Texas Judicial Branch, Justice John Phillip Devine 

John is a native of Indiana. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and marketing from Ball State University and a law degree from the South Texas College of Law. He is married to Nubia, and they have 7 children.

John has worked at Shell Oil Co. and Brown & Root Inc. in various corporate and project-oriented positions.

John Devine was first elected to the Supreme Court of Texas in 2012 and was re-elected in 2018. He previously served for 7 years as judge of the 190th State District Court in Harris County and for 9 years as an appointed special judge for the Harris County justice of the peace courts.

As of September 7, 2024, John Devine’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Legal Experience

Candidate website

As a judge, reduced his court’s case backlog by over 40 percent.

Promises to apply the law impartially and consider all arguments presented.

- As a judge, reduced his court’s case backlog by over 40 percent.
- Promises to apply the law impartially and consider all arguments presented.

Judicial Administration

Believes in interpreting the law rather than "making law" from the bench.

Believes parents should be allowed to use traditional disciplinary measures without fear of losing custody.

- Believes in interpreting the law rather than "making law" from the bench.
- Believes parents should be allowed to use traditional disciplinary measures without fear of losing custody.

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

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John Devine

Wants to continue serving the people of Texas for another full term.

Promises to ensure the court system is "fair and just."

Promises to uphold the trust of Texas residents.

Believes in making decisions with "much prayer and consideration."

Supports the re-election of Justice Devine.

Believes in "constitutionally minded" judicial principles and supports justices who protect traditional family values, as evidenced by his agreement with Justice Blacklock's opinion against appellate courts undermining parent-child relationships based on outdated disciplinary methods.

Opposes the judicial destruction of families, believing that parental rights are "a basic civil right of man and far more precious than property rights."

Believes in a "God-given, fundamental right of parents to raise their children as they see fit..."

Supports a "God-given, fundamental right of parents to raise their children as they see fit..."

As a Supreme Court Justice, wrote an opinion for the majority in a 2015 case that was widely seen as challenging homeschooling.

Endorsed by the Texas  for Lawsuit Reform PAC.

Endorsed by the Texas Legal and Republican Political Action Committee.

Supports judicial candidates who "apply our laws as written, never legislating from the bench."

Supports TLRPAC, a bipartisan coalition with 16,300 Texas supporters across 900 communities and 1,255 businesses, advocating for civil justice reform.

Supports judges who "uphold the rights of Texas parents."

Believes judges play a crucial role in upholding parental rights.

Believes the Texas Supreme Court is essential for maintaining the rule of law and safeguarding the rights of all Texans.

Believes "shenanigans" by challengers undermines trust.

Believes Texas parents should have the freedom to use corporal punishment without intervention from Child Protective Services.

Believes the legislature should express its views on judicial opinions regarding child punishment standards.

Believes traditional parenting methods, like physical exercise and spanking, are under threat from government interference in parental rights.

John Devine is a native of Indiana and attended Ball State University, graduating in 1980. He has been married since 1989 to Nubia Piedad Gomez, and the couple has seven children.

John Devine is a Justice on the Supreme Court of Texas, first elected in November 2012. He previously served as a judge of the 190th State District Court in Harris County for seven years and as an appointed special judge for the Harris County justice of the peace courts for nine years. He also worked at Shell Oil Co. and Brown & Root Inc. in various corporate and project-oriented positions.

John Devine was first elected to the Supreme Court of Texas in November 2012 and was re-elected in 2018. He previously served for seven years as judge of the 190th State District Court in Harris County and for nine years as an appointed special judge for the Harris County justice of the peace courts. Devine has announced his candidacy for re-election to the Texas Supreme Court.

- The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for civil matters, including juvenile delinquency cases.
- The Texas Supreme Court is made up of nine justices. All nine positions are elected, with a term of office of six years and no term limits.
- Decisions are made collectively by majority vote, and a justice writes the majority opinion.
- The Texas Supreme Court is the only state supreme court in the United States in which refusing to hear a lower court’s cases implies approval of the court’s decision, thus rendering it precedent.
- Justices must be at least 35 years old, a citizen of Texas, licensed to practice law in Texas, and must have practiced law (or have been a lawyer and a judge of a court of record together) for at least ten years
- Court of Criminal Appeals judges earn a salary of $210,000 to $264,600, depending on how long they have served in office.