Kristen Hawkins, a Democrat and judge of the 11th District Court in Harris County, is running for Texas Supreme Court Justice Place 7 in the Nov. 3 general election. Kyle Hawkins, a Republican, is also on the ballot.

Asked why she is running, Hawkins said in our candidate questionnaire: "The governor has appointed seven of the nine current Supreme Court justices, and I am running give the voters an opportunity to elect a qualified, competent candidate with a decade of judicial experience … I would bring an independent voice to the Supreme Court."

Candidate information

Party: Democrat

Education: Hawkins said in our questionnaire: "University of Texas at Austin - BA South Texas College of Law - JD, magna cum laude"

Family: Hawkins said in our questionnaire: "My husband and I are native Texans and are the proud parents of two college-age children."

Family in politics or government: No, according to our questionnaire.

Hawkins became the first woman elected to the 11th District Court in Harris County, winning a close general election in 2016, according to The Austin Chronicle. She led the Harris County Board of District Judges' COVID Response Task Force during the pandemic, the Chronicle reported.

Experience and public service

Asked about her occupation and work history, Hawkins said in our questionnaire: "I have served as judge of the 11th District Court for nine years. Before that, I was appointed and served as one of the Harris County tax masters for five years. Prior to the bench, I practiced general civil litigation and represented individuals applying for Social Security disability. I am board certified in personal-injury law, civil-trial law, and judicial administration. As a trial-court judge, I have presided over more than 200 trials … I have also been appointed by a statewide panel to preside over complex multi-district litigation cases."

Previous elected office: Hawkins said in our questionnaire: "I am the judge of the 11th District Court, Harris County, Texas. I was first elected in 2016 and was reelected in 2020 and 2024."

On the issues

What are the critical differences between you and other candidates?

Hawkins said in our questionnaire: "I give the voters an opportunity to elect a qualified, competent candidate with a decade of judicial experience. As a trial judge for the past 10 years, I have interacted with lawyers, litigants, and juries. That experience has given me a perspective regarding the importance of our jury system that my opponent does not have. I offer the voters of the State of Texas an opportunity to make a positive change to a Supreme Court in which seven of the nine justices have been selected and appointed by the governor."

How would you describe your judicial philosophy?

Hawkins said in our questionnaire: "My judicial philosophy is simple: to apply the law equally to everyone who appears before me, and to ensure that juries and their verdicts are respected … I consider myself a pragmatist who respects the law and stare decisis and believes consistency and predictability in the law is paramount."

Do you support partisan judicial elections?

Hawkins said in our questionnaire: "I do not support changing to an appointment system because an appointment system benefits political insiders and places too much power in a single individual or party. With elections, Texans have an opportunity to have their voices heard."

What would you do to improve Texans' access to the civil courts?

Hawkins said in our questionnaire: "Because the Supreme Court is a court of discretionary review, it chooses the cases it takes. To ensure that everyone has access to justice, the Court should select cases that are important to all Texans, not just the well-resourced … the Court can adopt rules that streamline access to justice for those who are under-resourced or without adequate representation, including pro-se litigants."

Best advice: Hawkins said in our questionnaire: "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good."