Eighth Court of Appeals
Chief Justice Jeff Alley
Place 1
Governor Greg Abbott appointed Jeff Alley as Chief Justice of the Eighth Court of Appeals on December 8, 2023. That appointment gives Chief Justice Alley the distinction of being both the 15th and 17th Chief Justice of the Court. Before this appointment, Chief Justice Alley served as Justice Place Two from January 4, 2021 to December 31, 2022. Before that, he... Read more
Justice Gina M. Palafox
Place 3
Justice Palafox was elected to the Eighth Court of Appeals in November 2016 and began serving on January 3, 2017. Before her judicial service, Justice Palafox engaged in the private practice of law, worked in health care management, and taught at the university level, among other professional activities. As a solo practitioner, she primarily represented clients in civil and business... Read more
Justice Lisa Soto
Place 2
Justice Soto joined the Eighth Court of Appeals on January 1, 2023. To the bench, she brings 25 years of civil law experience from practicing in Texas and California. In Texas, she worked for an Austin-based firm where she represented employees, small businesses, and organizations primarily in contracts and labor and employment cases in various forums and venues. In California,... Read more