A native of Tampa, Florida, Judge Purdy earned her undergraduate degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, a highly selective, liberal arts college widely recognized as a global leader in the education of women of African descent.

About Judge Purdy

Monica Purdy is originally from Tampa, Florida. She earned an undergraduate degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.

Judge Purdy earned her law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas where she was a member of Law Review and began her legal career at the Houston office of the national law firm of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP.

Judge Purdy earned her law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas where she was a member of Law Review and began her legal career at the Houston office of the national law firm of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP. Building a practice focused on civil litigation and bankruptcy matters, she relocated to the firm’s Dallas office and was later promoted to partner.

In 2004, to accommodate the needs of her growing family, Judge Purdy opened and built a private law practice in Dallas, primarily serving as regional counsel for Fortune 500 clients in litigation and collection disputes before state and federal courts.

A consistent advocate for education, she helped to develop the Legal Studies Department curriculum for Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas where she taught as an adjunct professor. She also has served the community as President of the J.L. Turner Legal Association; Regional Director for the National Bar Association and conducted countless community voter engagement seminars.

Monica Purdy began her legal career at Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, where she focused on civil litigation and bankruptcy matters and was promoted to partner. She later opened a private law practice in Dallas and taught as an adjunct professor at Paul Quinn College.

HONORABLE MONICA PURDY

Judge Monica Purdy is a lifelong Democrat seeking election to the 5th District Court of Appeals, Place – 6. She was first elected to the bench in November 2020, garnering an impressive 64% of the vote. In 2013, Judge Purdy was unanimously appointed by a merit panel of thirteen elected State Civil Court Judges, representing the highest trial court in Texas, to serve as an Associate Judge of the Civil District Courts in Dallas. Judge Purdy has consistently achieved some of the highest ratings among her judicial colleagues and is ranked as one of the top three civil judges in Dallas County.

Judge Monica Purdy Campaign

Monica was first elected to the bench in November 2020.

2026 Texas General Election

In 2010, she was appointed as Associate Judge for the City of Dallas, a position that allowed her to maintain a private practice while performing significant duties in the enforcement of the city’s laws and ordinances. Based on this experience, and backed with her passion for legal issues from both sides of the bench, she pursued and was appointed as Associate Judge of the State Civil District Courts.

Represented clients in civil litigation and bankruptcy matters as a partner at Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson.

Opened a Dallas private law practice in 2004, representing Fortune 500 clients in litigation and collection disputes in state and federal courts.

Served as a City of Dallas associate judge, enforcing city laws and ordinances while maintaining a private practice.

Served as an associate judge of Dallas Civil District Courts following a unanimous appointment by a panel of elected state civil court judges in 2013.

- Represented clients in civil litigation and bankruptcy matters as a partner at Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson.
- Opened a Dallas private law practice in 2004, representing Fortune 500 clients in litigation and collection disputes in state and federal courts.
- Served as a City of Dallas associate judge, enforcing city laws and ordinances while maintaining a private practice.
- Served as an associate judge of Dallas Civil District Courts following a unanimous appointment by a panel of elected state civil court judges in 2013.

Legal Experience

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned so far as trial judge? How are you currently using that lesson to run your court in the best manner?

One of the most valuable lessons that I believe I have learned so far as a trial judge is to rule. You know more about the case before you at the time of the hearing than you will ever know about the case once the parties leave your courtroom. If you aren’t ruling because you are afraid of being wrong, then you will never rule. A ruling helps the parties to move their case along. You owe it to the parties that have taken the time and energy to properly prepare the case before you; not ruling slows down the process and has a domino effect on all aspects of the parties’ case. Thus, I do my best to make a thoughtful, reasoned decision based upon the evidence before me and move onto my next case.

Race for the 95th District Court Pits Incumbent Against Associate Judge

Q: What are the biggest challenges your courthouse is facing, and what role are you playing to address those challenges?

A: The biggest challenge that our courthouse is facing is bringing back in person jury trials while ensuring safety for all the parties involved in the midst of a pandemic. The courts are also balancing technology needs as the pandemic has revealed a significant digital divide for many of its pro se litigants. I am addressing these challenges by staying abreast of each Texas Supreme Court order that provides safety guidance to courts and offering telephone hearings to any litigant that indicates they do not have internet or Wi-Fi access.

