2026 Texas General Election

2026 Texas General Runoff

Nonpartisan

Judge Liu went on to attend the University of Chicago, where he majored in political science and philosophy, and Harvard Law School, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy.

About | Cory Liu for Texas Third Court of Appeals

Cory Liu attended the University of Chicago, where he majored in political science and philosophy, and Harvard Law School, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy.

Cory Liu earned a bachelor's degree in political science and philosophy from the University of Chicago and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

After law school, Judge Liu clerked for Judge Danny Boggs on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Judge Andrew Oldham on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He worked at law firms in Houston and Austin, focusing on legal matters involving businesses and government entities. His passion for public service led him to serve as Assistant General Counsel for the Office of the Governor, where he worked on regulatory matters and legislation during the 2019 legislative session.

Cory previously clerked for judges on the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Sixth and Fifth Circuits, worked at law firms in Houston and Austin, and served as assistant general counsel for the Office of the Governor.

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Has served as the 250th District Court Judge in Texas since 2025.

### The Honorable Cory Liu

Judge Cory Liu has served as the presiding Judge for the 250th District Court since April 30th, 2025.

250th Civil District Court | Travis County, Texas

Serves as presiding judge of the 250th District Court, overseeing cases within the court's jurisdiction and issuing rulings and orders.

Clerked for judges on the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits, researching legal precedents and drafting judicial memoranda and opinions.

As a clerk for judges on the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits, he researched legal precedents and drafted judicial memoranda and opinions.

Worked at law firms in Houston and Austin on legal matters involving businesses and government entities.

Served as Assistant General Counsel for the Office of the Governor, working on regulatory matters and legislation during the 2019 legislative session.

- Serves as presiding judge of the 250th District Court, overseeing cases within the court's jurisdiction and issuing rulings and orders.
- As a clerk for judges on the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits, he researched legal precedents and drafted judicial memoranda and opinions.
- Worked at law firms in Houston and Austin on legal matters involving businesses and government entities.
- Served as Assistant General Counsel for the Office of the Governor, working on regulatory matters and legislation during the 2019 legislative session.

Legal Experience

As of July 22, 2026, Cory Liu’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Administration

Key Issues
Ending Discrimination
First Amendment Rights
Law & Order
Stand for justice.

Support Judge Cory Liu, a principled, experienced, and patriotic judge who follows the Constitution, upholds the rule of law, and strives for fairness in every case.

Key Issues | Cory Liu for Texas Third Court of Appeals

As Justices Clarence Thomas and John Marshall Harlan have said, our “Constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens.” Judge Liu believes, in the words of Chief Justice John Roberts, that the “way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” He opposes identity politics that divide us into different categories rather than unite us all as one American people.

As Austin grows, so do the challenges we face. Over the past decade, we have seen an alarming decline in public safety, and unfortunately, rather than lifting up our uniformed first responders and providing them with the support they need, many of our government officials attack them. Judge Liu honors the sacrifices of our uniformed officers and believes that those who harm others by violating the law can and should face legal consequences for their actions.

Follows the Constitution, upholds the rule of law, and strives for fairness in every case.

Opposes “identity politics” and believes discrimination on the basis of race should end.

Believes people who harm others by violating the law can and should face legal consequences.

- Follows the Constitution, upholds the rule of law, and strives for fairness in every case.
- Opposes “identity politics” and believes discrimination on the basis of race should end.
- Believes people who harm others by violating the law can and should face legal consequences.

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

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Cory Liu

- Clerked for judges on the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits, researching legal precedents and drafting judicial memoranda and opinions.
- Worked at law firms in Houston and Austin on legal matters involving businesses and government entities.
- Served as Assistant General Counsel for the Office of the Governor, working on regulatory matters and legislation during the 2019 legislative session.
- Serves as presiding judge of the 250th District Court, overseeing cases within the court's jurisdiction and issuing rulings and orders.

Cory is from Austin, Texas. He attended Oak Hill Elementary School, Kealing Middle School, and the Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School. He has a bachelor's degree in political science and philosophy from the University of Chicago and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

Cory is a state district court judge. He works at the 250th District Court in Travis County, Texas, where he presides over civil cases involving business disputes, personal injury, real estate, family law, and government regulations. He previously clerked for Judge Danny Boggs on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Judge Andrew Oldham on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He also served as Assistant General Counsel for the Office of the Governor, working on regulatory matters and legislation during the 2019 legislative session, and practiced law at firms in Houston and Austin advising businesses and government entities.

Cory Liu is from Austin, Texas. He has a bachelor 27s degree in political science and philosophy from the University of Chicago and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

Cory is a judge on the 250th District Court in Travis County, Texas. He previously served as assistant general counsel for the Office of the Governor, where he worked on regulatory matters and legislation. He also worked at law firms in Houston and Austin, focusing on legal matters involving businesses and government entities. Earlier in his career, he clerked for judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the Fifth Circuit. He also worked for the Texas Solicitor General's Office, the Texas Supreme Court, the U.S. Senate, and the Office of the Governor. 

