District Judge, 298th Judicial District

Clark B. Will

Republican

On ballot as: Clark B. Will
Current role: Attorney, Shellist Lazarz Slobin LLP, Dallas
Background: B.A., University of Texas at Austin (1977)
J.D., St. Mary's University School of Law (1980)
U.S. Army veteran (1981–1987)
Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer for six years (per campaign)
Dallas County resident since 1986 (per his Dallas Morning News questionnaire)
Experience: More than 45 years of civil litigation experience (per campaign)
Dallas County election judge (since November 2016) (per his Dallas Morning News questionnaire)
Chaired the Dallas Bar Association Bench Bar Committee (per candidate)
Taught in the night division at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (per candidate)
Republican primary (March 3, 2026): unopposed
Top priorities: "As a judicial candidate, my focus is not on advocating public policy but on faithfully applying the law as written."
"My goal is simple: apply the law, run an efficient courtroom, and treat every person who appears before the court with dignity and respect."
"I want to bring common sense and common courtesy back to the bench."
Tidbits: Judicial philosophy: In a Ballotpedia candidate survey: "As a judicial candidate, my focus is not on advocating public policy but on faithfully applying the law as written."
Court administration: In a Ballotpedia candidate survey: "As judge, I will focus on moving cases forward responsibly while ensuring each matter receives the attention it deserves."
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: clarkwillforjudge.com

Ashley Smith

Democratic

On ballot as: Ashley Smith
Current role: Attorney; partner, Fee, Smith & Sharp LLP, Dallas (joined 2019; partner since 2023)
Background: Bachelor's in finance, Texas Tech University
J.D., Texas Tech University School of Law
Previously at three Houston-area law firms
Dallas County resident since February 2019 (per her Dallas Morning News questionnaire)
Experience: Plaintiff's attorney and defense attorney in civil cases (per campaign)
Course director, State Bar of Texas Advanced Personal Injury Course (per her Dallas Morning News questionnaire)
Super Lawyers "Texas Rising Star" (2023–2025) (per campaign)
First run for public office
Democratic primary (March 3, 2026): won, 55.3% over Tracie Shelby
Top priorities: "her number one goal is ensuring fairness for every person, no matter who they are" (per campaign)
"Serving as a neutral and fair judge to the parties at all stages of litigation is what litigants deserve and what ultimately leads cases to resolution."
"Managing this docket will take a specific candidate to handle the backlog of cases and make rulings that litigants demand." (Dallas Morning News questionnaire)
Tidbits: Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: "her number one goal is ensuring fairness for every person, no matter who they are"
Court administration: In a Dallas Morning News questionnaire: "Managing this docket will take a specific candidate to handle the backlog of cases and make rulings that litigants demand."
Endorsements: The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board (primary)
Lake Highlands White Rock Democrats (primary)
Stonewall Democrats (primary)
Preston Hollow Democrats (primary)
District Attorney John Creuzot (primary)
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Commissioner Andy Sommerman (primary)
Commissioner John Wiley Price (primary)
Coalition of Concerned Pastors (primary)
Campaign website: ashleysmithforjudge.com