Brett Busby has a bachelors degree from Duke University and a law degree from Columbia Law School. He lives in Austin with his wife, Erin, and they have two children together.

Brett Busby has a bachelor's degree from Duke University and a law degree from Columbia Law School. He lives in Austin with his wife, Erin, and they have two children.

Brett is a justice on the Texas Supreme Court. He previously clerked for a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court and worked for an immigration clinic while attending law school. 

Brett Busby Elected to Supreme Court of Texas | The American Law ...

Governor Abbott Appoints Busby To The Supreme Court Of Texas ...

Brett is currently a justice on the Supreme Court of Texas. He was appointed to the court by Governor Greg Abbott in 2019, confirmed by the Texas Senate, and elected to a full term in 2020. He previously served as a justice on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals from 2012 to 2018.

Board-certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

As a state supreme court justice, decides which cases the court will grant review of, evaluates questions of constitutional law, wrongful imprisonment cases, capital felonies, election contests, and the state’s use of the death penalty. The justice ensures that lower courts apply the law correctly, allows certain cases to be retried, and provides final interpretations of state law.

- Board-certified in civil appellate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
- As a state supreme court justice, decides which cases the court will grant review of, evaluates questions of constitutional law, wrongful imprisonment cases, capital felonies, election contests, and the state’s use of the death penalty. The justice ensures that lower courts apply the law correctly, allows certain cases to be retried, and provides final interpretations of state law.

Legal Experience

Supports expanding legal aid and simplifying government regulations to reduce legal service costs.

As a state supreme court justice, helped lead the proposal for a new licensing system for legal paraprofessionals and court-access assistants to make legal services more affordable and accessible in Texas.

- Supports expanding legal aid and simplifying government regulations to reduce legal service costs.
- As a state supreme court justice, helped lead the proposal for a new licensing system for legal paraprofessionals and court-access assistants to make legal services more affordable and accessible in Texas.

Judicial Administration

Said, "Apply the laws made by the legislative and executive branches consistently across the board, never legislating from the bench."

- Said, "Apply the laws made by the legislative and executive branches consistently across the board, never legislating from the bench."

Judicial Philosophy

Past chair of the State Bar of Texas Committee on Pattern Jury Charges.

Served as the past chair of the State Bar of Texas Committee on Pattern Jury Charges.

- Served as the past chair of the State Bar of Texas Committee on Pattern Jury Charges.

Ethics & Conduct

Previously served as a member and past chair of the State Bar of Texas Committee on Pattern Jury Charges, a former member of the Texas Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, and a former gubernatorial appointee to the Commission to Study and Review Certain Penal Laws.

- Previously served as a member and past chair of the State Bar of Texas Committee on Pattern Jury Charges, a former member of the Texas Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, and a former gubernatorial appointee to the Commission to Study and Review Certain Penal Laws.

Community Involvement

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Brett Busby

Brett Busby '98 Appointed to Texas Supreme Court | Columbia Law ...

Brett Busby - Ballotpedia

- The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for civil matters, including juvenile delinquency cases.
- The Texas Supreme Court is made up of nine justices. All nine positions are elected, with a term of office of six years and no term limits.
- Decisions are made collectively by majority vote, and a justice writes the majority opinion.
- The Texas Supreme Court is the only state supreme court in the United States in which refusing to hear a lower court’s cases implies approval of the court’s decision, thus rendering it precedent.
- Justices must be at least 35 years old, a citizen of Texas, licensed to practice law in Texas, and must have practiced law (or have been a lawyer and a judge of a court of record together) for at least ten years
- Court of Criminal Appeals judges earn a salary of $210,000 to $264,600, depending on how long they have served in office.