Gordon Goodman (Democrat Challenger)
Gordon Goodman has 30 years of legal experience in the energy industry. He is former director of governance for NRG Energy, former vice president of Occidental Energy Marketing, former president of Dupont Power Marketing, former senior vice president of Conoco Global Power and former president of Howell Power Systems.
Goodman received a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been licensed by the State Bar of Texas since 1977.
Jane Bland (Republican Incumbent)
Justice Jane Bland has served in Place 2 on the First Court of Appeals since 2003. She is former district judge of the 281st Judicial District of Harris County and a former attorney at Baker Botts. She clerked for Judge Thomas Gibbs Gee of the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Bland received bachelor’s degrees in accounting and honors business from The University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from The University of Texas School of Law, where she graduated with high honors, served as vice chancellor and editor of the Texas Law Review and was a member of the Order of the Coif. She has been licensed by the State Bar of Texas since 1990 and is board certified in both civil appellate law and civil trial law.
Bland was named Appellate Judge of the year by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists in 2003, 2007 and 2015, and received the William H. Rehnquist Award in 2010.
Justice Bland has been endorsed by TLRPAC and the Texas Civil Justice League PAC.