Derek Obialo is from Mbano, Nigeria. He has a bachelor's degree from Imo State University, a master's degree from Houston Christian University, and a law degree from the University of Miami. 

Texas intermediate appellate court elections, 2024 - Ballotpedia

Associate Judge Derek Obialo | Fort Bend County

Derek is an associate judge for the 240th District Court in Texas. He previously maintained a legal practice for 17 years, primarily focusing on construction law and business litigation. Before attending law school, he worked in construction claims consulting. 

Derek is an associate judge for the 240th District Court in Texas. He previously maintained a legal practice for 17 years. Before his law career, he worked in construction claims consulting. 

Derek is currently an associate judge of the 240th District Court. He was appointed in 2025. He previously ran for Place 4 judge of the Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals in 2024 but did not win.

Derek previously ran for the Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals in 2024 and the Texas 400th District Court in 2020 but did not win. 

Law Office

As the owner of the Law Office of Derek U. Obialo since 2007, specializes in representing construction industry workers and business in legal disputes.

- As the owner of the Law Office of Derek U. Obialo since 2007, specializes in representing construction industry workers and business in legal disputes.

Legal Experience

As of January 22, 2026, Derek Obialo’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Judicial Administration

For Candidate Derek Obialo on Issue judicial-philosophy: Believes that having empathy is the most desired quality in a public office holder.

Believes empathy is "the most quality desired in a public office holder."

- Believes empathy is "the most quality desired in a public office holder."

Judicial Philosophy

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Derek Obialo

Isaac Brickman

Walter Ley

Upholds the utmost integrity in all situations.

Advocates for fairness in justice, stating it is essential that justice be fair to people in all situations.

Michael is a native Houstonian. He attended the University of Texas. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. He lives with his wife Katie and their son Porter in a tight-knit neighborhood in Houston.

Michael Adams-Hurta is from Houston, Texas. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas and a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. He lives with his wife, Katie, and their son.

Michael is a partner at Texas’s largest civil-appellate specialty law firm in Houston, where he litigates appeals in the Fourteenth Court of Appeals and other appellate courts across Texas. He previously worked as a law clerk for the Honorable George P. Kazen, a federal district judge in the Southern District of Texas, and for the Honorable Eva Guzman, a justice on the Supreme Court of Texas.

Michael Adams-Hurta - Ballotpedia

Michael is a partner at a civil-appellate specialty law firm in Houston. He previously worked as a law clerk for a federal district judge in the Southern District of Texas and for a justice on the Supreme Court of Texas.

Michael Adams-Hurta’s campaign for Place 7 judge of the Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals is his latest bid for judicial office. He previously served as judge of the 152nd District Court from 2002 to 2008 and as judge of the 334th District Court from 2011 to 2013.

Texas Judicial Candidate Comparisons | Texas Judges

As a partner at a civil-appellate specialty law firm, researches, drafts, and files appeals, and provides legal counsel and defense to clients, specializing in complex civil litigation and seeking to overturn or modify lower court decisions.

As a partner at a civil-appellate specialty law firm, researches, drafts, and files appeals, and provides legal counsel and defense to clients, seeking to overturn or modify lower court decisions.

- As a partner at a civil-appellate specialty law firm, researches, drafts, and files appeals, and provides legal counsel and defense to clients, seeking to overturn or modify lower court decisions.

As of January 22, 2026, Michael Adams-Hurta’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Believes the job of a judge is to interpret and apply laws "passed by and for the people."

- Believes the job of a judge is to interpret and apply laws "passed by and for the people."

Volunteered with the Harris County Democratic Party Voter Protection team for 3 years.

Volunteered with the Harris County Democratic Party Voter Protection team for 3 elections.

- Volunteered with the Harris County Democratic Party Voter Protection team for 3 elections.

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Michael Adams-Hurta

William Demond has a bachelor's degree in Asian studies from Furman University and a law degree and a master's degree in diplomacy and international relations from Seton Hall University.

William is an attorney at his own firm, Demond Law, PLLC, and a partner at Demond & Hassan, PLLC.

William Demond - Ballotpedia

William previously ran for Texas Fourteenth District Court of Appeals Place 9 in 2022 and for Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3 in 2020 but did not win. 

As a constitutional rights attorney since 2008, has gone to trial for cases involving civil rights, internet privacy, commercial disputes, appeals, and immigration.

As a law clerk for the Law Office of Wanda Akin, researched and wrote briefs related to the genocide in Darfur and filed charged at the International Criminal Court.

- As a constitutional rights attorney since 2008, has gone to trial for cases involving civil rights, internet privacy, commercial disputes, appeals, and immigration.
- As a law clerk for the Law Office of Wanda Akin, researched and wrote briefs related to the genocide in Darfur and filed charged at the International Criminal Court.

As of January 22, 2026, William Demond’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Editorial: We recommend William Demond in Democratic primary for ...

Opposes judicial activism, defined as judges deciding cases based on what they believe the law should be rather than what it currently is.

- Opposes judicial activism, defined as judges deciding cases based on what they believe the law should be rather than what it currently is.

William Demond

Has a strong background in law, having served as a judge and an attorney for many years.

- 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.

This sample ballot may not include all local party roles or measures on the official ballot. The listed candidates serve only within their party, and the propositions do not change the law.

Texas Court of Appeals Justice, Division 14, Democratic Primary

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