JUSTICE CHARLES VAN CLEEF

Place 3

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas; he has lived in Longview, Texas for over 20 years. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 1992.

JUSTICE CHARLES VAN CLEEF

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas; he has lived in Longview, Texas for over 20 years. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 1992. While completing law school, he worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, and continued with that court, after graduation and licensure, for several years.

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from South Texas College of Law in 1992. He has lived in Longview, Texas, for over 20 years.

Justice Charles van Cleef - Texas Courts

2026 Texas General Election

While completing law school, he worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, and continued with that court, after graduation and licensure, for several years. In private practice, Justice van Cleef worked throughout East Texas in State and federal courts, both trial and appellate.

Justice van Cleef’s return to public service and judicial career began in April of 2022 when he was appointed to the 6th Court of Appeals by proclamation of Governor Greg Abbott.

Governor Greg Abbott has appointed L. Charles van Cleef to the Sixth Court of Appeals, Place 3, for a term set to expire on December 31, 2022, or until his successor shall be duly elected and qualified.

Charles van Cleef of Longview is an attorney and has 30 years of experience in state and federal courts, including both trial and appellate law. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Bar Association of the Federal Fifth Circuit Court, and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

Governor Abbott Appoints Van Cleef To Sixth Court Of Appeals

Worked as a private-practice attorney in Texas state and federal trial and appellate courts.

- Worked as a private-practice attorney in Texas state and federal trial and appellate courts.

Legal Experience

As of July 22, 2026, Charles Van Cleef did not have a website or any information online.

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Charles van Cleef of Longview is an attorney and has 30 years of experience in state and federal courts, including both trial and appellate law. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Bar Association of the Federal Fifth Circuit Court, and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Additionally, he is a former member of the Gregg County Bail Bond Board and the Tyler Planning and Zoning Committee. Van Cleef received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor degree from South Texas College of Law.

Served on the Gregg County Bail Bond Board.

Served on the Tyler Planning and Zoning Committee.

- Served on the Gregg County Bail Bond Board.
- Served on the Tyler Planning and Zoning Committee.

Community Involvement

Charles Van Cleef

As of July 22, 2026, Charles van Cleef did not have a website or any information online.

Charles van Cleef

As of July 22, 2026, Charles van Cleef’s website did not contain information on this issue.

JUSTICE CHARLES VAN CLEEF

Place 3

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas; he has lived in Longview, Texas for over 20 years.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 1992.

Justice Charles van Cleef

JUSTICE CHARLES VAN CLEEF

Place 3

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas; he has lived in Longview, Texas for over 20 years.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 1992.  While completing law school, he worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, and continued with that court, after graduation and licensure, for several years.

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from South Texas College of Law. He has lived in Longview, Texas, for over 20 years.

JUSTICE CHARLES VAN CLEEF

Place 3

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas; he has lived in Longview, Texas for over 20 years.  He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 1992.  While completing law school, he worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, and continued with that court, after graduation and licensure, for several years.  In private practice, Justice van Cleef worked throughout East Texas in State and federal courts, both trial and appellate.

Charles previously worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, and in private practice in East Texas, including in state and federal trial and appellate courts.

Justice van Cleef’s return to public service and judicial career began in April of 2022 when he was appointed to the 6th Court of Appeals by proclamation of Governor Greg Abbott.

Justice van Cleef has been a member of the State Bar of Texas since 1993 and has also been admitted to practice before numerous federal courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Charles has served as a justice on the 6th Court of Appeals since his appointment by Gov. Greg Abbott in April 2022.

Serves as a justice on Texas’s 6th Court of Appeals, a position he has held since 2022.

Practiced law in East Texas, including in state and federal trial and appellate courts.

Worked for the federal court in Tyler during law school and for several years after becoming licensed.

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas; he has lived in Longview, Texas for over 20 years. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 1992.

Justice Charles Van Cleef

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from South Texas College of Law. He has lived in Longview, Texas, for over 20 years.

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 1992. While completing law school, he worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, and continued with that court, after graduation and licensure, for several years.

While completing law school, he worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, and continued with that court, after graduation and licensure, for several years. In private practice, Justice van Cleef worked throughout East Texas in State and federal courts, both trial and appellate.

Charles van Cleef previously worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, during and after law school. He later worked in private practice throughout East Texas in state and federal trial and appellate courts.

Practiced law throughout East Texas in state and federal trial and appellate courts.

Worked for a federal court in Tyler during law school and for several years after becoming licensed.

- Practiced law throughout East Texas in state and federal trial and appellate courts.
- Worked for a federal court in Tyler during law school and for several years after becoming licensed.

Charles van Cleef of Longview is an attorney and has 30 years of experience in state and federal courts, including both trial and appellate law. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Bar Association of the Federal Fifth Circuit Court, and the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. Additionally, he is a former member of the Gregg County Bail Bond Board and the Tyler Planning and Zoning Committee.

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas. He has lived in Longview, Texas for over 20 years. He received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 1992.

Charles is an attorney. He has practiced law for 30 years, including both trial and appellate law. He previously worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, while completing law school. After graduation, he continued to work for that court for several years. He has also worked in private practice throughout East Texas. 

Charles is currently a justice on the Sixth Court of Appeals. He was appointed to the court in April 2022.

Longview lawyer appointed to fill vacancy on Texarkana appeals court

Has 30 years of experience in state and federal courts, including both trial and appellate law.

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas. He has lived in Longview, Texas for over 20 years. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor degree from South Texas College of Law.

Charles is an attorney. He has practiced law for 30 years, including both trial and appellate law. He previously worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, while completing law school. After graduation, he continued to work for that court for several years. He also previously worked in private practice throughout East Texas. 

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas. He has lived in Longview, Texas for over 20 years. He received a bachelor 27s degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law. 

Charles is an attorney. He has 30 years of experience in state and federal courts, including both trial and appellate law. He previously worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, and continued with that court for several years after graduation and licensure. In private practice, he worked throughout East Texas in state and federal courts, both trial and appellate. 

Charles is an attorney. He has served as a justice on the Texas Court of Appeals since 2022. He previously worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, and continued with that court for several years after graduation and licensure. He also worked in private practice throughout East Texas in state and federal courts, both trial and appellate. 

Charles is currently a justice on the 6th Court of Appeals. He was appointed in April 2022.

Charles is an attorney. He has practiced law for 30 years, including both trial and appellate law. He previously worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, and continued with that court for several years after graduation and licensure. He also worked in private practice throughout East Texas. 

Charles van Cleef was born in Fort Worth and raised in Tyler, Texas; he has lived in Longview, Texas for over 20 years. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in 1992.

Charles is an attorney. He has served as a justice on the Texas Court of Appeals since 2022. He previously worked for the federal court in Tyler, Texas, and continued with that court for several years after graduation and licensure. He also worked in private practice throughout East Texas in state and federal courts, handling both trial and appellate cases.

Buket Urgen

Mauricio Mendez

- 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.