Williams

January 1, 2021 - Present

Salary

See also: Texas court salaries and budgets

In 2025, associate judges serving on the Texas District Courts of Appeals in districts 1 through 14 received a base salary of $192,500, according to the Office of Court Administration. Judges on the Fifteenth District Court of Appeals earned a base salary of $205,000.[3]

Judicial selection

See also: Partisan election of judges and Judicial selection in Texas

The justices of the Texas Court of Appeals are selected in district level 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.[4]

Qualifications

To serve on the Texas Court of Appeals, 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;*[5][6] and
  • a practicing lawyer and/or judge for at least 10 years.[4]

Chief justice

The chief justice of each district court is selected by voters at large. He or she serves in that capacity for a full six-year term.[4]

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.[4]

Elections

Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice

See also: Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2030


There are no official candidates yet for this election.


Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 3

See also: Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2028


There are no official candidates yet for this election.


Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 2

See also: Texas intermediate appellate 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.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 2

Incumbent Bruce Williams (R) is running in the Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 2 on March 3, 2026.

Candidate
Image of Bruce Williams
Bruce Williams

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice

See also: Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2024

General election

General election for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice

Incumbent John Bailey (R) won election in the general election for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
John Bailey (R)
 
100.0
 
244,026

Total votes: 244,026
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 5, 2024, was canceled.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice

Incumbent John Bailey (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
John Bailey
 
100.0
 
73,082

Total votes: 73,082
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 3

See also: Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2022

General election

The general election scheduled for November 8, 2022, was canceled. Incumbent Stacy Trotter (R) won election in the general election for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 3 without appearing on the ballot.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 1, 2022, was canceled.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 3

Incumbent Stacy Trotter (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 3 on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Stacy Trotter
 
100.0
 
65,044

Total votes: 65,044
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

See also: Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2020

Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 2

General election

General election for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 2

Bruce Williams (R) won election in the general election for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 2 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bruce Williams
Bruce Williams (R)  Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
248,796

Total votes: 248,796
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2020, was canceled.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 2

Bruce Williams (R) defeated Frank Hunold (R) in the Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 2 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bruce Williams
Bruce Williams  Candidate Connection
 
75.5
 
63,791
Image of Frank Hunold
Frank Hunold  Candidate Connection
 
24.5
 
20,748

Total votes: 84,539
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 3

General election

General election for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 3

Stacy Trotter (R) won election in the general election for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 3 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Stacy Trotter (R)
 
100.0
 
247,503

Total votes: 247,503
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary

The Democratic primary scheduled for March 3, 2020, was canceled.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 3

Stacy Trotter (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Place 3 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Stacy Trotter
 
100.0
 
85,282

Total votes: 85,282
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice

General election

General election for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice

Incumbent John Bailey (R) won election in the general election for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
John Bailey (R)
 
100.0
 
177,341

Total votes: 177,341
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary

Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice

Incumbent John Bailey (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Texas Eleventh District Court of Appeals Chief Justice on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
John Bailey

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Previous election results


Ethics

The Texas Code of Judicial Conduct sets forth ethical guidelines and principles for the conduct of judges and judicial candidates in Texas. It consists of eight overarching canons:

  • Canon 1: Upholding the Integrity and Independence of the Judiciary
  • Canon 2: Avoiding Impropriety and the Appearance of Impropriety in All of the Judge’s Activities
  • Canon 3: Performing the Duties of Judicial Office Impartially and Diligently
  • Canon 4: Conducting the Judge's Extra-Judicial Activities to Minimize the Risk of Conflict with Judicial Obligations
  • Canon 5: Refraining from Inappropriate Political Activity
  • Canon 6: Compliance with the Code of Judicial Conduct
  • Canon 7: Effective Date of Compliance
  • Canon 8: Construction and Terminology of the Code[8]

The full text of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct can be found here.

Removal of judges

Court of Appeals judges in Texas may be removed in one of three ways:

  • Removal or retirement by a review tribunal upon a Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct recommendation to the Supreme Court. The Commission investigates and, if warranted, prosecutes allegations of judicial misconduct. After a Commission recommendation, the Supreme Court selects a review tribunal made up of Court of Appeals judges to verify the Commission's findings and enter a judgment. Decisions are subject to appeal to the Supreme Court.
  • By the governor on the address of two thirds of the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives.
  • By a two-thirds vote of the Senate, upon impeachment by a majority vote of the House.


History

Below are some key highlights in the court's history:
[9][10]

  • The Texas Legislature authorized courts of civil appeals to issue writs of mandamus and all other writs necessary to enforce their jurisdiction in 1892.
  • The Eleventh Court of Appeals was created in 1925 by the Legislature.

State profile

Demographic data for Texas
 TexasU.S.
Total population:27,429,639316,515,021
Land area (sq mi):261,2323,531,905
Race and ethnicity**
White:74.9%73.6%
Black/African American:11.9%12.6%
Asian:4.2%5.1%
Native American:0.5%0.8%
Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
Two or more:2.5%3%
Hispanic/Latino:38.4%17.1%
Education
High school graduation rate:81.9%86.7%
College graduation rate:27.6%29.8%
Income
Median household income:$53,207$53,889
Persons below poverty level:19.9%11.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Texas.
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

Presidential voting pattern

See also: Presidential voting trends in Texas

Texas voted Republican in all seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.

Pivot Counties (2016)

Ballotpedia identified 206 counties that voted for Donald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012. Collectively, Trump won these Pivot Counties by more than 580,000 votes. Of these 206 counties, one is located in Texas, accounting for 0.5 percent of the total pivot counties.[11]

Pivot Counties (2020)

In 2020, Ballotpedia re-examined the 206 Pivot Counties to view their voting patterns following that year's presidential election. Ballotpedia defined those won by Trump won as Retained Pivot Counties and those won by Joe Biden (D) as Boomerang Pivot Counties. Nationwide, there were 181 Retained Pivot Counties and 25 Boomerang Pivot Counties. Texas had one Retained Pivot County, 0.55 percent of all Retained Pivot Counties.

More Texas coverage on Ballotpedia

See also

Texas Judicial Selection More Courts
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Courts in Texas
Texas Courts of Appeals
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Texas Supreme Court
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External links

Footnotes