Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3

Thomas Smith

Republican

On ballot as: THOMAS SMITH
Current role: Assistant attorney general
Background: Attorney
Experience: Clerked for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio
Jones Day Law Firm in Dallas
Counsel to Ken Paxton when Paxton was a state senator
Attorney General's office since 2015
Top priorities: "Restoring a conservative, limited judicial philosophy to cases before the court"
"Keep Texas safe and ensure that justice is served"
Says judges should not be "making law from the bench"
Tidbits: Judicial philosophy: "I'm running to keep Texas safe and ensure that justice is served by restoring a conservative, limited judicial philosophy to cases before the court."
Pro Life
Endorsements: Attorney General Ken Paxton
State Sen. Angela Paxton
Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas
Texas Values
Houston Police Officers' Union
Show all 9
Numerous Republican Officials and Conservative Organizations – too many to list (see website)
Dallas Police Association
Fort Worth Police Association
Tarrant County Law Enforcement Association
Campaign website: smithfortexas.org

Democratic

On ballot as: OKEY ANYIAM
Current role: Criminal defense attorney
Background: Licensed to practice law in Texas
Longtime Dallas resident
Experience: Criminal defense attorney in private practice.
Top priorities: "Uphold the law without legislating from the bench, and to apply the clear legislative intent unless that intent is ambiguous"
Work with the other judges so the court "hears more cases than it currently does, and in a timely manner"
"Give guidance on important issues that are apparent on the record though not raised"
"A fair and independent judiciary at the state's top criminal court"
Tidbits: Did Not answer questionnaire on whether Dobbs (Abortion) was correctly decided
Endorsements: Liberal Austin Democrats
Austin Young Democrats
State Tejano Democrats
Campaign website: okeyanyiamforjudge.com

Libertarian