Court History
Justices from 1876 - 1945
The "traveling court" practice continued under Constitution of 1876, but ended under a constitutional amendment adopted September 22, 1891, which finally moved the Court's seat to the capital at Austin, where it remains.
Left to right: Justice Thomas Greenwood, Chief Justice C. M. Cureton, Justice William Pierson, c. 1923-1934. Photo: Texas Supreme Court Archives.
Chief Justices
- Oran M. Roberts (April 1876 - October 1878)
- George F. Moore (November 1878 - November 1881)
- Robert S. Gould (November 1881 - December 1882)
- Asa H. Willie (December 1882 - March 1888)
- John W. Stayton (March 1888 - July 1894)
- Reuben R. Gaines (July 1894 - January 1911)
- Thomas J. Brown (January 1911 - May 1915)
- Nelson Phillips (June 1915 - November 1921)
- Calvin M. Cureton (December 1921 - April 1940)
- W. F. Moore (April 1940 - January 1941)
- James P. Alexander (January 1941 - September 1945)
Associate Justices
- Robert S. Gould (April 1876 - November 1881)
- John W. Stayton (November 1881 - March 1888)
- A. S. Walker (April 1888 - January 1889)
- J. L. Henry (January 1889 - May 1893)
- T. J. Brown (May 1893 - January 1911)
- W. F. Ramsey (January 1911 - April 1912)
- Nelson Phillips (April 1912 - June 1915)
- J. E. Yantis (June 1915 - March 1918)
- Thomas B. Greenwood (April 1918 - December 1934)
- John H. Sharp (December 1934 - September 1945)
- George F. Moore (April 1876 - October 1878)
- Micajah H. Bonner (November 1878 - December 1882)
- Charles S. West (December 1882 - September 1885)
- Sawnie Robertson (October 1885 - September 1886)
- Reubin R. Gaines (September 1886 - July 1894)
- Leroy G. Denman (July 1894 - May 1899)
- F. A. Williams (May 1899 - April 1911)
- J. B. Bibrell (April 1911 - January 1913)
- William E. Hawkins (January 1913 - January 1921)
- William Pierson (January 1921 - April 1935)
- Richard Critz (May 1935 - January 1945)
- Gordon Simpson (January 1945 - September 1945)
Left to Right: Justice Frank A. Williams, Chief Justice Thomas J. Brown, Justice William F. Ramsey, 1911. Photo: Texas Supreme Court Archives.