About this office
It's very difficult for a case to reach the Supreme Court. So for most Texans who appeal — a custody ruling, a lawsuit, a conviction — the Court of Appeals is the last court that will ever hear it. Texas has 14 of these courts, each covering a share of the 254 counties, and Hays County's cases go to the 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin. The Chief Justice runs that court — and this year the seat is on your ballot.
Candidates
Bruce WilliamsBefore he ever put on a judge's robe, Bruce Williams spent 37 years as a trial lawyer arguing cases in courtrooms across Texas.
About Bruce
Williams earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1982 and built a long career trying business litigation cases, earning recognition as one of Texas' Top Attorneys in Business Litigation every year since 2015. He took office as Place 2 Justice on the 11th Court of Appeals on January 1, 2021, and is now seeking re-election. He ran unopposed in the 2026 Republican primary, and the Democratic primary for the seat was canceled.