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September 27, 2023
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JoinRun for State Supreme Court Justice in Texas
Election Date: Nov 3, 2026Filing Deadline: Apr 2, 2026
Election Details
- Office level: state
- Length of term: 6 years
- Commitment level: Full Time
- Affiliation: partisan
- Typical salary: $168,000/year
- Is this a runoff election? No
- Is this a primary election? No
- Filing period: Mar 4, 2026 - Apr 2, 2026
- Positions: Texas Supreme Court Justice - Place 5Texas Criminal Appeals Court Judge - Place 4Texas Lieutenant GovernorTexas Supreme Court Justice - Place 8Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice - Place 1...
Job description
The State Supreme Court is responsible for correcting the errors of the inferior state courts. It exclusively hears appeals on legal issues from inferior state courts.
Eligibility requirements
Candidate must be a citizen of U.S. and resident of Texas; age 35 to 74. Must either have been a practicing lawyer licensed in the state of Texas for at least 10 years, or a practicing lawyer in the State of Texas and judge of a state court or county court established by the Legislature by statute for a combined total of at least 10 years. During which time the judge's license to practice law has not been revoked, suspended, or subject to a probated suspension.
Filing instructions
Filing office address: 1106 Lavaca Street, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78701 (Democrats); 211 E 7th Street, Suite 915, Austin, Texas 78701 (Republicans); 1019 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701 (Independents)
Filing phone number: 512-478-9800 (Democrats); 512-477-9821 (Republicans); 512-463-5650 (Independents)
Paperwork instructions: Submit paperwork to the office of the state party chair; Independent candidates must submit paperwork to the Secretary of State's office.
Filing requirements: Major party-affiliated candidates should file an application for a place on the ballot to their respective state party chair. This should be accompanied by a filing fee of $3,750 and a nominating petition signed by 50 electors from each of the fourteen court of appeals districts, for a total requirement of 700 signatures. The filing fee may be waived if the petition has been signed by at least 5,000 valid electors. Minor party candidates should consult with their respective party chair to determine requirements. Independent candidates should file a Declaration of Intent to Run as an Independent Candidate during the primary filing period. In addition, independent candidates will need to collect 83,435 signatures in support of their application for a place on the general election ballot and submit these to the Secretary of State. All forms can be found on the Texas Secretary of State website.
FAQ
How often is State Supreme Court Justice elected?
The position of State Supreme Court Justice is typically elected every 6 years.
What does it mean for an election to be partisan?
Partisan elections require candidates to declare a party affiliation, like Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Independent.
What are the filing requirements to get on the ballot in Texas?
Major party-affiliated candidates should file an application for a place on the ballot to their respective state party chair. This should be accompanied by a filing fee of $3,750 and a nominating petition signed by 50 electors from each of the fourteen court of appeals districts, for a total requirement of 700 signatures. The filing fee may be waived if the petition has been signed by at least 5,000 valid electors. Minor party candidates should consult with their respective party chair to determine requirements. Independent candidates should file a Declaration of Intent to Run as an Independent Candidate during the primary filing period. In addition, independent candidates will need to collect 83,435 signatures in support of their application for a place on the general election ballot and submit these to the Secretary of State. All forms can be found on the Texas Secretary of State website.
Where do I submit my candidate paperwork?
Submit paperwork to the office of the state party chair; Independent candidates must submit paperwork to the Secretary of State's office.
Where is the filing office?
1106 Lavaca Street, Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78701 (Democrats); 211 E 7th Street, Suite 915, Austin, Texas 78701 (Republicans); 1019 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701 (Independents).
How can I get in touch with the filing office?
You can contact the filing office by calling 512-478-9800 (Democrats); 512-477-9821 (Republicans); 512-463-5650 (Independents) .
How do I get started running for State Supreme Court Justice?
You can start running for State Supreme Court Justice by checking to ensure you meet all filing deadlines and requirements. Next, you can prepare to file for office and start planning your campaign strategy. Get in touch with our team of campaign experts for help with any step of the campaign process!
Is there a primary or runoff election for this office?
The next election for State Supreme Court Justice does not include a primary or runoff election.
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