---
title: "Terry Adams | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/terry-adams-tx-1st-court-appeals"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Terry Adams

Texas 1st Court of Appeals · Court of Appeals Justice

## Profile

- Court: Texas 1st 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.

## 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/1stcoa/about-the-court/justices/chief-justice-terry-adams/)
- [Official roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/1stcoa/about-the-court/justices/chief-justice-terry-adams/)
- [Texas Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/1stcoa/about-the-court/justices/chief-justice-terry-adams/)
- [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

- Briefing attorney at the Supreme Court of Texas

### Education

- South Texas College of Law Houston (Editor-in-Chief, South Texas Law Review) — J.D.
- Undergraduate: Denison University, Political Science & Economics.

### Additional information

- Election: Elected in 2022; originally appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2020.
- Experienced appellate attorney from Houston, recognized by Texas Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America, and previously ran his own appellate boutique practice.
- Justice, Texas First Court of Appeals (Place 5) before becoming Chief Justice.
- Adams emphasizes adherence to the rule of law and avoiding judicial legislation, applying statutes as written by the Texas Legislature.
- Member of multiple judicial and legal committees, including the Council of Texas Chief Justices.



## 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.