Home
Appointees
Don R. Willett

Don R. Willett

Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 2017–2018

Don R. Willett, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. The Senate voted 50–47 on the nomination on Dec 13, 2017 (Nomination Confirmed). Donny Ray Willett (born July 16, 1966) is an American lawyer and jurist serving since 2018 as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He was previously a justice of the Supreme Court of Texas from 2005 to 2018.

Senate votes: 1

Senate confirmation votes

a Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
115th Congress · Nomination Confirmed50–47 · Dec 13, 2017

Education

Baylor UniversityB.B.A., 1988
Duke University School of LawJ.D., 1992
Duke UniversityM.A., 1992
Duke University School of LawLL.M., 2016

Career

Law clerk, Hon. Jerre S. Williams, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, 1992-1993; Private practice, Austin, Texas, 1993-1996; Director of research and special projects, Office of Gov. George W. Bush, Texas, 1996-2000; Domestic policy and special projects advisor, George W. Bush presidential campaign and transition team, 2000-2001; Special assistant to President George W. Bush, 2001-2002; Deputy assistant attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice, 2002-2003; Deputy attorney general for legal counsel, State of Texas, 2003-2005; Justice, Supreme Court of Texas, 2005-2017

Biography

Donny Ray Willett (born July 16, 1966) is an American lawyer and jurist serving since 2018 as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He was previously a justice of the Supreme Court of Texas from 2005 to 2018.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

From Senate roll call votes, Wikidata, Wikipedia and Office of Government Ethics records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “Don R. Willett: Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/appointee/j4025356/don-r-willett (accessed 2026-10-13).