Democrat

JerryZimmerer

For Chief Justice

15th Court of Appeals

A former appellate justice with three decades in Texas courtrooms — running so the newest court in Texas answers to the law, and to the voters, rather than to the officials who appointed it.

Give to the campaign Why this court matters

Register by Oct 5/ Early voting Oct 19–30/ Election Day Tue, Nov 3 · 7am–7pm/ Finish the ballot

The candidate

Thirty years in Texas courts,
four years on the bench

Jerry Zimmerer served as a Justice on the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston, elected in 2018 and serving through 2024 — fourteen counties' worth of civil and criminal appeals, decided one record at a time.

Before the bench, he spent a career as a Houston litigator. His practice ran across civil trial work, health law, and international commercial arbitration, including a dozen years in-house at AT&T Mobility. He holds three law degrees.

A court is only as trustworthy as the independence of the people sitting on it.

That record is the whole argument for this race. The 15th Court hears cases about what the Governor, the Attorney General, and state agencies are permitted to do. Deciding them takes a judge who has actually tried the cases, read the records, and written the opinions — and who owes nothing to the officials whose conduct is under review.

2018–2024Justice, 14th Court of AppealsHouston — civil and criminal appeals across a fourteen-county district
PracticeCivil trial, health law, international arbitrationDecades of Texas litigation, including complex commercial disputes
12 yearsIn-house counsel, AT&T MobilityCorporate and regulatory work before returning to private practice
EducationThree law degreesIncluding advanced study beyond the J.D.
2026Candidate for Chief Justice, 15th Court of AppealsOn the statewide ballot November 3

Jerry Zimmerer with a UNITE HERE member at an outdoor campaign event

The 15th Court of Appeals

A brand-new court, on the ballot for the first time

The Legislature created the 15th Court in 2023; it opened for business on September 1, 2024. Every one of its seats was filled by gubernatorial appointment. November 3, 2026 is the first time Texas voters get any say over who sits on it.

State law challenges

Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over constitutional challenges to Texas statutes.

The State as a party

Civil cases brought by or against the State and its executive-branch agencies, including public universities.

State officials

Appeals in suits against state officers over their official conduct.

Business Courts

Appeals from the new Texas Business Courts — the state's largest commercial disputes.

On the trail

Meeting Texans where they organize

Working Texans deal with state agencies, licensing boards, and public employers — and those disputes run straight through this court's docket.

Jerry Zimmerer with two labor leaders in front of a screen of union emblems

Jerry Zimmerer with candidates and organizers at an AFL-CIO Union P.O.W.E.R. event

Jerry Zimmerer with a union member pointing at his campaign badge

Also on the ballot

All three seats on the 15th Court are up this November. Jerry is running for Chief Justice alongside Tom Baker in Place 2 and Marc Meyer in Place 3.

2026 General Election

Dates to keep

Judicial races sit below the top of the ticket. Seats are lost when voters stop marking, not when they change their minds — so the ask is simple: finish the ballot.

Voter registration deadline

Mon, Oct 5

Last day to register to vote in the November general election.

Early voting

Oct 19–30

Two weeks of in-person early voting. County hours vary — check with your county elections office.

Election Day

Tue, Nov 3

Polls open 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Anyone in line at 7:00 p.m. may vote.

Support the campaign

Down-ballot races are won with small money and early money

A statewide judicial campaign runs on name recognition, and name recognition is bought in the weeks before early voting. Every contribution goes to reaching voters who are already showing up.

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