The Honorable Linda Thomas is the former Chief Justice of the Fifth District Court of Appeals, the State’s largest intermediate appellate court. Chief Justice Thomas received her B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington and her J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law. She served eight years as a family court judge and has been on the appellate court since 1987. Chief Justice Thomas is Board Certified in Family Law and has been awarded the prestigious Sam Emison Award by the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists for meritorious contributions to family law. Chief Justice Thomas is a nationally-recognized leader in legal and judicial education.

Former Chief Justice Linda Thomas taught Texas Trial & Appellate Procedure in Fall 2010 and Family Law in Spring 2011. She is teaching Family Law in Spring and Fall 2012.