Cory is currently a district judge presiding over the 250th District Court in Travis County.

Alejandra Gracias

Buket Urgen

Isaac Brickman

Prior to her election in 2000, she practiced for thirteen years in the areas of employment, commercial and governmental entity litigation. She is a graduate of University of Houston Law Center, where she graduated magna cum laude and was a member of the law review’s editorial board and an Order of the Coif member. She is the proud wife of attorney Dan Byrne and the proud mother and mother-in-law of four amazing adult children who are all making this world a better place.

Chief Justice Darlene Byrne

An honor graduate of the University of Houston Law Center, Justice Byrne lives in Austin with her husband, Dan, and is the proud mother and mother-in-law of five adult children.

Re-Elect Chief Justice Darlene Byrne | Vote for Proven Leadership - Get Involved

Darlene Byrne earned a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. She lives in Austin with her husband, Dan, and is the mother and mother-in-law of five adult children.

TJB | 3rd COA | About The Court | Justices

Darlene earned a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. She lives in Austin with her husband, Dan, and is the mother and mother-in-law of five adult children.

Darlene Byrne previously practiced employment, commercial, and government-entity litigation.

Darlene previously practiced employment, commercial, and government-entity litigation.

CHIEF JUSTICE DARLENE BYRNE

Place 1

Prior to her election as the Chief Justice of the Third Court of Appeals of Texas in 2020, Justice Darlene Byrne served for 20 years as the presiding judge of the 126th Judicial District Court in Travis County. She was a general jurisdiction trial judge presiding over civil matters, but her passion was serving as the presiding judge over all the foster children in Travis County for 17 of her 20 years of service to the trial bench.

Darlene currently serves as chief justice of the Third Court of Appeals of Texas, to which she was elected in 2020. She previously served for 20 years as the presiding judge of the 126th Judicial District Court in Travis County.

Darlene Byrne currently serves as chief justice of the Third Court of Appeals of Texas, to which she was elected in 2020. She previously served for 20 years as the presiding judge of the 126th Judicial District Court in Travis County.

Prior to her election in 2000, she practiced for thirteen years in the areas of employment, commercial and governmental entity litigation. She is a graduate of University of Houston Law Center, where she graduated magna cum laude and was a member of the law review’s editorial board and an Order of the Coif member.

Served 20 years as presiding judge of Travis County's 126th Judicial District Court, a general-jurisdiction trial court handling civil matters and foster-child cases.

Practiced for 13 years in employment, commercial, and government-entity litigation before her 2000 election to the bench.

- Served 20 years as presiding judge of Travis County's 126th Judicial District Court, a general-jurisdiction trial court handling civil matters and foster-child cases.
- Practiced for 13 years in employment, commercial, and government-entity litigation before her 2000 election to the bench.

Philosophy

After serving as a trial judge for many children and families in Travis County who find themselves involved in the child welfare court, juvenile justice court or family court, Justice Byrne understands the urgency of justice when dealing with the lives of real people who find themselves in court. As the Chief Justice of the Third Court of Appeals that presides over both civil and criminal cases, Justice Byrne understands that same urgency for those needing answers to their appeals, especially if their freedom has been impacted by the court system.

Therefore, time is of the essence when making decisions that impact the lives of real Texans. Justice Byrne has taken that sense of urgency with her to the Appellate Court, so the people’s lives do not languish with delayed justice through delayed decision making.

Some of our initiatives have now been enshrined in legislation. For instance, years ago, we began to see a concern with cases transferring from one division to another. These cases could see lags of 3-4 months before the information for a foster case came before our courts and systems. At first, we put a protocol in place to hold hearings and assign CASAs quickly for cases transferring in, as well as making sure we had a court order bringing that information to the appropriate people in cases we were transferring out. That process has now been mandated by state law, with District Clerks having certain timelines they are required to follow so that children don’t slip between the cracks in the system when they are transferred from one county to another.

Fixing the Foster Care System: An Interview with Judge Darlene Byrne

Q: What does it mean to be a Model Court?
A: The Model Court is run as a collaborative unit, bringing together the district attorney’s office, the judges, Child Protective Services, attorneys representing parents and children, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), among others. We meet and look at data, including how long foster children are staying in the system, how many placements they have had, and much more. We then use that data to guide different initiatives. We meet on a monthly basis, and on a quarterly basis report back out to a larger group of stakeholders in the wider community, including Texas Appleseed.

Justice Byrne is the founding judge of the Travis County Family Drug Treatment Court and the Travis County Model Court of Children, Youth and Families. She also pioneered the development of a Dual Status Youth docket, serving youth that were in the child welfare court and the juvenile justice court simultaneously. These programs have been serving and continues to serve children and families in the Travis County District Courts for over a decade resulting in better outcomes for these children and families.

