Texas has two types of law – civil and criminal. Civil and Criminal law practice are separated at the District and Court of Last appeal levels, but are argued in the same court room at the Justice of the Peace and Court of Appeals levels. The Third Court of Appeals, a panel of six judges, covers 24 counties, ranging from just east of Austin, north to Waco, and west to San Angelo. In addition, the 3rd Court hears all appeals for cases against state agencies, and all cases contesting the constitutionality of Texas laws.
In March of 2009, Jan Patterson, a Democrat serving on the 3rd Court of Appeals, announced her intention to not seek re-election. My understanding is that Jan was tired of being confronted about her liberal activist tendencies each time she would travel to the more conservative parts of the district, and decided that she would rather run in Travis County for a District Court.
Around the time of her announcement, Scott King Fields, an administrative attorney from Austin, announced his intention to run for the office. Near the end of the filing period, former Judge Melissa Goodwin also announced her intention to run.
Scott has experience as a law clerk on the Texas Supreme Court (which is the court of last resort for civil matters) and currently practices appellate law for complex civil business cases.
Melissa has experience as a law clerk for the Court of Criminal Appeals (which is the court of last resort for criminal matters), and served as a Justice of the Peace in Travis County, as well as a Judge for the 427th District Court. In her private practice she represents both civil and criminal cases at the District and appellate levels.