Scott Brister, the first chief justice of the Texas Fifteenth Court of Appeals, is on the Nov. 3 ballot seeking a full term in the seat.
This candidacy is listed in the Texas secretary of state’s official November 3, 2026 certification for Collin County.
Brister, a Republican, faces Democrat Gerald Zimmerer in the general election. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Brister on June 11, 2024, as the inaugural chief justice of the statewide court, effective Sept. 1, 2024. The Fifteenth Court of Appeals is a statewide court, so Allen voters will see this race on their ballots.
- Name: Scott Brister
- Party: Republican
- Office sought: Chief Justice, Texas Fifteenth Court of Appeals
- Hometown: Waco, Texas, according to his campaign website
- Education: Bachelor's degree in history, Duke University, 1977; juris doctor, Harvard University, 1980
- Certifications: Board-certified in civil appellate law, civil trial law and personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, according to the Texas Judicial Branch website
Brister has spent decades in Texas courts. According to the Texas Judicial Branch, he has presided in 454 jury trials to verdict and authored more than 600 appellate opinions, including 122 for the Texas Supreme Court.
Brister also served as chair of the Texas Commission on Public School Finance, as a member of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee and the Supreme Court Jury Task Force, and as a member of the American Law Institute, according to the governor's office and the Texas Judicial Branch.
Judicial philosophy: Brister said on his campaign website that his approach across every role has been to "follow the law as written, respect the Constitution, and issue clear, reasoned decisions that stand the test of time." He added that judges are not lawmakers and that their job is to apply the law faithfully.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
