Justice Cory Carlyle proudly serves the people of Dallas, Collin, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman, and Rockwall Counties on the 5th District Court of Appeals.

His judicial philosophy is straightforward: apply the facts to the law as it is written.

Since in being elected in 2018, Justice Carlyle has written opinions on a host of topics, including proper interpretation of arbitration clauses, venue disputes, all manner of criminal matters, personal jurisdiction, custody disputes, and contractual matters. In all, Justice Carlyle has written over 300 opinions, and has participated in over a thousand matters at the intermediate appellate court.

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Justice Cory Carlyle is committed to ensuring the rights of all litigants—in all cases—are protected and that each person appearing before the court feels the same respect, dignity, and professionalism that every person appearing in Texas court deserves. Lauded for his judicial temperament, Justice Carlyle strives to be a calm presence on the bench, firm when required, but insistent on the respectful exchange of ideas, arguments, and legal precedent that is the modern appellate court.

Justice Cory Carlyle

5th District Court of Appeals

Place 11

About the justice

A native Texan and product of public school from elementary through law school, Justice Cory Carlyle is a career public servant. He started his legal career in the Appellate Section of the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. For two years, Justice Carlyle prosecuted appeals in all manner of felonies for the State, from assault and robbery to burglary and murder. He was a member of the team evaluating past convictions for DNA testing, which was later renamed the Conviction Integrity Unit. In addition, Justice Carlyle handled the State’s responses to writs of habeas corpus and provided extensive legal research support to trial prosecutors.

Though he never planned to leave the Great State, Justice Carlyle met his now-wife, Misty, who lived and worked in Washington, DC. Figuring he ought to be able to find work as a lawyer in DC, Justice Carlyle packed up and moved to the District of Columbia.

Following a stint working at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Justice Carlyle was offered a chance to return to criminal work, prosecuting cases for the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. Jumping at the chance to resume his career in criminal litigation, he worked for a year in that office, and then opened shop for himself, representing indigent criminal defendants.

Starting in January 2010, Justice Carlyle owned and operated the Law Office of Cory L. Carlyle, representing primarily indigent criminal defendants at trial and on appeal. In 2016, after getting the go-ahead to leave DC, the Carlyles moved back home to Texas, and the law practice followed, expanding to include a civil appellate component.

Counties Within the Fifth District

Fifth District County Map

What Does the Appeals Court Do?

Hears appeals from criminal cases (from DWI to murder, pre- and post-trial appeals)
Hears appeals from civil cases (like breach of contract, personal injury, and business relationships)
Hears appeals from family cases (like divorce or custody)
Hears appeals from juvenile cases (typically, criminal cases)
Has original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus to enforce its jurisdiction