Republican John Messinger faces Democrat Holly Taylor for Place 9 on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. Both are listed on the certified ballot.
Legal experience
His campaign biography says he attended Baylor Law School, worked in the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office after graduation, and moved to the Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney in Austin in 2011.
Messinger says his work includes petitions for discretionary review, appellate cases and oral arguments before the Court of Criminal Appeals. His campaign also identifies him as chair of the State Bar’s criminal pattern jury charges committee.
Judicial approach
On his campaign website, Messinger argues that improvements in criminal justice should come through enforcing laws as written. He presents his career as an appellate prosecutor as preparation for the court.
These statements come from his campaign. His Surround Sound Media questionnaire was awaiting a response when this profile was checked.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
