Donny Ray Willett is a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He was previously appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to serve as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas on August 24, 2005, when former Justice Priscilla Owen created a vacancy on that court by joining the Fifth Circuit. In April 1996, Willett joined then-Governor George W. Bush’s administration as Director of Research and Special Projects, advising on various legal and policy issues. In 2000–2001, Willett worked on the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign and transition team. In the White House, Willett was Special Assistant to the President and Director of Law and Policy for the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (WHOFBCI). He returned to Texas in early 2003 to become Deputy Texas Attorney General for Legal Counsel in the office of newly elected Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. As the attorney general’s chief legal counsel, Willett led the agency’s core legal divisions. Willett was serving in this Deputy Attorney General position when he was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court in August 2005. In May 2016, Willett appeared on presidential candidate Donald Trump’s list of potential U. S. Supreme Court justices.
Judge Don Willett talks about how he became the Tweeter Laureate of Texas and give tips for other judges who want to use social media as a platform.
Subscribe to receive featured episodes and staff favorites once a month.
Newsletter Signup
