more about judge nancy kennedy

Judge Nancy Kennedy is a Democratic candidate for Justice, Fifth District Court of Appeals, Place 7. This is one of the most important appellate courts in Texas, handing family, criminal and civil appeals for six North Texas counties. Judge Kennedy will bring much needed criminal legal experienc to this court. She has 20 years of combined legal and judicial experience.

Judge Kennedy was first elected to Texas Criminal District Court 2 in 2016, and took office in Janaury of 2017. She launched a specialty felony court to help those defendants who have been found incompetent to stand trial as well as defendants who have been found not guilty by reason of insanity. Her court also handles a female offender program.

Judge Kennedy began practicing law in 2001, initially as a prosecutor and then as a criminal defense attorney throughout Texas. She has experience at the trial court level and also the appellate level, and she has practiced in both state and federal court. After working as a prosecutor, she started her own legal practice in 2005 specializing in criminal defense. She represented clients in courts throughout the State in both trials and appeals along with applications for writs of habeas corpus. She also represented clients in federal district courts in Texas and beyond.

In 2010, Judge Kennedy became Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Only about ten percent of all attorneys in the State of Texas are Board Certified. As an attorney, Judge Kennedy was also selected by her peers as a Rising Star in Texas Monthly magazine in the area of criminal defense every year from 2008 to 2016.

Judge Kennedy is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. During law school, she received the Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility Fellowship along with the Martin Samuelsohn Fellowship. During law school, Judge Kennedy volunteered at the Housing Crisis Center and participated in the Criminal Justice Clinic as both a staff attorney and chief counsel and was a member of the Computer Law Review now known as the Science and Technology Journal. Judge Kennedy also taught Trial Advocacy at the law school as an adjunct professor.

Judge Kennedy was born in Dallas and currently resides in East Dallas. In addition to her legal work, Judge Kennedy has volunteered with the Red Cross and is active in her children’s school and with the Dallas County Democratic Party.