Justice Julie Countiss was elected to Place 7 on the Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas on November 6, 2018. Born and raised in the Texas Panhandle, Justice Countiss graduated from Southern Methodist University and joined Teach for America. Her experience teaching elementary school in the South Bronx, New York City ignited her passion for public service. After graduating from the UH Law Center in 2002 and years of working in private practice, Justice Countiss returned to serve her community as Assistant County Attorney in the Office of the Harris County Attorney until her election to the Court.
Shortly after taking the bench, Justice Countiss was appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas to serve on the Children’s Commission. Currently, she co-chairs the Houston Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee and co-chairs the Membership Committee for the National Association of Women Judges. Justice Countiss is teaching Appellate Advocacy at the University of Houston Law Center in the Fall of 2021.
