Chief Justice, 3rd Court of Appeals District

Cory Liu

Republican

On ballot as: Cory Liu
Current role: Judge, 250th Judicial District Court, Travis County (appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, March 5, 2025)
Background: B.A., political science, University of Chicago
J.D., Harvard Law School
Former editor-in-chief, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy
Born and raised in Austin
Experience: Attorney, Butler Snow LLP (at the time of his appointment)
Law clerk, Judge Andrew Oldham, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
Law clerk, Judge Danny Boggs, Sixth Circuit
Assistant general counsel, Office of the Governor, 2019 legislative session (per campaign)
Top priorities: A judge who "follows the Constitution, upholds the rule of law, and strives for fairness in every case" (per campaign)
He "believes in equal justice under the law" (per campaign)
Tidbits: Judicial philosophy: Campaign site describes him as a judge who "follows the Constitution, upholds the rule of law, and strives for fairness in every case"
Court administration: No public statement found
Endorsements: Kelly Shackelford, founder of First Liberty Institute (listed by campaign)
Campaign website: coryfortexas.com

Democratic Incumbent

On ballot as: Darlene Byrne
Current role: Chief Justice, Third Court of Appeals (elected 2020; in office since January 1, 2021)
Background: J.D., magna cum laude, University of Houston Law Center
Thirteen years in employment, commercial and governmental entity litigation practice before her 2000 election to the bench
Lives in Austin (per campaign)
Experience: Presiding judge, 126th Judicial District Court, Travis County, 20 years
Past president, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
First vice chair, Texas Children’s Commission (appointed by the Texas Supreme Court, 2008)
Judge of the Year, Texas ABOTA (2023)
Top priorities: She "believes in access to justice for all, regardless of wealth, nationality, gender, race or language" (per campaign)
"The doors to the courthouse should be open to all."
"time is of the essence when making decisions that impact the lives of real Texans" (per campaign)
Tidbits: Judicial philosophy: Campaign site: she "believes in access to justice for all, regardless of wealth, nationality, gender, race or language"
Court administration: Campaign site: "time is of the essence when making decisions that impact the lives of real Texans"
Endorsements: None found in our research
Campaign website: justicedarlenebyrne.com