Meet Justice Debra Lehrmann

Justice Debra Lehrmann is the longest serving female Supreme Court Justice in Texas history and serves as the Senior Justice on the Court. With over 35 years of judicial experience, having served as a trial judge in Tarrant County for 23 years prior to her appellate service, she has a proven record of enforcing the rule of law across the board and never legislating from the bench.

She has been elected twice to the Court since her 2010 gubernatorial appointment; in 2022 she received more votes than any other candidate in the Texas primary.  She consistently receives high approval ratings in Judicial Bar Polls, and in the 2022 Judicial Bar Poll she received more votes than any other judicial candidate.  A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Justice Lehrmann graduated from The University of Texas with high honors in 1979 and from The University of Texas School of Law in 1982.  She received her LL.M. degree from Duke Law’s Master of Judicial Studies in 2016.

In addition to being the court of last resort in all civil and juvenile cases, the Supreme Court is the overseer of the 3^rd branch of government.  Justice Lehrmann is honored to spend an enormous amount of time and energy on these administrative duties.  She serves as the Court’s liaison to:

• The State Bar of Texas
• The Permanent Commission on Children, Youth and Families
• The State Bar of Texas Family Law Section

Judicial Philosophy

Texans know they can count on Supreme Court Justice Debra Lehrmann to strictly construe the law, never legislate from the bench, and enforce the rule of law across the board.

“The fulfilment and humility I experience from serving fellow Texans as a Justice on our state’s highest civil court is beyond measure.  Since I first took the bench over 35 years ago, I have worked daily to apply the law in a fair, just, and consistent manner. I have always tried my very best to serve Texas and Texans with honor and integrity, and I hope to have the privilege of continuing to do so for years to come.”

“Doing the work required to dispense justice fairly, and to ensure that the jurisprudence of our great state evolves correctly and in accordance with the rule of law, is a privilege and a responsibility that I take very seriously.  As Senior Justice on the Court, I have the experience necessary to carry on this important work without interruption.  I pledge that I will always work tirelessly to uphold the rule of law, treat all litigants with dignity and respect, and never legislate from the bench.”

“The law belongs to each and every Texan, and it must be applied fairly, consistently, and impartially.  You can depend on me to do just that for every Texan.”