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Okey Anyiam
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3
Okey Anyiam is the Democratic nominee for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3. He is a criminal defense attorney in Dallas, licensed to practice law in Texas since 1997, running in the 2026 general election for the open seat.
The court, in plain English
The Court of Criminal Appeals is the highest criminal court in Texas. Its nine judges are the final state authority on every criminal conviction, and the court automatically reviews all death-penalty cases.
Why this seat matters
This court is the last state-level check on a wrongful conviction. Nothing about a Texas criminal case is truly final until it rules.
On the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3, Okey Anyiam faces Thomas Smith (Republican).
This is an open seat
Judge Bert Richardson is not seeking re-election to this seat — he is running for Chief Justice of the Fourth Court of Appeals instead. No incumbent appears on the ballot. Open seats are the most winnable judicial races on any ballot — there is no sitting judge’s name for voters to fall back on.
Where this seat sits on your ballot
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 3 appears in the Statewide Courts section of your ballot. Elected by all of Texas. The last word on civil law, criminal appeals, and cases against the State.