Texas First Court of Appeals Justice Kristin Guiney has died at 51, court officials confirmed on Friday, October 2. Guiney had spent much of her career in public service, working as a Harris County prosecutor and state district judge before joining the appellate court.
She was elected to Place 8 on the Texas First Court of Appeals in November 2024 and began serving on the appellate bench in 2025.
Guiney moved to the bench after winning election to the 179th Criminal District Court in 2012. Greg Abbott in 2017. Her death was announced jointly by the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals, which offered condolences to her family and remembered her years of work in the Texas legal system. No medical details have been released by the courts.
The First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals described her death as an “untimely passing” and asked the public and media to respect her family’s privacy. “Kristin was a dedicated servant of the law who enriched our court with her experience, judgment, humility, and humanity,” Gunn said. Guiney was remembered by her colleagues for both her work as a judge and her personality. “More than that, she was a wonderful friend and colleague. She later served on the 232nd Criminal District Court, after being appointed by Gov.
