Nancy Kennedy at a glance
- Current role
- Court of Appeals Justice
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Nancy Kennedy
Court of Appeals Justice · Texas 5th Court of Appeals
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Biography
Professional career
- Democratic Party judge serving Place 7 on the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals since January 2023, after being elected in 2022, with a career spanning over 20 years in criminal law, trial and appellate courts, and specialty court programs.
- Presiding Judge, Texas Criminal District Court, No. 2, Dallas City, Dallas, TX, 2017-present
- Before joining the appellate court, Kennedy held the role of Presiding Judge of Criminal District Court #2 in Dallas County from 2016 to 2023, re‐elected in 2020.
- Assistant District Attorney, Collin County District Attorney's Office, TX, 2004-2005
- Began her legal career in 2001 as a prosecutor, then transitioned to criminal defense in 2005
- Assistant County Attorney, Hunt County Attorney's Office, 2001-2004
- Adjunct trial advocacy professor at SMU Law
Education
- Southern Methodist University — J.D. (2001)
- Political Science — Sam Houston State University — 1997
- in Political Science — Sam Houston State University — B.A.
- Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law — J.D.
Additional information
- Her term runs through December 31, 2028.
- Elected in November 2022 to serve Place 7 of the Fifth Court of Appeals, covering Dallas, Collin, Grayson, Rockwall, Hunt, and Kaufman counties.
- Practitioner, Mills & Williams, LLP, Dallas, TX, 2013-2016
- Named a Rising Star in Texas Monthly from 2008–2016.
- Owner, Law Office of Nancy Kennedy, 2005-2016
- Was Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2010 and re‐certified.
- Handled over 100 trials as lead counsel.
- Practiced in state and federal courts in Texas.
- Created the felony outpatient competency restoration specialty court for defendants found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity.
- Presided over the STAR court specialty program.
- Managed a female offender program.
- The Fifth Court handles family, criminal, and civil appeals for these six North Texas counties.
- Fellowships: Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility and Martin Samuelsohn Fellowship.
- A fourth‐generation Texan born in Dallas, Kennedy resides in East Dallas.
- She has volunteered with the Red Cross, supported nonprofit organizations, and is active in her children’s school and the Dallas County Democratic Party.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Filing requirements
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing
Texas 5th Court of Appeals
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Texas Judicial Branch official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View Texas Judicial Branch official judicial roster ↗CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 3, 2026
View CourtListener judicial biographical directory ↗Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing ↗Texas 5th Court of Appeals official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Texas 5th Court of Appeals official directory ↗