Jennifer Balido is from Dallas, Texas. She has a bachelor 27s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law. She is a spouse and mother to four children. She attends church and serves at a local pregnancy center.

Governor Abbott Appoints Balido To Criminal District Court No. 1 In ...

Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9 | Texas Judges

Jennifer Balido has a bachelor 's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law. She is a wife, mother of two, and attends Dallas’ Saint Monica Catholic Church.

Jennifer previously served as a judge for the Dallas County Criminal Court and as an assistant district attorney for the Dallas County District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutor, former judge appointed by Gov. Abbott to fill vacancy in ...

Abbott appoints Dallas County prosecutor, 2-time judge to criminal ...

Jennifer was previously an assistant district attorney for the Dallas County District Attorney's Office for eight years.

Jennifer is currently a judge on the Dallas County Criminal Court. She was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in January 2025. Before her appointment, she served as an assistant district attorney in the Dallas County District Attorney's Office.

Jennifer was appointed as a judge on the Dallas County Criminal Court by Governor Greg Abbott in January 2025. She lost her 2010 campaign for 203rd District Court Judge and her 2014 race for the 291st District Court.


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As a former judge of the 291st and 203rd Judicial District Courts in Dallas County, served as a public defender and practiced law in private.

As an attorney, she has completed over 200 trials and authored nearly 40 appellate briefs.

As a judge, she currently manages a docket of more than 4,000 felony criminal offenses from "low-level drug cases to capital murder."

- As an attorney, she has completed over 200 trials and authored nearly 40 appellate briefs.
- As a judge, she currently manages a docket of more than 4,000 felony criminal offenses from "low-level drug cases to capital murder."

Legal Experience

As of January 22, 2026, Jennifer Balido’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Administration

Wants justice to be "applied fairly, consistently, and with unwavering respect for the Constitution."

- Wants justice to be "applied fairly, consistently, and with unwavering respect for the Constitution."

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Served on the Junior League of Texas State Public Affairs Committee, Junior League of Dallas, Interfaith Housing Coalition Board of Directors, and the Greater Dallas Crime Commission.

Served on the Interfaith Housing Coalition Board of Directors.

- Served on the Interfaith Housing Coalition Board of Directors.

Community Involvement

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Jennifer Balido

Jennifer was appointed as a judge on the Dallas County Criminal Court by Governor Greg Abbott in January 2025. She lost her 2010 campaign for 203rd District Court Judge and her 2014 race for the 291st District Court.



Jennifer is a judge for the Dallas County Criminal Court. She was previously an assistant district attorney for the Dallas County District Attorney's Office for eight years.

- Wants "justice to be applied fairly, consistently, and with unwavering respect for the Constitution."

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Walter Ley

John Messinger has a law degree from Baylor Law School. He has been married to his wife, Carrie, for over 11 years. They have three children together. They attend Hillcrest Baptist Church.

John Messinger - Ballotpedia

State Prosecuting Attorney of Texas - About

John Messinger is originally from New Jersey. He earned a bachelor's degree in business and a master's degree in business from the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), along with a law degree from the Baylor University School of Law. John lives with his wife, Carrie, and has three kids in Pflugerville and attends Hillcrest Baptist Church.

John is an appellate prosecutor at the Texas Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney. He previously worked as a prosecutor at the McLennan County District Attorney's Office. 

John is an assistant state prosecuting attorney at the Texas Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney. He previously worked as a prosecutor at the McLennan County District Attorney's Office. 

John previously ran for Texas appeals court justice in 2024 but did not win. 

Texas Judicial Candidate Comparisons | Texas Judges

John previously ran for the Place 2 judge of the Austin Third Court of Appeals in 2024, but did not win.

As a career appellate prosecutor, has extensive experience in the Court of Criminal Appeals, claiming to have more experience than his opponent, who filed only one writ application in 2013.

As an assistant state prosecuting attorney at the Texas Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney oversees civil and criminal prosecutions, presents pre-trial motions in court, prepares cases for trial, produces legal research, opinions, and documents, and conducts interviews with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement officials.

- As an assistant state prosecuting attorney at the Texas Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney oversees civil and criminal prosecutions, presents pre-trial motions in court, prepares cases for trial, produces legal research, opinions, and documents, and conducts interviews with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement officials.

For Candidate John Messinger on Issue judicial-administration: Criticizes the Court of Criminal Appeals for delays in decision-making, highlighting the unacceptable average review time of over 500 days for lower court decisions.

Opposes recent opinions from the Court of Criminal Appeals that "ignore or conflict with applicable law, its own decisions, or both."

Wants to reduce the time appellate courts take to review lower court decisions, currently averaging over 500 days, to expedite case resolution for defendants and incarcerated individuals.

- Opposes recent opinions from the Court of Criminal Appeals that "ignore or conflict with applicable law, its own decisions, or both."
- Wants to reduce the time appellate courts take to review lower court decisions, currently averaging over 500 days, to expedite case resolution for defendants and incarcerated individuals.

Said, "Our system of justice is not perfect. No system made by man is. We can improve it, but that improvement doesn’t come from judges doing whatever they think is right in their own eyes. It comes from enforcing the laws as written to find out what works and what doesn’t. In every sense, law enforcement is essential to justice."

- Said, "Our system of justice is not perfect. No system made by man is. We can improve it, but that improvement doesn’t come from judges doing whatever they think is right in their own eyes. It comes from enforcing the laws as written to find out what works and what doesn’t. In every sense, law enforcement is essential to justice."

As of January 22, 2026, John Messinger’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Chairs the Hillcrest Baptist Church's personnel committee.

Served on the Radiance Women's Center's board as president and treasurer.

- Chairs the Hillcrest Baptist Church's personnel committee.
- Served on the Radiance Women's Center's board as president and treasurer.

John Messinger

John previously ran for the  Place 2 judge of the Austin Third Court of Appeals in 2024, but did not win.

- As an assistant state prosecuting attorney at the Texas Office of the State Prosecuting Attorney for 15 years, has extensive experience arguing in the Court of Criminal Appeals and various Courts of Appeals as he oversees civil and criminal prosecutions, presents pre-trial motions in court, prepares cases for trial, produces legal research, opinions, and documents, and conducts interviews with victims, witnesses, and law enforcement officials.

- Opposes recent opinions from the Court of Criminal Appeals that "ignore or conflict with applicable law, its own decisions, or both," along with an increase in average review time for lower court decisions of over 500 days.

- Chairs the Hillcrest Baptist Church's personnel committee.
- Chairs the Texas State Bar's Pattern Jury Charges—Criminal Committee.
- Served on the Radiance Women's Center's board as president and treasurer.

- Voters of the entire state elect judges to the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals. He or she serves in that capacity for a full six-year term. There are no term limits, but judges must retire at 75 years or older.
- The court has the power to overturn a criminal conviction and is the final authority on criminal matters in the state of Texas.
- The Criminal Court of Appeals can choose whether or not to review most criminal cases. However, the court is required to review cases involving the death penalty or bail denials.
- Court of Criminal Appeals judges earn a salary of $210,000 to $264,600, depending on how long they have served.

One of nine judges who serves on the highest appeals court for criminal matters in Texas. 

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Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Republican Primary

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Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement