All three challengers for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals backed by Attorney General Ken Paxton have come out victorious.
Lawyer Gina Parker knocked off incumbent Judge Barbara Hervey in Place 7—covering most of the panhandle—taking 66 percent of the vote to her 34 percent, according to The New York Times.
David Schenck, previously a judge for Place 7 on the court, beat Sharon Keller for the presiding judge role in the primary 62 percent to 38 percent. Keller was first elected in 2001 and has long been a defining voice on the court.
While Place 8 was a closer race, Paxton-backed attorney Lee Finley eventually beat incumbent Judge Michelle Slaughter in the Western Texas division by an 8-point margin, 54 percent to 46 percent.
Paxton sought to unseat Hervey, Keller, and Slaughter due to their part in a 2021 ruling that removed his power to prosecute election fraud. The court argued instead that the power primarily lay with local district attorneys.
Texas Scorecard reported that Slaughter received $5,000 from Rusty Hardin, the litigator for the state during Paxton’s impeachment trial. Texans for Lawsuit Reform, another Paxton foe, dumped $15,000 into Slaughter’s campaign as well.
TLR also poured $15,000 into Keller, and more than $16,000 into Hervey, according to the Texas Ethics Commission.
Paxton celebrated the news in a statement posted to X on the matter.
Tonight, Texans have spoken loud and clear. The victory of Judges David Schenck, Gina Parker, and Lee Finley, endorsed by my office, marks a significant moment in our state’s legal history. It sends a powerful message that Texans demand judges who prioritize the Constitution and uphold the rule of law.
Paxton added, “This win is a mandate for justice. We will begin the crucial work of rebuilding our Court of Criminal Appeals, restoring integrity to our legal system, and ensuring that every Texan’s voice is heard and respected.”
The Texas Court of Appeals is made up of 9 judges and is the decisive court on all criminal matters in the state. The Texas Supreme Court, on the other hand, is the decisive court for all civil matters.