Q: There is a significant problem with (a) jury attendance and (b) jury pool diversity. Less than one in five people summonsed to jury service shows up. Those who do show up do not seem to be a representative cross-section of the community. How is this impacting the administration of justice in Texas and what can be done about it?

A: The constitution forbids racial discrimination in jury selection, and courts favor diverse jury panels if we are to earn the public’s trust in the decisions reached by our judicial system. Only about 20% of Dallas County residents summoned to jury duty actually show up for jury duty. Potential jurors in our courts are paid $6 for their first day of service and parking typically is not free.

What can be done to ensure jurors that show up for jury duty are representative of a cross section of the community is to increase pay for jury service, educate the public about the civic responsibilities and the importance of having a jury of your peers and the lack thereof, ensure employers of small businesses understand their obligations to employees summoned for jury service and lastly have lawyers and courts to be efficient with their time involving jurors.

A lack of a cross representation of the community in our jury pools contributes to a lack of trust in our judicial system, juries that are representative of our communities restore public trust and confidence in our judicial system.

Prioritizes timely, thoughtful rulings based on the evidence to help parties move their cases forward.

Offered telephone hearings to litigants without internet or Wi-Fi access during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Calls for higher jury pay, voter education, employer compliance, and efficient court procedures to improve representative jury participation.

- Prioritizes timely, thoughtful rulings based on the evidence to help parties move their cases forward.
- Offered telephone hearings to litigants without internet or Wi-Fi access during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Calls for higher jury pay, voter education, employer compliance, and efficient court procedures to improve representative jury participation.

Judicial Administration

AALM: What do you believe is the biggest difference between practicing law and presiding as a judge?

MP: The biggest difference between practicing law and presiding as a judge is that you are no longer there to advocate on behalf of your client or advance his/her interests. Your job as a judge is to ensure that the parties obtain justice. A judge is responsible for presiding over her courtroom and ensuring a fair, neutral and balanced forum in which the parties may present their case. As a judge you are there to interpret the law, apply the law and seek a resolution.

Judge Monica Purdy: Seeking Resolution

Q: No matter what you say here, some voters will vote against you simply because they’re straight ticket voters and you’re on the wrong side of their ballot. There is another group of voters who are inclined to do the same, but could be convinced otherwise. What would you say to them? Why should they vote for you even if your political party doesn’t match their values?

A: What I would remind voters of when they go to the polls this election cycle, is to remember there is no straight party option when casting your vote, so voters will have to select each candidate they wish to vote for on their respective ballots. Although Texas elects’ judges, partisanship for judges should be left behind once she takes the bench. Fairness and justice are paramount and should be the sole guiding principle for a judge when reaching decisions.

AALM: Are there any challenges you believe need to be corrected in the legal community?

MP: I think that judges and lawyers must make a long-term commitment and play a meaningful role in correcting the impact of racial disparities in our courts and legal decisions. The most recent events of social injustice witnessed this summer must cease. Its longstanding history has existed for way too long and does absolutely nothing to move our country and legal system forward. It is time to collectively work together to find a solution. Lawyers are trained to get things done, courts ensure equity and I am hopeful there can and will be a real solution soon.

Said judges should provide a fair, neutral, and balanced forum, interpret and apply the law, and seek resolution.

Said judges and lawyers must make a long-term commitment to address racial disparities in courts and legal decisions.

- Said judges should provide a fair, neutral, and balanced forum, interpret and apply the law, and seek resolution.
- Said judges and lawyers must make a long-term commitment to address racial disparities in courts and legal decisions.

Judicial Philosophy

As of July 22, 2026, Monica Purdy’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Ethics & Conduct

Conducted community voter-engagement seminars.

Taught as an adjunct professor at Paul Quinn College and helped develop its Legal Studies Department curriculum.

- Conducted community voter-engagement seminars.
- Taught as an adjunct professor at Paul Quinn College and helped develop its Legal Studies Department curriculum.

Community Involvement

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Monica Purdy

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Isaac Brickman

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- 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.