Sharon Keller at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Current assignment
- Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Sharon Keller
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas, 1995-present
- Sharon Faye Keller (1953–2026) was a pioneering American judge who held the role of the first woman on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and its longest‐serving Presiding Judge, retiring in 2024 after nearly 30 years on the court.
- Began her legal career in private practice in Dallas, later worked in her family’s restaurant business, and held the role of assistant district attorney in the appellate section of Dallas County from 1987 to 1994.
- She was re‐elected to the Presiding Judge seat multiple times and is noted as the court’s longest‐serving Presiding Judge
Education
- Southern Methodist University School of Law in — J.D. (1978)
Additional information
- Buried in the Texas State Cemetery in 2026.
- Elected Presiding Judge in 2000, succeeding Michael McCormick, and held that role until 2020 before continuing as a judge until her retirement in 2024.
- Texas Indigent Defense Commission (Chair from 2002)
- In 1994, Keller became the first woman elected to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (TCCA).
- Born August 1, 1953 in Dallas, Texas, Keller graduated from Rice University with a B.A. in philosophy (1975)
- Date of birth: 1953-08-01
- Recognized for her commitment to the law, judicial service, and community work.
- Also active in the Texas Bar Foundation and held the role of vice‐chair of the Texas Judicial Council.
- Her tenure marked a significant milestone in Texas judicial history as the first woman on the TCCA and a long‐time Presiding Judge.
- Council of State Governments Justice Center (founding board member, former chair)
- Birth place: Texas
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Divided Argument
Courtwide
Arrange any division of argument time with the timekeeper before the court takes the bench, and tell the court at the outset how time will be divided.
If you wish to divide the time allotted for argument, make these arrangements before the Court takes the bench.Court of Criminal Appeals: Oral Argument Instructions ↗
Argument Seating
Courtwide
When the case is called, move to the assigned counsel table: appellant on the left and the State on the right when facing the bench.
When your case is called by the Presiding Judge, move to the appropriate counsel table, appellant on the left and the State on the right, as you face the bench.Court of Criminal Appeals: Oral Argument Instructions ↗
Argument Time
Courtwide
For cases consolidated for argument, the total allotted argument time remains 20 minutes.
the sum total of time allotted to such arguments remains at twenty (20) minutes.Court of Criminal Appeals: Oral Argument Instructions ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing
Texas Court of Criminal 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 June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas current judicial profile ↗Court of Criminal Appeals: Oral Argument Instructions
Courtwide source · HTML · Source checked July 30, 2026
View Court of Criminal Appeals: Oral Argument Instructions ↗Service record and verification
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals · Judge · Current · 1995-01-01–present