--- title: "James T. Worthen | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-t-worthen-tx-12th-court-appeals" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # James T. Worthen Texas 12th Court of Appeals · Court of Appeals Justice ## Profile - Court: Texas 12th Court of Appeals - State: Texas - Role: Court of Appeals Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - “Jim” Worthen is the Chief Justice of the Texas 12th Court of Appeals, serving since 2003 and currently seated through 2026 - 2003–present: Chief Justice of the 12th Court of Appeals - Chief Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 12th District (Tyler), Tyler, TX, 2021-2026 - Chief Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 12th District (Tyler), Tyler, TX, 2015-2020 - Chief Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 12th District (Tyler), Tyler, TX, 2009-2014 - Chief Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 12th District (Tyler), Tyler, TX, 2005-2008 - Chief Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 12th District (Tyler), Tyler, TX, 2003-2004 - Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 12th District (Tyler), Tyler, TX, 1999-2002 - Partner, Bain, Files, Worthen and Jarrett, P.C., 1986-1998 ### Education - University of Virginia-Main Campus — LL.M. (2004) - MA — The University of Texas at Tyler — 1999 - BA — The University of Texas at Tyler — 1978 ### Additional information - American Bar Association (since 1981) - 2005–2006: Chairman, Council of Chief Justices - Also the author of The Organizational and Structural Development of Intermediate Appellate Courts in Texas, 1892–2003 (South Texas Law Review, 2004). - 1980–1998: Practiced law in Tyler, TX — first with Sammons & Parker, then Bain, Files, Worthen & Jarrett, P.C. - Partner, Sammons and Parker, 1980-1986 - Date of birth: 1954-05-21 - James T. - Worthen has authored numerous published opinions, including highly cited cases such as In the Interest of C.L.C. and C.R.D., Minor Children (152 citations). - His judicial style is noted for textualist interpretation and adherence to statutory language. - Born in Conroe, Texas, and raised in Big Sandy, Worthen is a seventh-generation Texan. - Birth place: Conroe, TX ## 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 ### 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.txcourts.gov/12thcoa/about-the-court/justices/chief-justice-james-t-worthen/) - [Official roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/12thcoa/about-the-court/justices/chief-justice-james-t-worthen/) - [Texas Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/12thcoa/about-the-court/justices/chief-justice-james-t-worthen/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/8392/james-t-worthen/) - [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/8392/james-t-worthen/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-t-worthen-tx-12th-court-appeals", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-t-worthen-tx-12th-court-appeals", "name": "James T. 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Worthen", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-t-worthen-tx-12th-court-appeals" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-e966a5411b2587c600cf3508) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.