April Farris was appointed to the First Court of Appeals by Governor Abbott for a term beginning January 2021.

Before joining the Court, April was a partner at Yetter Coleman LLP where she handled complex appellate litigation for energy, technology, and government clients. In 2020, she was one of five lawyers in the nation to be named a Law360 Rising Star in appellate litigation, an honor reserved for attorneys under 40. She has also been recognized in appellate law by Best Lawyers in America, and Thompson Reuters’ Super Lawyers.

April previously served as an Assistant Solicitor General for the State of Texas, where she handled appeals for various Texas agencies. She recently completed a three-year term on the Council of the Texas State Bar Appellate Section, and she currently co-chairs its CLE Committee. April is a life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and she is a member of the Houston Bar Association. She previously served as the president of the Federalist Society’s Houston Lawyers Chapter.

April clerked for Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. She graduated from Harvard Law School cum laude in 2009, and she earned her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Abilene Christian University in 2006.

April is married to Ben Farris, and they have two children.

At the end of 2020, Governor Abbott asked me to serve my fellow Texans and our great state as a Justice on the First Court of Appeals. I was honored to accept and am humbled to take my place on the bench in our remarkable justice system.

I hope to earn your support as a fair, consistent judge who works to uphold the rule of law and refuses to legislate from the bench. I am proud to serve you, and I am committed to ensuring that justice is fairly and impartially given to all.