Judge Smith with his sons, Lincoln and Jackson, and Dallas County GOP Chair, Lt. Col. Allen West Plano, TX – February 9, 2026  – Judge Ben Smith, presiding judge of the 380th District Court and candidate for Justice on the Fifth Court of Appeals, celebrated a triumphant fundraiser on February 5, 2026, at the prestigious Harlan Crow Library in Dallas. The event, themed “Save the Court!!,” drew hundreds of enthusiastic supporters, featuring a live performance by renowned Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 1, 2026 Judge Ben Smith Faces No Primary Opponent in Republican Primary for Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals PLANO, Texas – Judge Benjamin N. Smith, currently presiding over the 380th Judicial District Court in Collin County, today announced that he will face no primary challenger in the March 3, 2026 Republican primary for Place 6 on the Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals. The filing deadline has passed with no other Republican candidat

I am honored to run for the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals,” said Judge Ben Smith. “The citizens of Dallas, Collin, Grayson, Kaufman, Rockwall, and Hunt Counties deserve appellate justices who uphold the law with integrity and clarity. My experience as a district judge and my commitment to fair, consistent rulings make me ready to serve on this esteemed court.”