Texas Governor Greg Abbott has made a strategic move to shape the future of the state's judicial system with the appointment of three judges to the newly created Fifteenth Court of Appeals. As detailed in a recent release on the Governor's official website, this court is set to centralize appellate jurisdiction over public law disputes, including constitutional challenges and matters involving state officers and statutes, as well as handling appeals from Texas' business courts.
The trio slated to serve includes Scott A. Brister as Chief Justice, alongside Scott K. Field and April L. Farris as Place 2 and Place 3 justices, respectively. They will take their positions effectively on September 1 and are slated to serve until December 31, 2026, maintaining their roles or until successors are in place. Governor Abbott expressed his confidence, stating, "These highly experienced individuals will serve a vital role in our state’s effort to ensure that the Texas Constitution and state statutes are applied uniformly throughout Texas and that businesses have a sophisticated and efficient process to resolve their disputes."
Brister comes to the bench with a hefty resume that includes prior service on the Supreme Court of Texas and as a partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. Meanwhile, Field, who resides in Liberty Hill, swaps his gavel at the 480th Judicial District Court for a higher calling at the appellate level. Farris, hailing from Houston and currently a Justice on the First Court of Appeals, will bring her appellate litigation expertise from Yetter Coleman, LLP, and prior experience from the Texas Solicitor General’s Office, to bear on the appellate court's deliberations. Each judge's background combines a wealth of legal experience with a commitment to public service – Brister with his Duke and Harvard pedigree, Field as a Texas A&M and UT School of Law alumnus, and Farris adding to the court's scholarly heft with degrees from Abilene Christian University and Harvard Law School.
These appointments fit into Abbott’s broader strategy of enhancing Texas' judiciary, with the overall goal of ensuring a consistent interpretation of the law across the state. According to Abbott, the move is motivated by a desire to "create a bigger, better Texas for all." With the Fifteenth Court of Appeals' exclusive jurisdiction, it is anticipated that the court will streamline the legal process for businesses, officials, and the public at large, fostering an environment that facilitates swift and just legal proceedings in the state.
