History

Chief Justice

Terrie Livingston (1994 to 2017)

Terrie Livingston was born on March 9, 1955, in Atlanta, Georgia. She moved to Fort Worth, Texas in 1956 and graduated from Western Hills High School in 1973. She graduated from Texas Tech University in 1977 and attended the University of Texas School of Law.

 After law school, she took a position with Watson, Ice & McGee in Fort Worth. In 1985, she established the first all-female law firm of Livingston, Todd-Bruise & Hardy. She joined Gandy Michener Swindle & Whitaker, L.L.P. in 1988 as a partner. In 1994, she ran in the general election for a seat on the appellate court. She served on Place 7 from December 16, 1994, to April 18, 2010. She served sixteen years on the court until Governor Rick Perry tapped her for Chief Justice. She held the role of Chief Justice from April 19, 2010, to September 8, 2017. She served in this position for 7 years before deciding to retire.

 She started as Chief Justice during a difficult time with budget cuts. Livingston also implemented a Security Committee for the court and an active and proactive archive committee. She held membership in the American Bar Association, Appellate Conference of Judicial Administration Division, and several committees with the State Bar of Texas. She was the Tarrant County Bar Foundation chair and the chair of a Building Construction Committee. She penned some of the most difficult decisions the court has faced, yet many are confidential other than the basis of the opinions.