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Wade is a Fort Worth native and currently resides in Mansfield, Texas with his wife, Liz, and their 2 children. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. He and his family are active members of Pantego Bible Church.

Wade previously worked as an attorney at Wallach and Andrews P.C.

Wade Birdwell is a court of appeals justice in the Court of Appeals Division 2. He was appointed in 2017 and then elected in 2018 and is serving his first term. He previously served as judge of the 342nd District Court in Tarrant County. After being appointed to the position in 2010, he subsequently won election in 2012 and 2016. 

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As a practicing attorney, defended local medical community members in trials and appeals, leading approximately seventy appeals and participating in oral arguments before multiple federal and state courts.

As an attorney, defended local medical community members in trials and appeals, leading approximately seventy appeals and participating in oral arguments before multiple federal and state courts.

As a state district court judge, oversaw all felony, probate, and civil cases, ruled in all civil actions against the state seeking financial payment, authorized naturalization and divorce proceedings, and exercised authority to review and correct the rulings of lower courts.

As a state court of appeals judge, ensures the law has been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases, exercises the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of fact or law by lower appeals and trial courts, and hears applications for court orders that require and prohibit certain actions by lower courts and government officials.

- As an attorney, defended local medical community members in trials and appeals, leading approximately seventy appeals and participating in oral arguments before multiple federal and state courts.
- As a state district court judge, oversaw all felony, probate, and civil cases, ruled in all civil actions against the state seeking financial payment, authorized naturalization and divorce proceedings, and exercised authority to review and correct the rulings of lower courts.
- As a state court of appeals judge, ensures the law has been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases, exercises the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of fact or law by lower appeals and trial courts, and hears applications for court orders that require and prohibit certain actions by lower courts and government officials.

Legal Experience

As of September 7, 2024, Wade Birdwell’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Administration

Believes in originalist constitutional and strict statutory interpretation.

Supports "judges who adhere to the principle of judicial restraint and who strictly interpret the law based upon the law’s original intent."

Supports the principle of judicial restraint, strictly interpreting the law based upon the law’s original intent.

Supports a conservative judicial philosophy.

- Believes in originalist constitutional and strict statutory interpretation.
- Supports the principle of judicial restraint, strictly interpreting the law based upon the law’s original intent.
- Supports a conservative judicial philosophy.

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

Wade Birdwell

Wade is a Fort Worth native and currently resides in Mansfield, Texas with his wife, Liz, and their two children. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. Birdwell and his family are active members of Pantego Bible Church.

Wade Birdwell currently serves as a Court of Appeals Justice in the Court of Appeals Division 2. He was appointed in 2017 and then elected in 2018 and is serving his first term.

Wade previously served as judge of the 342nd District Court in Tarrant County. After being appointed to the position in 2010, he subsequently won election in 2012 and 2016. 

Wade Birdwell is a Fort Worth native and currently resides in Mansfield, Texas with his wife, Liz, and their children, Alexandra and Nicholas. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. Birdwell and his family are active members of Pantego Bible Church.

Wade Birdwell is currently a judge of the 342nd District Court in Tarrant County. He previously worked as an attorney at Wallach and Andrews P.C. and has over 22 years of experience representing clients in civil trials and appeals in state and federal courts.

Wade Birdwell was appointed by Governor Rick Perry as judge of the 342nd District Court in Tarrant County in 2010 and was subsequently elected to fill the unexpired term. He has served as a Republican Precinct Chair and has been a delegate to multiple Republican Party of Texas State Conventions.

Belongs to the Appellate Section of the Texas State Bar.

Has been a board-certified civil appellate lawyer since 1998.

As a member of the Houston Law Review, contributed to the publication of legal scholarship and research.

Earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston Law Center in 1989.

Past member of the College of the State Bar of Texas.

Past member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel.

Named a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, an honor given to only one-third of one percent of Texas lawyers.

Member of the Tarrant County Bar Association.

Admitted to practice law in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

Admitted to practice law before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Admitted to practice law in the Northern District of Texas, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and U.S. Supreme Court.

Worked as a ballot security consultant for the Tarrant County Republican Party during the 2006 primary election.

Served as a delegate at the Republican Party of Texas State Conventions in 2000, 2004, and 2006.

Believes in educating the public on the Texas judicial system.

Believes in understanding the subject-matter jurisdiction of the Texas judicial system.

Believes in providing an overview of court system structure and jurisdiction.

Believes in strict juror conduct, saying "this is the first instance they are aware of in which a juror used social media to contact a person involved in an ongoing case."

Believes in maintaining professional boundaries and not contacting defendants on social media.

Believes he is being prosecuted for his actions.

Believes in the integrity of the judicial process, citing a case where a juror was dismissed and the trial continued with 11 jurors.

Believes in holding individuals accountable for their actions, as demonstrated by the case of Hudson sending an apology message to Downing but not believing him.

Believes in the importance of jury selection and expressed frustration over being selected for jury duty.

Supports the recent addition of specific language to jury instructions banning jurors from discussing cases on social networking sites.

Complies with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

Supports the Texas Election Code's process of allowing the Tarrant County Republican Party to nominate a candidate to finish the unexpired term of a judicial position if a resignation occurs.

Served as a Tarrant County Election Judge in the 2010 Republican Primary, 2008 General Election, and 2008 Republican Runoff Election.

Supports judicial candidates who interpret the law rather than "legislate from the bench" and possess a calm demeanor and conservative, business-oriented principles.

Believes in upholding conservative judicial principles, as demonstrated by supporting Wade Birdwell in a significant religious liberty case at the Texas Supreme Court.

Rated by peers with the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards.

Served as Special Assistant Disciplinary Counsel for the Texas Commission for Lawyer Discipline in 1998.

Lists volunteering as a community involvement.

- In Texas, appeals from district and county courts, except death penalty cases, go to one of 14 intermediate courts of appeal.
- There are a total of 80 appellate court seats, distributed variably among the courts based on population across the 14 districts.
- Courts with more than three justices decide cases in rotating panels of three.
- Justices are elected in partisan elections for six-year terms.
- The yearly salary for a Court of Appeals justice in Texas is between $192,500 and $255,050 based on the total number of years they have served.

Texas Court of Appeals Justice, Division 2

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