---
title: "Lee Finley | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lee-finley-tx-court-criminal-appeals"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Lee Finley

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals · Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Place 8

## Profile

- Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
- State: Texas
- Role: Court of Criminal Appeals Judge, Place 8
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## 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/cca/about-the-court/judges/judge-lee-finley/)
- [Official roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/cca/about-the-court/judges/judge-lee-finley/)
- [Texas Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/cca/about-the-court/judges/judge-lee-finley/)
- [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Republican judge elected in 2024 to serve as Place 8 on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, a position he assumes on January 1, 2025, with a term ending December 31, 2030
- Legal Career: Practiced state and federal criminal defense, including court-appointed representation for indigent defendants, and held the role of managing partner at Finley & Associates PC.

### Education

- Associate degrees from Tarrant County College (1996) and Tarrant College (1996) Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Humanities from the University of Texas at Austin (2000) Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law (2000)

### Additional information

- Elected in the November 5, 2024 general election, defeating Chika Anyiam in a competitive race.
- Served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1990 to 1994.
- One of eight judges on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state’s highest appellate court for criminal cases.
- 14th St., Room 106, Austin, TX.
- His official office is at the Capitol Court of Criminal Appeals, 201 W.
- Additional Experience: Trained as an EMT and led a team to evacuate long-term care facilities in Houston during Hurricane Rita.



## 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.