Chief Justice, 15th Court of Appeals
Who is on the ballot for Chief Justice, 15th Court of Appeals in Tom Green County, Texas, on November 3, 2026? This guide lists 2 people running for Chief Justice, 15th Court of Appeals: Jerry Zimmerer (Democratic) and Scott Brister (Republican, incumbent).
People running in this race. Party is shown when the official list names one.
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Jerry Zimmerer Democratic
Prior races for Jerry Zimmerer
Prior races
Earlier vote totals from the linked reports, newest first. The page does not say who won unless the report does.
Year Race Election Votes in the report Source 2018 Justice, 14th Court of Appeals, Place 3 2018 generalParty: Democratic - Jerry Zimmerer: 884,260.
- Brett Busby, Republican: 842,634.
- Secretary of State full-race canvass. Not Tom Green County votes.
State canvass elchist331 2018 Justice, 14th Court of Appeals, Place 3 2018 Democratic primaryParty: Democratic - Jerry Zimmerer: 96,818.
- Joseph R. Willie, II: 92,291.
- Secretary of State full-race canvass. Not Tom Green County votes.
State canvass elchist324
Shared source for names and parties: Texas Secretary of State ballot certification (https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/forms/2026-ballot-cert.pdf), signed August 28, 2026 by Deputy Secretary Dave Nelson. Names are from the Tom Green County section. Election day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The Texas Ethics Commission treasurer list is a campaign-finance filing, not the ballot. The commission says the office on that form is what the filer wrote and may be out of date.
This page does not endorse anyone.
Scott Brister
Scott Brister, Republican, is certified for chief justice of the 15th Court of Appeals. The court says Governor Abbott appointed him as its first chief justice effective September 1, 2024, and that he previously served on the Texas Supreme Court and on other Texas trial and appellate courts. The Ethics Commission office-sought line says Supreme Court justice, Place 9, which does not match this ballot, so that line was not used.
Jerry Zimmerer
Jerry Zimmerer, Democratic, is certified for chief justice of the 15th Court of Appeals. The Ethics Commission form says Gerald L. Zimmerer, with office held as a justice of the 14th Court of Appeals, Place 3, and office sought as chief justice of the 15th Court of Appeals. That office-held line is what the filer wrote. The Fourteenth Court of Appeals lists Jerry Zimmerer as a former justice in Place 3 for 2019-2024, not as a current justice, and lists Chad Bridges in that place from 2025.
What this job is
The 15th Court of Appeals hears civil appeals from anywhere in Texas. It is the only intermediate court for certain civil appeals by or against the state, a state agency, a university, or their officers, with some exceptions. It is also the only court for appeals from the Texas Business Court, which handles business disputes valued at more than $10 million.
Each Texas court of appeals has a chief justice and at least two other justices. Appeals are usually heard by three justices. The chief justice is the head of the 15th Court.
Source: Texas courts of appeals
The area
This office is elected by the whole state. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 population estimate for Texas is 31,290,831. The 2024 estimate for Tom Green County, Texas is 120,103. San Angelo is the county seat of Tom Green County, Texas, and the city's 2024 population estimate is 100,159.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 county population estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 city and town population estimates; Texas Comptroller, Tom Green County rural snapshot; U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 cartographic boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 TIGER/Line roads; U.S. Geological Survey, Global Map 1:1,000,000-scale rivers and lakes
Main industries here
The Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism says Texas is the leading producer of oil, gas, wind, and utility-scale solar energy in the United States. That page names oil and gas extraction, production, and transportation, and renewables, as energy clusters. A separate sector on the same page is food and livestock products, from beef and poultry to tortillas and snack foods.
Source: Governor's Office, target industries
Who holds it now
Scott Brister. The 15th Court says Governor Greg Abbott appointed him as its first chief justice effective September 1, 2024.
Source: Chief Justice Scott Brister
Who held this seat
The 15th Court of Appeals began on September 1, 2024. Scott Brister is its first chief justice. There is no earlier chief justice of this court.
Source: Chief Justice Scott Brister
The buttons keep terms that overlap that many years back from 2026. A term that reaches into the window is shown in full. This choice stays on this page.
A picture is shown when a public page publishes a portrait of that person. An empty box means no portrait was found. The picture is not part of the office list.
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Scott Brister
September 1, 2024 – present
Appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as the court's first chief justice.