John Messinger, a Republican, is running for Place 9 on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Democrat Holly Taylor. Allen residents vote in this statewide race.
This candidacy is listed in the Texas secretary of state’s official November 3, 2026 certification for Collin County.
Messinger said on his campaign website that he has filed over 120 petitions for discretionary review in the Court of Criminal Appeals and represented the state in over 90 cases granted review by that court. He said he has presented oral argument in over 45 cases, including 26 in the Court of Criminal Appeals, and represented the state in over 150 cases in intermediate courts of appeals.
- Party: Republican
- Office sought: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9
- Education: B.S. and M.S. in marketing, New Jersey Institute of Technology (1999, 2000), according to Texas Judges; J.D., Baylor Law School (2006), according to his campaign website
- Certification: Board certified in Criminal Appellate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, according to Texas Judges
Messinger has served as general counsel at the Texas Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney since 2011, according to his campaign website. He also worked at the McLennan County District Attorney's Office.
He chairs the Pattern Jury Charges—Criminal Committee at the State Bar of Texas, according to his campaign website. He said he has spoken at the State Bar Advanced Criminal Law Course (2016–2024) and the Robert O. Dawson Conference on Criminal Appeals (2011, 2019, 2021).
Messinger was the 2024 Republican nominee for Texas Third District Court of Appeals, Place 2, according to Texas Judges.
Responses are based on public data and answers to a Surround Sound Media questionnaire if they were provided.
