Tracy Christopher

Professional career

• Chief Justice Tracy Christopher is the elected head of the Texas 14th Court of Appeals, serving since November 2020, with a career spanning over 15 years as a trial and appellate judge in Texas
• Elected Chief Justice of the 14th Court of Appeals in November 2020 and had been appointed as a justice of that court in December 2009

Education

Additional information

• Texas Bar Foundation Outstanding Jurist Award (2013) for her work as both a trial and appellate judge
• Vinson & Elkins (1981–1986)
• University of Notre Dame – honors, 1978
• Also previously named Trial Judge of the Year by the same association.
• She presides over the court’s appellate cases and leads the judicial branch’s appellate division in Houston, Texas.
• Before becoming Chief Justice, Justice Christopher served 15 years as a judge of the 295th District Court, where she was highly rated as a trial judge.
• Chair of the Supreme Court Advisory Committee, which studies and proposes changes to Texas’ Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules of Evidence, and Rules of Appellate Procedure.
• She has also held the role of past chair of the Pattern Jury Charge Oversight Committee.
• She is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Trial Law.
• She is married to Vance Christopher, has three adult children and six grandchildren, and is active in community service through her church and the Houston Bar Association’s charitable programs.
• She is a Catholic and has been involved with both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.