The 15th Court of Appeals didn't exist two years ago. For decades, when Texans sued the State — over an abortion ban, a COVID order, an agency that overstepped — the appeal went to the Austin court, filled mostly with Democratic judges elected by the voters. Those judges frequently ruled against the State, so in 2023 the Republican Legislature created a brand-new statewide court specifically for lawsuits against the State — then used a rule that lets the Governor appoint all judges to any new court. Not one of Abbott's three judges has ever faced the voters for the seat. This November all three are on your ballot: the first and only chance to decide who hears the cases where Texans take on Texas.
The Democratic candidate
Tom Baker
DemocratAbout Tom
In 2018 Baker flipped a seat on the Austin appeals court from Republican to Democrat. Then the Legislature built a brand-new court to move the state's biggest cases out of his reach. Now he's running for that new court.
Baker sat on the 3rd Court of Appeals for six years, until every Democratic appellate judge in the state lost in the 2024 Republican wave — nothing to do with his record. Before the bench he was a Navy JAG officer in the Reserve, then practiced law for decades across Central Texas — Killeen, Temple, Belton — with a stint as an assistant county attorney in Bee County. He holds two UT Austin degrees and a law degree from the University of Houston, and is board certified in family law.
Also on the ballot
Every candidate who filed for this office appears here. Tap a name to read more.
Scott FieldAbout Scott
When the Austin appeals court kept ruling against the State of Texas, the state's Republicans created a brand-new court for state cases, and Abbott installed three conservative judges on it. Scott Field is one of them.
After voters removed Field from that Austin court in 2018, Abbott appointed him to a brand-new district court in Williamson County. His latest Abbott appointment, to the 15th Court of Appeals, came in 2024 — so this November is the first time Field has faced voters since his defeat eight years ago.
Where to vote
Hays County uses vote centers — any registered Hays County voter can vote at any open location in the county. Locations and hours by city: