Democrat Maggie Ellis faces Republican incumbent Jimmy Blacklock for chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court in the Nov. 3, 2026, election, according to the state’s certified ballot.
Experience
Ellis was elected to the Third Court of Appeals in 2024. Her official biography describes earlier work in private practice, as a Travis County prosecutor and as an administrative law judge.
She is board certified in juvenile law and certified as a child welfare law specialist. She earned degrees at Austin Community College and the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree at Baylor.
Campaign priorities
Her campaign website emphasizes compassion, justice and her experience as an appellate judge, former teacher and foster parent. The reviewed material does not provide a detailed new court-administration program, implementation schedule or funding estimate.
This profile does not turn broad statements about judicial philosophy into promises about rulings in particular cases.
The chief justice’s authority
The Texas Supreme Court is the state’s highest court for civil and juvenile matters. Its decisions can affect property, business, insurance, family disputes and government authority. Criminal appeals go to a separate high court.
The chief justice leads the court but votes as one member; the officeholder cannot decide every case alone. The position does not carry the Legislature’s authority to enact taxes or spending programs.
This profile uses the certified ballot, Ellis’s official judicial biography and her campaign website. It excludes unverified endorsements and an outdated claim that she still works as a Travis County attorney.
The Murphy-Wylie-Sachse Courier did not receive a direct questionnaire response from the candidate and does not endorse candidates.
