--- title: "Frances Y. Bourliot | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/frances-y-bourliot-15437" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Frances Y. Bourliot Texas Court of Appeals, 14th District (Houston) · Justice ## Profile - Court: Texas Court of Appeals, 14th District (Houston) - State: Texas - Role: Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 14th District (Houston), Houston, TX, 2019-present - After leaving the bench in 2024, Bourliot continues to practice law - Democratic Party judge serving as Place 5 on the Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals from January 1, 2019, until December 31, 2024 - Assistant Public Defender in the Harris County Public Defender’s Office - The first Asian-American woman and the first public defender elected to an intermediate appellate court in Texas ### Education - University of Houston — J.D. (2007) - English — Tufts University - University of Houston Law Center — J.D. ### Additional information - Practitioner, 2018-present - She had won the Democratic primary unopposed in March 2024. - Bourliot was sworn in on January 1, 2019, and re-elected in 2024, but lost the general election on November 5, 2024 to Maritza Antu (R). - Later joined a plaintiff’s law firm in 2018 - Practitioner, Private Practice, Houston, TX, 2017-2018 - Assistant Public Defender, 2011-2017 - Practitioner, Texas Defender Services, 2008-2011 - representing clients in personal injury, medical malpractice, and appellate matters. - Staff attorney with the Texas Defender Service and Texas Innocence Network - representing indigent prisoners and death row inmates. - handling felony trials, appeals, and mental health cases. - focusing on trial and appellate advocacy, complex litigation, and strategic case development. - Adjunct faculty at the University of Houston Law Center - overseeing the Death Penalty Clinic and co-teaching Innocence Investigations. - She has also taught continuing legal education courses on topics such as Batson challenges, jury charge issues, mitigation, and mental health law. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### oral argument purpose Scope: courtwide Use oral argument to emphasize and clarify the briefs, not merely read prepared text; assume the panel has read the briefs, be ready for questions, and stay within the record. Evidence excerpt: Oral argument should emphasize and clarify the written arguments in the briefs. Counsel should not merely read from prepared text. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### oral argument time Scope: courtwide The court sets argument time. Finish within the allotment unless the court permits continuation; the appellant must be allowed to conclude. Evidence excerpt: Counsel must complete argument in the time allotted and may continue after the expiration of the allotted time only with permission of the court. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### number of arguing counsel Scope: courtwide Generally one lawyer should argue for each side. Without leave, no more than two may argue per side, and only one may present rebuttal. Evidence excerpt: Generally, only one counsel should argue for each side. Except on leave of court, no more than two counsel on each side may argue. Only one counsel may argue in rebuttal. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### oral argument request Scope: courtwide Request oral argument on the front cover of the brief. If argument is set, all parties that filed briefs may participate even if they did not request it. Evidence excerpt: A party desiring oral argument must note that request on the front cover of the party’s brief. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### oral argument notice Scope: courtwide The clerk's notice states whether argument is allowed, the date, allotted time, location or electronic-joining instructions, exhibit instructions, and panel members. Evidence excerpt: The clerk must send to the parties—at least 21 days before the date the case is set for argument or submission without argument—a notice telling the parties: [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### appellate electronic filing Scope: statewide In Texas appellate courts, attorneys must electronically file civil and criminal documents, subject to a good-cause motion; self-represented parties may e-file but are not required to do so. Evidence excerpt: Attorneys in civil cases must electronically file documents. Attorneys in criminal cases must electronically file documents except for good cause shown in a motion filed in the appellate court. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15437/frances-y-bourliot/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15437/frances-y-bourliot/) - [Texas Court of Appeals, 14th District (Houston) current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15437/frances-y-bourliot/) - [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15437/frances-y-bourliot/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/frances-y-bourliot-15437", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/frances-y-bourliot-15437", "name": "Frances Y. 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