Judge Bert Richardson, a candidate seeking the position of chief justice on the 4th Court of Appeals, addressed members of the Republican Women of Kerr County during a luncheon event. The gathering took place last Friday in Kerrville.
Retired Judge Steve Ables introduced Richardson to the audience, praising his professional conduct and judicial temperament. Ables, who has worked alongside Richardson for many years on the bench and as the administrative judge for Region 6, described him as a role model for other jurists. He urged attendees to support Richardson’s candidacy.
In his opening remarks, Richardson noted that while voters rarely interact with legislators, they are more likely to encounter judges in their personal lives. He then provided an overview of the Texas court system, explaining that the state has 14 courts of appeals with regional jurisdiction over cases from 504 district courts.
He distinguished the roles of the two highest courts: the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals handles final appeals in criminal matters, while the Texas Supreme Court holds final authority in civil and juvenile cases.
Richardson is currently serving his twelfth year on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in Place 3. He is running for chief justice of the 4th Court of Appeals, which is based in San Antonio and covers 32 counties across Central and South Texas, in the upcoming November 3 election.
His legal career includes service as an assistant district attorney in Bexar County and as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas. Governor George Bush appointed him to the 379th District Court of Bexar County in 1999. From 2009 until 2024, Richardson served as a senior visiting judge in more than 50 counties, presiding over both civil and criminal matters.
During the luncheon, Richardson discussed two significant cases from his tenure on the state’s highest criminal court. He referenced the appeal of Genene Jones, a former nurse convicted of murdering Chelsea McClellan in Kerrville in 1982. Jones is currently serving a life sentence without parole for suspected killings of up to 60 children.