Republican Scott Brister faces Democrat Gerald “Jerry” Zimmerer for chief justice of the 15th Court of Appeals in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, according to the certified candidate list.
Judicial experience
The governor’s appointment announcement names Brister as the court’s inaugural chief justice, with service effective Sept. 1, 2024.
His current campaign biography lists previous service on the Texas Supreme Court, Houston’s appellate courts and the 234th District Court in Harris County. It also describes private appellate practice and chairing the Texas Commission on Public School Finance.
The campaign lists an undergraduate degree from Duke University, a law degree from Harvard Law School, and board certifications in civil appellate law, civil trial law and personal injury trial law.
Judicial approach
Brister’s campaign emphasizes impartiality, careful review and clear decisions based on the Constitution and written law. He says judges should apply the law faithfully and efficiently rather than make laws or rely on personal political preferences. These are campaign statements; no submitted Surround Sound Media questionnaire response was available for this profile.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
