Who Tom is
In 2018 Baker flipped a seat on the Austin appeals court from Republican to Democrat. Then the Legislature built a brand-new court to move the state's biggest cases out of his reach. Now he's running for that new court.
About Tom
Baker sat on the 3rd Court of Appeals for six years, until every Democratic appellate judge in the state lost in the 2024 Republican wave — nothing to do with his record. Before the bench he was a Navy JAG officer in the Reserve, then practiced law for decades across Central Texas — Killeen, Temple, Belton — with a stint as an assistant county attorney in Bee County. He holds two UT Austin degrees and a law degree from the University of Houston, and is board certified in family law.
Where they stand
- Reproductive RightsUnknown
- Immigration & BorderUnknown
- Housing & AffordabilityUnknown
- Public EducationUnknown
- Election IntegrityUnknown
- HealthcareUnknown
- Social Security & MedicareUnknown
- Gun PolicyUnknown
- Climate & EnergyUnknown
Also on the ballot for 15th Court of Appeals • Place 2
Every candidate on this ballot line appears here, in alphabetical order. Tap a name to read more.
Scott FieldWhen the Austin appeals court kept ruling against the State of Texas, the state's Republicans created a brand-new court for state cases, and Abbott installed three conservative judges on it. Scott Field is one of them.
About Scott
After voters removed Field from that Austin court in 2018, Abbott appointed him to a brand-new district court in Williamson County. His latest Abbott appointment, to the 15th Court of Appeals, came in 2024 — so this November is the first time Field has faced voters since his defeat eight years ago.