Seventh Court of Appeals
December 23, 2025
MEDIA ADVISORY
CHIEF JUSTICE BRIAN P. QUINN TO RETIRE AFTER THREE DECADES OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ON TEXAS SEVENTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
AMARILLO, Texas — Chief Justice Brian P. Quinn announced today his retirement from the Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals, concluding a 30-year judicial career marked by legal scholarship, educational leadership, and unwavering dedication to justice. His final day of service will be December 31, 2025.
First elected to the Court in 1994, Quinn has served as Chief Justice since his appointment by Governor Rick Perry in May 2005, providing steady leadership to one of Texas's busiest appellate courts.
Quinn's path to the bench began with an honors degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in 1978, followed by graduating magna cum laude from Texas Tech University School of Law in 1981. He honed his legal acumen as a briefing attorney to the Honorable George P. Kazen, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Before his judicial appointment, Quinn practiced complex civil litigation as a partner at McWhorter, Cobb & Johnson in Lubbock.
During his service on the bench, Quinn has written more than 5,000 opinions. Chief Justice Quinn has also served citizens of the state through his dedication to legal education. Serving as an adjunct professor at the Texas Tech School of Law since 1999, Quinn has also presented throughout the country on successful representation of clients in trial and on appeal. He has also served in various leadership positions with the State Bar of Texas committees and on the council of chief justices.
The Texas Seventh District Court of Appeals, based in Amarillo, serves 46 counties across the West Texas Panhandle. The Court handles all civil and criminal appeals within its jurisdiction, except capital murder cases with death penalty assessments. Justices serve six-year terms.