Jones files for appeals court seat

Woodie Jones

Former Justice Woodie Jones has filed for chief justice of the Third Court of Appeals at State Democratic Party Headquarters.

Jones served from 1988-2000 as a justice on the Third Court of Appeals. The district covers a 24- county area, stretching from Fayette County through Central Texas and the Texas Hill Country all the way to San Angelo.

In 1999, Jones was the top-rated judge on a judicial evaluation survey conducted by the Travis County Bar Association. A total of 36 federal, state and county judges were evaluated that year.

During his tenure on the Third Court of Appeals, Jones authored more than 1,500 opinions and participated in deciding almost 5,000 appeals.

"The people who live in the Third Court's district expect their judges to work hard and be productive in that work," said Jones. "I know the Third Court can do a better job for Texas citizens, and that's why I'm running for chief justice."

Jones is running against Ken Law, the current chief justice, who defeated Lee Yeakel for the position in 2002.

The candidate and his wife, the former Linda Eitelman, have been married for 32 years and have three children and one grandchild.