Home/Our Judges/Amparo "Amy" Guerra
Amparo "Amy" Guerra
1st Court of Appeals, Place 5
Incumbent justice on the First Court of Appeals, elected in 2020 (Place 5). Also known as Amparo 'Amy' Guerra.
The court, in plain English
The First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals sit in Houston and review appeals from trial courts across a ten-county district that includes Fort Bend, Harris, Brazoria, Galveston, Waller, Austin, Chambers, Colorado, Grimes, and Washington counties.
Why this seat matters
When a trial court gets it wrong, these justices are the correction. Their published opinions bind every trial court in the district — including every court in Fort Bend County.
On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for 1st Court of Appeals, Place 5, Amparo "Amy" Guerra faces Jessica Caird (Republican).
More about Amparo
Education
- B.A., Rice University — double major in Sociology and Latin American Studies; President's Honor Roll
- J.D., University of Houston Law Center — Dean's Merit Scholarship
Experience
- Justice, First Court of Appeals, since 2021
- Houston Municipal Court Judge, 2005–2010 — the youngest sitting judge during her tenure
- 23 years as an attorney handling complex civil cases across Texas
- Judicial law clerk, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- UHLC Public Interest Law Fellow with Texas Rural Legal Aid and Farmworker Legal Services
Honors & recognition
- Won the 2026 State Bar of Texas Judicial Preference Poll — the most votes of any regional court of appeals candidate in Texas
- Judge of the Year, 2023
- Named a Texas Super Lawyer in Business Litigation
Personal
- Daughter of Retired Senior Justice Linda Yáñez, the first Latina appellate judge in Texas history
Gathered from Amparo "Amy" Guerra’s campaign website, checked 30 August 2026.
Endorsements
Endorsements are reported by the campaign or the endorsing organization. Nothing here is an endorsement by any other judge or candidate on this site.
Where this seat sits on your ballot
1st Court of Appeals, Place 5 appears in the Multi-County Courts of Appeals section of your ballot. Shared with nine neighboring counties. Their rulings bind every trial court in Fort Bend.