Abbott to appoint Bland to state Supreme Court

AUSTIN (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday he'll a appoint Houston appellate judge who lost her most recent election to fill a vacancy on the state Supreme Court.

Texas has partisan judicial elections and Judge Jane Bland had been one several Republican judges swept out of appeals courts by voters in 2018. Earlier this year, Abbott filled a previous Supreme Court vacancy with Judge Brett Busby, another Republican Houston appeals judge who had been voted out last year.

Bland will join the nine-member civil court to replace Justice Jeff Brown, who was recently confirmed for a federal court position.

Bland will be Abbott's third appointment to the state Supreme Court. She will have to stand for election in 2020.