by Justin Gailey | Oct 6, 2025 | Uncategorized
AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott appointed Katherine McDaniel to the 498th Judicial District Court in Kendall County for a term set to expire on December 31, 2026, or until her successor shall be duly elected and qualified. Katherine McDaniel of Boerne is the first assistant district attorney for the Kendall County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. She currently serves on the Texas Violent Gang Task Force at the pleasure of the Governor and is a member of the Texas District and County Attorneys’ Association Journal Editorial Board, State Bar of Texas, Kendall County Bar Association, Texas Bar College, and the Texas Prosecutors’ Society. Additionally, she is a steering committee member for the Kendall County Behavioral Health Advisory Coalition, secretary of the board of directors for the Boerne Police Foundation, sports banquet chair of the TMI School Community Engagement Council and has presented nationwide on the topics of search and seizure law. McDaniel received a Bachelor of Arts in History from The University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor from Texas Tech University School of Law. ...
by Justin Gailey | Jul 9, 2025 | Uncategorized
Court & PlaceRepublicanDemocratNotes/Other JusticeJimmy Blacklock* (R-Austin)Maggie Ellis (D) Texas Bar Card Number0000000524075401 Campaign Mailing AddressJimmy Blacklock CampaignP.O. Box 1588Austin, TX 78767https://secure.anedot.com/blacklock/contribute8127 Mesa Dr. Ste B206-225, Austin, TX 78759 Campaign Contactcontact@jimmyblacklock.commaggie@maggieforjustice.com. Campaign Websitejimmyblacklock.commaggieforjustice.com Social Media Linksfacebooklinkedinfacebook Current OccupationJustice, Texas Supreme CourtPlace 2Attorney Years of Texas ResidencyNative TexanNative Texan JD School & YearYale Law School2005President, Yale Law RepublicansBaylor University2010 Other EducationB.A. HistoryUniversity of Texas at Austin2002 Year of State Bar Licensure20052010 Legal Experience - Nonjudicial• General Counsel, Governor of Texas (2017)• Deputy Attorney General for Legal Counsel, Texas Attorney General (2012-2017)• Special Assistant & Senior Counsel, Texas Attorney General (2010-2012)• Assistant Solicitor General, Texas Attorney General (2009-2010)• Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (2008-2009)• Attorney, Vinson and Elkins (2006-09)• Deputy Attorney General, Texas• Law Clerk, Judge Jerry E. Smith, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit (2005-06)Assistant District AttorneyTravis County2012-2017Attorney, Coldwell Bowes LLP2011-2012 Jury Trial Experience Appellate Judicial ExperienceJustice, Texas Supreme CourtPlace 2January 2018 to present3rd Court of Appeals Place 2, since 2024 Other Judicial Experience Board CertificationsJuvenile Law, 2017 Courts AdmittedUS Supreme CourtUS Fifth Circuit Court of AppealsTexas Northern District CourtTexas Southern District CourtTexas Western District CourtNone reported Honors and AwardsHays County Bar Association's Pro Bono Hero Prior ElectionsTexas Supreme Court, Place 22018 General Election53% against 1 opponent3rd Court of Appeals, Place 22024 General Election 51% vs John Messinger (R) Most Recent Bar Polls2026- 1,678 44%2024- 2,538 45%2026 - 1259 33% Key Endorsements (Max 5)Texas Civil Justice League PACDallas Morning News (2024)Texas AFL-CIOBlack Austin DemocratsCoalition of Democratic AlliesTexas Progressive CaucusTejano Democrats Judicial Philosophy (Max 250 words)jimmyblacklock.com/about/ MiscFederalist SocietyVolunteer Legal Services, Hays County Pro Bono Clinic,...
by Justin Gailey | Jan 2, 2024 | Uncategorized
Governor Greg Abbott will appoint Ryan Luna to the 414th Judicial District Court in McLennan County today for a term set to expire on December 31, 2024, or until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified. Ryan Luna of Waco is Judge of McLennan County Court at Law No. 3. Previously, he was in private practice representing plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases in state and federal court. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and its Judicial Section, Texas Bar College, Texas Association of County Court at Law Judges, The Federalist Society, Christian Legal Society, Texas Supreme Court Historical Society, Judge Abner V. McCall American Inn of Court, and the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association Board of Directors. Additionally, he is a member of the Caritas of Waco Board of Directors, former legal clinic director at Mission Waco, and former member of the Waco Transit Advisory Board and CareNet Pregnancy Center of Central Texas. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Leadership Waco program and a lifetime member of the Baylor Law Alumni Association. Luna received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University and a Juris Doctor from Baylor Law...
by Justin Gailey | Jan 2, 2024 | Uncategorized
Governor Greg Abbott will appoint Jeff Alley as Chief Justice of the Eighth Court of Appeals today for a term set to expire on December 31, 2024, or until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified Jeff Alley of El Paso is an attorney at James F. Scherr PC. Previously, he served on the Eighth Court of Appeals from October 2019 through December 2022, serving as Chief Justice from October 2019 until December 2020. Additionally, he served as the staff attorney to former Chief Justice Ann McClure of the Eighth Court of Appeals and was in private practice for 30 years. He is board certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, member and former board member of the El Paso Bar Association, and a former member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel and the American Board of Trial Advocates. Additionally, he is a board member and former president of the Pioneer Association of El Paso, former president and former board member of the Boy Scouts of America Yucca Council, and a former member of Jaycees. Alley received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Texas Tech University and a Juris Doctor from Texas Tech University School of...
