Collin County District Judge Tom Nowak, a Republican, is seeking re-election to the 366th District Court bench in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He has held the seat since 2019.
Allen is in Collin County, so residents with cases in county district court may appear before this bench. The 366th Judicial District Court is one of several district courts serving the county.
Candidate information
- Party: Republican
- Ballot status: Certified for the general election ballot
- Birthplace: Krakow, Poland. Nowak immigrated to the United States as a refugee from communism and moved to Texas in 1985, according to a governor's office announcement at the time of his appointment.
- High school: North Mesquite High School
- Education: Bachelor's degree in history and political science, Texas A&M University (2002); law degree, Baylor University (2005)
- Certifications: Board certified in criminal law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization; board certified in judicial administration, Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2026), according to Collin County
- Recognition: Rated a Rising Star by Texas Lawyer magazine, according to the governor's office announcement at the time of Nowak's appointment to the bench
Experience and public service
Nowak has served as district judge in Collin County since 2019. In 2026, he earned board certification in judicial administration from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, according to a Collin County announcement. He also holds board certification in criminal law from the same body.
Before taking the bench, Nowak worked as a criminal law specialist at Henley and Henley Law P.C. from 2013 to 2019. He served as an assistant district attorney at the Dallas County District Attorney's Office from 2005 to 2010.
Nowak holds the rank of captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, where he has served since 2012.
On the issues
Judicial qualifications: Nowak said his board certification in criminal law "ensures our courts uphold the law with precision and integrity." He said his experience advocating on both sides of a case reinforced his commitment to impartiality, adding that judges should "interpret the law rather than legislate from the bench," according to his campaign website.
Criminal justice and public safety: Nowak said if re-elected he would continue "applying a strict adherence to the law and ensuring the impartial, prompt, and efficient administration of justice," according to his candidate questionnaire response.
Allen Record candidate questionnaire was sent to Tom Nowak's campaign. No response was received as of Oct. 8, 2026. The policy positions below are drawn from his public campaign website and public records.
