2 candidates are tracked for Texas Court of Appeals, 3rd District, Chief Justice on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Cory Liu and Darlene Byrne. Candidate information follows official Hays County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Elected by the voters of the 3rd Court of Appeals District, which covers 24 counties, so this race is on every November 3, 2026 ballot there. District lines are set by Texas Government Code section 22.201.
Appellate or supreme court justice. Appellate judges review decisions of trial courts for legal error rather than retrying facts. A state supreme court is the final word on state law and the state constitution. Candidates may describe their experience and judicial philosophy but may not promise outcomes in particular cases.
This race. The sitting officeholder, Darlene Byrne, is on the ballot.
Texas › Hays County › Texas Court of Appeals, 3rd District, Chief Justice
R
Cory Liu is the Republican candidate for Chief Justice of the Third Court of Appeals. He currently serves as a district judge in Travis County and previously worked in legal roles for Texas state leaders, per his campaign site. He holds degrees from the University of Chicago and Harvard Law School.
D Incumbent
Darlene Byrne is the incumbent Chief Justice of the Third Court of Appeals, elected in 2020, per the court's official biography. She previously presided for 20 years over the 126th Judicial District Court in Travis County. No campaign website was found as of September 15, 2026.
Who is running for Texas Court of Appeals, 3rd District, Chief Justice in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Texas Court of Appeals, 3rd District, Chief Justice on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Cory Liu and Darlene Byrne. Candidate information follows official Hays County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Texas Court of Appeals, 3rd District, Chief Justice election in Texas?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Texas are on the Texas election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Hays County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Candidate roster from official Hays County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Texas election office, or see the full Hays County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
21 tracked races in Hays County, Texas. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.