Formed in 1893, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas at Dallas serves six counties in North Texas: Collin, Dallas, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman and Rockwall.
A total of eight of the district’s 13 seats will appear on the general election ballot tied to the 5th Court of Appeals District, including the post of chief justice.
The court has jurisdiction over civil and criminal appeals for both district and county courts located within its six-county area.
It should be noted that 2024 will also see Texas add business courts and its Fifteenth Court of Appeals, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year. The new courts will focus on certain types of complex commercial disputes and their appeals, among other matters that may impact what’s currently presented before North Texas’ Fifth and Second Court of Appeals. The initial vacancies for the business and appeals courts will be filled by appointment. Voters will see the available appeals posts appear on their ballots in 2026.
The following candidates have been approved by the Texas Secretary of State to appear on the ballot for the Republican and Democratic parties for the primary election on March 5. Early voting is set to kick off on February 20.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Chief Justice, 5th Court of Appeals District
Republican primary candidate:
Justin Jay “J.J.” Koch, judge from Dallas
Campaign website: https://www.jjkoch.com/
Democratic primary candidates:
Dennise Garcia, justice from Dallas
Campaign website: https://justicedennisegarcia.com/
Staci Williams, state district court judge from Dallas
Campaign website: https://judgestaci.com/
Place 2, 5th Court of Appeals District
Republican primary candidate:
Jessica Lewis, attorney from Sunnyvale
Campaign website: None
Democratic primary candidate:
Robbie Partida-Kipness, justice from Dallas (Incumbent)
Campaign website: https://justicerobbiepartidakipness.com/
Place 5, 5th Court of Appeals District
Republican primary candidate:
Cynthia Barbare, attorney from Dallas
Campaign website: None
Democratic primary candidate:
Erin Nowell, judge from Duncanville (Incumbent)
Campaign website: https://justicenowell.com/
Place 9, 5th Court of Appeals District
Republican primary candidate:
Matthew J. Kolodoski, attorney from Addison
Campaign website: None
Democratic primary candidates:
Tina Clinton, judge from Richardson
Campaign website: https://judgeclintoncampaign.com/
Theresa Bui Creevy, attorney from Garland
Campaign website: https://theresaforjustice.com/
Place 10, 5th Court of Appeals District
Republican primary candidate:
Earl Jackson, attorney from Dallas
Campaign website: None
Democratic primary candidate:
Amanda Reichek, justice from Dallas (Incumbent)
Campaign website: https://justicereichek.com/
Place 11, 5th Court of Appeals District
Republican primary candidate:
Gino J. Rossini, attorney from Irving
Campaign website: https://gino4justice.com/
Democratic primary candidates:
Cory Carlyle, justice from Rockwall (Incumbent)
Campaign website: https://carlyle4justice.com/
Kim Cooks, judge from Dallas
Campaign website: https://judge4justice.com/
Place 12, 5th Court of Appeals District
Republican primary candidate:
Mike Lee, attorney
Campaign website: None
Democratic primary candidate:
Ken Molberg, justice, 5th Appeals Ct. from Dallas (Incumbent)
Campaign website: https://justicemolberg.com/
Place 13, 5th Court of Appeals District
Republican primary candidate:
Emily A. Miskel, justice from McKinney (Incumbent)
Campaign website: https://www.judgeemily.com/
Democratic primary candidate:
Tonya Parker, state district judge from Dallas
Campaign website: https://judgetonyaparker.com/
