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
Maria Salas-MendozaShe grew up in El Paso, went all the way to Harvard for college, then came home to spend nearly two decades as a trial judge before becoming the second woman to lead the state's 8th Court of Appeals.
About Maria
Salas-Mendoza earned her bachelor's degree in History and Literature from Harvard-Radcliffe College and her law degree from UCLA, then returned to El Paso. She was elected judge of the 120th District Court in 2006 and served there for 18 years before being elected Chief Justice of the Texas 8th Court of Appeals, taking office January 1, 2025. She is now running to keep that seat in 2026.