In local judicial politics, there are names you know and names you ought to know. Craig Jackson falls into the latter category as he seeks the Republican nomination for Tarrant County Family Court Judge in 2026. Jackson, who has adopted the moniker “Action Jackson,” presents a polished image, checking the basic box of a Republican primary candidate. But scratch beneath the surface, and the picture that emerges raises serious concerns about whether Jackson represents the values and judgment that Republican voters expect from those who sit in judgment of Texas families.
Let’s start with the basics. Jackson currently serves as an appointed Associate Judge under Tarrant County Judge Patricia Bennett. This association is problematic because Judge Bennett’s tenure has been publicly marred by controversy, including a sanction from the Judicial Ethics Commission for unethical and, specifically, racially charged behavior. For an aspiring Republican judge to align himself with a jurist who has publicly demonstrated a profound disregard for judicial ethics and temperament raises immediate questions about Jackson’s own character and independence.
More troubling are the financial records of a man who claims he has “been a Republican since before he could vote”; Jackson possesses a curious record of materially supporting some of the most liberal Democrat judges in the state.
This pattern of political spending is a clear window into his judgment and convictions:
- Democrat Judge Mary Brown: In 2023, Jackson contributed to the campaign of Judge Brown, who presided over the high-profile Jeff Younger case. In a decision widely seen as an affront to parental rights, Judge Brown granted the mother permission to take a young son to California for “gender transition” surgery. The issue of “gender transition” for children is a central defense point for parental rights and childhood sanctity. Jackson’s financial support for a judge whose actions actively enabled this deeply opposed practice is not a slip-up; it is a betrayal of trust to every conservative family in this primary. If “gender-transitioning” children is a moral and political red line — which we as Republicans hold — then Jackson’s support for Judge Brown should be disqualifying, full stop.
- Democrat Judge Kim Cooks: Further contributions were made to Democrat Judge Kim Cooks, herself sanctioned in 2018 by the Judicial Ethics Commission for violating the Judicial Code of Conduct.
- Democrat James Teal: In the most direct political contradiction, Jackson also contributed to Democrat James Teal, who actively campaigned against one of the most respected and unapologetically conservative jurists in North Texas—Judge Alex Kim—in 2018.
Let that sink in: Craig Jackson helped fund an effort to unseat a conservative Republican judge with a liberal Democrat.
Jackson’s history of donating to Democrats who oppose conservative judicial philosophy is not ancient history; it is a clear pattern of supporting the opposition. When he claims a lifelong Republican identity, voters must ask whether that belief is reflected in his financial actions, or merely in his campaign slogans. It is one thing to vote Republican in private; it is entirely another to fund judicial efforts that directly contradict the core principles of the party.
The final, and perhaps most cohesive, factor is the continuing shadow cast by his current mentor, Judge Bennett. Despite the fact that Judge Bennett has been publicly sanctioned by the Judicial Ethics Commission for her conduct, Jackson continues to serve in an appointed capacity, implicitly endorsing her leadership. He has also been circulating around various Republican clubs alongside Judge Bennett, implying her endorsement of him and his endorsement of her. The core question for “Action Jackson” is whether he possesses the independent judgment and core conservative values to serve on the bench, or if he has merely adopted the compromised operational style and decision-making priorities of his ethically troubled mentor.
We must also put the question to Judge Bennett: How does she reconcile her purported Republican fidelity with the appointment of an associate judge who financially supported: (1) a ruling that is an absolute flashpoint for the Republican base (the “gender transition” of a child), (2) judges sanctioned for unethical behavior, and (3) an effort to unseat a conservative Republican Judge? This appointment, in and of itself, is a direct insult to the conservative principles Judge Bennett claims to uphold.
The Family Court is too vital to be entrusted to a candidate whose demonstrated judgment and financial support align with the very judicial philosophies we are fighting to dismantle. For the sake of our families and the integrity of our courts, Republican voters must look past the moniker and the convenient political conversion. We deserve a judge whose loyalty to our conservative values is not merely convenient, but absolute.
Family court judges make decisions that cut to the heart of our communities—they decide who raises our children, protects our families, and applies justice to the vulnerable. Those decisions demand experience, moral clarity, and ideological consistency. Republican voters must demand all three.
The 2026 Republican primary will be crowded, noisy, and filled with polished résumés. But when you hear the name Craig “Action” Jackson, remember: actions speak louder than kitschy slogans.
Craig “Action” Jackson has consistently donated to support the liberal judicial philosophies we are fighting to keep out of Tarrant County. Both he and his mentor, Judge Bennett, owe voters a clear explanation before asking for their trust.
