Sarah Beth Landau

14th Court of Appeals, Chief Justice

Candidate · open seat Court of Appeals — Multi-County 6-year term Democrat

Former justice of the First Court of Appeals (Place 6, 2019-2024). University of Minnesota (BA) and Columbia Law (JD); former federal law clerk (S.D. Tex.), public defender, and appellate practitioner who has handled 400+ appeals.

Campaign website Ballot guide

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 14th Court of Appeals, Chief Justice, Sarah Beth Landau faces Kevin Jewell (Republican).

This is an open seat

Chief Justice Tracy Christopher’s term ends December 31, 2026 and she did not file for re-election. Her Republican opponent sits on this court but holds a different seat, so no incumbent appears on the ballot for Chief Justice. Open seats are the most winnable judicial races on any ballot — there is no sitting judge’s name for voters to fall back on.

More about Sarah

Experience

The first public defender to serve on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals
Over 20 years in state and federal courts, in public and private practice, across civil and criminal law
Handled over 400 appeals
Chief, First Court of Appeals Law Student Intern Program, 2020–2024
Trained Harris County civil and criminal judges on appellate matters, 2019–2022

Community & the profession

Council Member and Criminal Affairs Committee Chair, State Bar of Texas Appellate Section
Liaison to the Houston Bar Association Appellate Section, 2021–2022
Co-Chair, Houston Bar Association Law Library Committee, 2020–2022 (President's Award)
Organizer, Color of Justice Law Student Conference, Association of Women Judges
Brought the first woman appointed to the Pakistan Supreme Court to Houston for a free public CLE program, 2025

Gathered from Sarah Beth Landau’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

14th Court of Appeals, Chief Justice 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.

See every judge at this level