First Court of Appeals

Place 6

Justice Andrew Johnson was elected to the First Court of Appeals in 2024. Andrew is a career appellate attorney and Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He began his legal career as a briefing attorney on the First Court of Appeals and spent several years as a staff attorney on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals. During his time with the First and Fourteenth Courts, Andrew researched complex civil and criminal issues and drafted numerous proposed opinions.

Andrew then practiced law for over one decade with Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons, L.L.P. in Houston, where he was a partner and vice-chair of the firm’s appellate section. Andrew was lead appellate counsel on appeals and mandamus proceedings and presented oral argument in appellate courts across Texas and in the Fifth Circuit. He also frequently served as appellate counsel for trial teams, preparing jury charges and legal briefing and arguing to the court.

Andrew has been a council member for the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section, chair of the Appellate Section’s Judicial and Section History Committee, and president of the Thomas More Society of Galveston-Houston.