It is my hope that the court-ordered reforms arising from the decision will make a positive difference for our state's most vulnerable children. I also hope the decision will inspire child welfare administrators, lawmakers, judges, social service providers and others to do a better job of working together to find ways to help ensure that all the children of our state receive the safety, permanency, and loving care they deserve.

Texas Foster Care System Needs Help, Not Condemnation

Prioritizes timely appellate decisions so people do not face delayed justice.

Implemented protocols for prompt hearings and Court Appointed Special Advocate assignments in transferred foster-care cases.

Used cross-system collaboration and data to guide initiatives in the Travis County Model Court.

Founded Travis County specialty courts for family drug treatment and for children and families, and pioneered a docket for youth involved in child welfare and juvenile justice cases.

Calls for child-welfare administrators, lawmakers, judges, and service providers to work together following court-ordered foster-care reforms.

- Prioritizes timely appellate decisions so people do not face delayed justice.
- Implemented protocols for prompt hearings and Court Appointed Special Advocate assignments in transferred foster-care cases.
- Used cross-system collaboration and data to guide initiatives in the Travis County Model Court.
- Founded Travis County specialty courts for family drug treatment and for children and families, and pioneered a docket for youth involved in child welfare and juvenile justice cases.
- Calls for child-welfare administrators, lawmakers, judges, and service providers to work together following court-ordered foster-care reforms.

Core Values

Justice Byrne believes in access to justice for all, regardless of wealth, nationality, gender, race or language. The doors to the courthouse should be open to all. The bench should be a welcoming place for people to have their disputes decided by learned judges and justices working diligently to uphold the rule of law every day.

Core Values

Justice Byrne believes in access to justice for all, regardless of wealth, nationality, gender, race or language. The doors to the courthouse should be open to all. The bench should be a welcoming place for people to have their disputes decided by learned judges and justices working diligently to uphold the rule of law every day.

She believes in making decisions acknowledging that a person’s day in court is one of the most important days of their lives and therefore treating them and that day with dignity and respect.

Believes courts should provide access to justice regardless of wealth, nationality, gender, race, or language.

Believes court decisions should treat people with dignity and respect during their day in court.

- Believes courts should provide access to justice regardless of wealth, nationality, gender, race, or language.
- Believes court decisions should treat people with dignity and respect during their day in court.

As of July 22, 2026, Darlene Byrne’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Community Engagement

Getting off the bench and supporting her community as a volunteer is also important to her understanding of the needs of the community she serves and knowing what is important to her community. She is presently the board chair of TEXProtects and is the co-chair of the National Leadership Council of National CASA.

Serves as co-chair of the National Leadership Council of National CASA.

- Serves as board chair of TEXProtects.
- Serves as co-chair of the National Leadership Council of National CASA.

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Darlene Byrne

Darlene Byrne is a graduate of the University of Houston Law Center. She has served as an advisory council member for Partnerships for Children, Carrying Hope, and the Seedling Foundation. She lives in Austin with her husband, Dan, and has five children.

Darlene was elected chief justice of the Third Court of Appeals of Texas in 2020. She previously served for 20 years as the presiding judge of the 126th Judicial District Court in Travis County after being elected to the bench in 2000.

- Serves as chief justice of the Third Court of Appeals of Texas, reviewing lower-court rulings in civil and criminal cases for legal or procedural errors.
- Served for 20 years as presiding judge of Travis County's 126th Judicial District Court, overseeing cases within the court's jurisdiction and issuing rulings and orders.
- Practiced law for 13 years in employment, commercial, and government-entity litigation before being elected to the bench.

- Prioritizes timely appellate decisions so people affected by court cases do not face delayed justice.

- Believes courts should provide access to justice regardless of personal characteristics and uphold the rule of law.

- Served as an advisory council member for Partnerships for Children.
- Served as an advisory council member for Carrying Hope.
- Served as an advisory council member for the Seedling Foundation.

Darlene Byrne is from Texas. She has a law degree from the University of Houston. She lives in Austin with her husband, Dan, and is the mother and mother-in-law of five adult children.

Before taking the bench, Darlene practiced law for 13 years, focusing on employment, commercial, and governmental entity litigation. She also served as general counsel for the Office of the Governor, law clerk for the Texas Supreme Court.

Darlene is currently the Chief Justice of the Third Court of Appeals. She was first elected to this position in 2020. Before that, she served for 20 years as the presiding judge of the 126th District Court of Travis County.

Mauricio Mendez

- In Texas, appeals from district and county courts, except death penalty cases, go to one of 14 intermediate courts of appeal.
- The chief justice presides over court meetings, manages the court's administration, and has the authority to assign justices or judges to specific cases.
- 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, plus an additional bonus of $13,475 for Chief Justice duties.

Oversees a court that handles appeals of lower trial court decisions.

Texas Court of Appeals Chief Justice, Division 3

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Legal Experience

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement