AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott today announced his endorsement of eleven Tarrant County judges. These conservative incumbents have demonstrated a keen understanding of the law and an unwavering commitment to the Constitution.
“Electing experienced and trustworthy judges is more important than ever, which is why I am proud to endorse these 11 judicial leaders in Tarrant County,” said Governor Abbott. “Our judges serve their fellow Texans by keeping our communities safe and our economy strong. The Republican judges of Tarrant County respect the constitutional division of powers and never legislate from the bench. I urge the people of Tarrant County to support these judicial leaders because they will work tirelessly to uphold the rule of law.”
Included in this endorsement are the following candidates:
Justice Mike Wallach – 2nd Court of Appeals, Place 6
Before Governor Greg Abbott appointed Justice Mike Wallach to Place 6 of the 2nd Court of Appeals, he served as Judge of the 348th District Court where he earned a reputation for his integrity, work ethic, and impeccable knowledge of the law. Mike has 37 years of extensive trial and appellate experience and helped draft historic tort reform legislation to combat frivolous lawsuits. Mike and his wife and high school sweetheart, Susan, have been married for 45 years and have three children and five beautiful grandchildren. They are active members of Bear Valley Community Church.
Judge Patricia Baca Bennett – 360th District Court
Judge Patricia Baca Bennett presides over the 360th Family District Court. Patricia is a highly qualified attorney who has been practicing family law over 26 years. She is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Family Law. Out of all licensed attorneys in the State of Texas, only about 10% are Board Certified. Judge Bennett attained her Juris Doctorate from Texas Tech University. Patricia has been married for 24 years and is the mother of two children, including one special needs child. She understands the need to protect children while respecting the rights of parents. Judge Bennett is a Catholic who believes in tradition family values.
Judge Josh Burgess – 352nd District Court
Judge Josh Burgess was appointed to the 352nd District Court by Governor Greg Abbott in 2017. Judge Burgess began his legal career as an attorney in the United States Air Force Jag Corps. Following seven years of service, he left the military with the rank of major, and joined the United States Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted organized crime. He and his wife, Amy, have been married 25 years and have two children. Judge Burgess coaches the mock trial team at Covenant Classical School and attends Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth.
Judge Don Cosby – 67th District Court
Judge Don Cosby was appointed as Judge of the 67th District Court by Governor George W. Bush in 2000. Since then, he has been honored to preside over 450 jury trials and has worked to exemplify integrity and a commitment to truth and justice in and out of the courtroom. Prior to his appointment, he served as an attorney with banking institutions and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission during the Reagan Administration. Judge Cosby is rated “highly qualified” in the 2 most recent Tarrant County Bar Judicial polls. Judge Cosby and his wife Kathryn have been married for 29 years and have two adult children. They are members of Christ Chapel Bible Church.
Judge David Evans – 48th District Court
David L. Evans of Fort Worth is judge of the 48th Judicial District Court in Tarrant County, and has served as the presiding judge of the Eighth Administrative Judicial Region since 2014, and is board certified in Civil Appellate Law and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) and the ABA National Conference of State Trial Judges Judicial Division and a member, former judicial section chairman and a past director of the State Bar of Texas. He has served has chair of the Commission for Lawyer Discipline and as vice chair of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Evans received a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from Texas A&M University and entered the U.S Army, following his military service, Evans received a Juris Doctor degree from the Baylor School of Law.
Judge Megan Fahey – 348th District Court
A 6th generation Texan, Judge Megan Fahey was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in September 2019 to serve as Judge of the 348th District Court. After receiving both her undergraduate degree and law degree, with honors, from the University of Texas, Judge Fahey began her career working for Bracewell LLP and Jenner & Block LLC, focusing her practice on bankruptcy and corporate restructuring. In 2005, Judge Fahey began a 14-year career in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Fort Worth. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, she quickly emerged as a strong and effective litigator in both the Civil and Criminal Divisions, specializing in prosecuting cybercrimes against children and financial fraud crimes. In 2011, Judge Fahey received the Department of Justice Director’s Award for Superior Performance, naming her one of the United States’ top civil AUSAs. In addition to her commitment to integrity and excellence in her career, Fahey is a dedicated community leader, public servant, and proud mom. She is a member of the Federalist Society and Tarrant County Bar Association and serves as a board member of United Methodist Women at First United Methodist Church and on the Student Health Advisory Committee for the Fort Worth Independent School District. Fahey and her husband Stephen reside in Fort Worth with their three sons.
Judge Kimberly Fitzpatrick – 342nd District Court
Kimberly Fitzpatrick was elected as Judge of the 342nd District Court in November 2018. In her first eighteen months, she worked tirelessly to reduce the pending cases on her docket and has tripled the number of cases tried versus the previous years. Fitzpatrick, the former mayor of Dalworthington Gardens, previously served as managing attorney of Harris Cook, LLP’s Arlington location. She is the former President of the Arlington Bar Association. She is a Fellow with the Texas Bar Foundation, an honor bestowed upon less than 1% of Texas attorneys each year. Prior to serving as judge, she was consistently voted a “Top Attorney” by Fort Worth Magazine and a “Texas Rising Star” in Texas Monthly. She was also recently selected for the 40 Under 40 award by Fort Worth Business. Kimberly and her husband Ryan reside in Dalworthington Gardens with their two daughters.
Judge Pat Gallagher – 96th District Court
Judge Gallagher pledges his experience, conservative principles, and work ethic to serve Tarrant County, to ensure everyone receives a fair trial without delay, and to uphold our Constitution and the rule of law. Judge Gallagher started his 36-year legal career prosecuting violent criminals as Assistant District Attorney and went on to successfully represent both defendants and plaintiffs in civil litigation over 600 times in all 10 District Courts of Tarrant County. He has tried cases to verdict in 14 Texas counties and argued cases in the Eastland, Fort Worth, and Texarkana Courts of Appeals. He has been Board Certified for 31 years. Judge Gallagher is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Federalist Society and is a former member of the Texas Board of Legal Specialization Advisory Commission. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Indiana University – Bloomington and a Juris Doctor degree from Indiana University – Indianapolis. He and his wife Terri have four grown children and five grandchildren. They live in Fort Worth.
Judge Susan McCoy – 153rd District Court
Susan was elected District Judge for the 153rd Judicial District Court in Tarrant County Texas in 2012 and was honored to be re-elected in 2016 for her second term. It is a job she loves and feels well-suited to hold. Susan is a member of several political organizations, including membership in Fort Worth Republican Women, Metroplex Republican Women, and Republican Women of North Texas, where she sits on the Board of Directors. Judge McCoy is a member of ABOTA and is rated A+Preeminent by Martindale-Hubble; the highest ethics rating available from her peers. She is a member of the Texas Bar Foundation and sits on the Board of Directors for the Tarrant County Bar Foundation. Judge McCoy received her private pilot’s license in 2008 and is an active member of Compass Christian Church in Colleyville, Texas.
Judge Wayne Salvant – Tarrant County Criminal Court, No. 2
Judge Wayne Salvant received his undergraduate degree from Southern University before being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He is a Vietnam War Veteran. Judge Salvant received his law degree from Southern University Law Center in 1974 and began his legal career as an investigating attorney with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Fort Worth. He would later go on to establish a successful private practice, where he gained over 30 years of legal service. Governor George W. Bush appointed Judge Salvant to Criminal District Court No. 2 in 1995. Judge Salvant also serves as the presiding judge of the Drug Rehabilitation Court and is a member of the Texas and Louisiana Bar Associations, the Tarrant County Bar Association, Tarrant County Black Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and the NBA Judicial Council. In 2019, Judge Salvant received the Silver Gavel Award from the TCBA. Judge Salvant and his wife Beverly have four children and eight grandchildren.
Judge Chris Wolfe – 213th District Court
Judge Chris Wolfe was appointed to the 213th District Court by Governor Greg Abbott in 2018. Judge Wolfe served as a federal prosecutor for 15 years and was the Deputy Branch Manager of the United States Attorney’s Office in Fort Worth. He is an Advisory Board Member of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, Fort Worth Chapter, and a member of the Eldon B. Mahon American Inn of Court. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Baylor University and a Juris Doctor from Baylor Law School. Judge Wolfe and his wife have been married for 20 years and have six children. They are former foster parents and are members of Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth.