Jay Bender, a Republican, is running for Collin County Court-at-Law Judge for Court 6 in the 2026 Texas general election.

This candidacy is listed in the Texas secretary of state’s official November 3, 2026 certification for Collin County.

Bender has held the seat since 2010. The Collin County Commissioners Court appointed him to the vacant bench in April 2010 after he won the Republican primary runoff, Bender said on his campaign website. He ran unopposed in the general election that year and won a four-year term, according to his campaign.

  • Party: Republican
  • Office sought: Collin County Court-at-Law Judge, Court 6
  • Ballot status: Certified for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election
  • Residence: Bender said he has lived in the Dallas area since 1979. He attended Spring Valley Elementary School and Northwood Jr. High School before graduating from Richardson High School.
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Austin College (1995); juris doctor with a concentration in criminal law from St. Mary's University (2004), according to his campaign
  • Military service: U.S. Naval Reserve, VF-202 (Superheats), according to his campaign

Collin County Court-at-Law No. 6 handles Class A and Class B misdemeanors, civil lawsuits seeking less than $200,000 in damages and eminent domain cases, according to Bender's campaign website. The court also hears de novo appeals, meaning cases tried fresh, from Justice of the Peace Courts and Municipal Courts within Collin County. Allen residents with cases in those categories could appear before this court.

Bender worked as a prosecutor in Dallas County and Collin County from 2004 to 2007, according to his campaign website. During that time he served as a misdemeanor prosecutor, chief misdemeanor prosecutor and felony prosecutor, with assignments to the Organized Crime Unit and Cyber Crimes Unit, his campaign said.

He also maintained a private law practice before taking the bench in 2010, according to his campaign. Bender has served on the board of directors of the Collin County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, his campaign said.

Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.