Texas Courts, Justice Dabney Bassel 

Ballot Pedia, Dabney Bassel

Dabney was raised in San Antonio and currently lives in Fort Worth, Texas. He graduated from Texas Military Institute, Trinity University, and Baylor University School of Law.  He is married with one adult daughter.

Dabney previously worked as an attorney in private practice and for the Fort Worth firm of Law, Snakard, and Gambill. He also worked as the briefing attorney for Justice Ted Akin of the Fifth Court of Appeals and as counsel with the firm of Bassel and Wilcox.

Dabney Bassel currently serves as the Court of Appeals Justice in Court of Appeals Division 2 in Texas. He was first elected in 2018 and is serving his first full term in office.

As a state court of appeals judge, ensures the law has been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases, exercises the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of fact or law by lower appeals and trial courts, and hears applications for court orders that compel and prohibit certain actions by lower courts and government officials.

Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2001.

As an attorney at multiple firms, researched, drafted, and filed legal documents, and provided defense and counsel to clients, specializing in civil litigation and appeals.

- As a state court of appeals judge, ensures the law has been applied correctly in state criminal and civil cases, exercises the authority to correct procedural errors or misinterpretations of fact or law by lower appeals and trial courts, and hears applications for court orders that compel and prohibit certain actions by lower courts and government officials.
- Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2001.
- As an attorney at multiple firms, researched, drafted, and filed legal documents, and provided defense and counsel to clients, specializing in civil litigation and appeals.

Legal Experience

As of September 7, 2024, Dabney Bassel did not have a website or any information online.

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Member of the American Law Institute, Tarrant County Bar Foundation, Texas Bar Foundation, and  Serjeants' Inn of North Texas.

Former Vice-President, Treasurer, and Director of the Tarrant County Bar Association, former chair of the Appellate Section, and the Continuing Legal Education, Membership, and Sponsorship Committees of the Tarrant County Bar Association, and the former President, Counselor, and Treasurer of the Eldon Mahon Inn of Court.

- Member of the American Law Institute, Tarrant County Bar Foundation, Texas Bar Foundation, and  Serjeants' Inn of North Texas.
- Former Vice-President, Treasurer, and Director of the Tarrant County Bar Association, former chair of the Appellate Section, and the Continuing Legal Education, Membership, and Sponsorship Committees of the Tarrant County Bar Association, and the former President, Counselor, and Treasurer of the Eldon Mahon Inn of Court.

Community Involvement

Dabney Bassel

- In Texas, appeals from district and county courts, except death penalty cases, go to one of 14 intermediate courts of appeal.
- There are a total of 80 appellate court seats, distributed variably among the courts based on population across the 14 districts.
- Courts with more than three justices decide cases in rotating panels of three.
- Justices are elected in partisan elections for six-year terms.
- The yearly salary for a Court of Appeals justice in Texas is between $192,500 and $255,050 based on the total number of years they have served.

Hears appeals on orders and decisions made by lower trial courts.