Attorney Ashley Wysocki has been appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to serve as judge on one of Dallas County’s seven family law courts, according to an announcement the governor’s office released last week.
The move marks the fourth time in the past seven years that Abbott has chosen Wysocki to fill a judicial vacancy in Dallas County. The other appointments came in 2019, 2021 and 2023, and were to family law and civil court benches.
“I’m honored to have [the governor’s] confidence and to be able to fill these roles,” Wysocki said Wednesday. “I love being a judge and I look forward to serving the citizens again.”
This time, Wysocki will be completing the term of former 301st District Court Judge Mary Brown, who retired last month with nearly a year left to serve. Brown, a Democrat, said during a recent phone interview that once she decided in August not to seek a fourth term, she also decided to step down early. Her last day was Jan. 6.
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Wysocki, a Republican, is running for a seat on the state’s Fifth District Court of Appeals. She has no opponents in the Republican primary and will face the winner of the Democratic primary matchup between Nicholas Palmer and Andrea Plumlee in the general election. Wysocki previously ran for each of the other three positions Abbott appointed her to, but lost each time.
Abbott press secretary Andrew Mahaleris said Wednesday it’s not unusual for the governor to repeatedly appoint the same lawyer to fill judicial vacancies.
“As a former trial judge, Supreme Court justice, and attorney general, Governor Abbott knows it is critical that our judges have the experience and knowledge needed to follow the law as written,” Mahaleris said in a text message. “As with any appointment decision, Governor Abbott chooses leaders he believes are the best equipped to fulfill the duties of their office.”