UT alumna Maggie Ellis, a former foster mother and child welfare advocate, made history as the first openly queer justice elected to the 3rd Texas Court of Appeals. 

Ellis was elected on Nov. 5 as the Place 2 Judge. She will review lower civil and family court decisions to ensure proper legal procedures are followed and determine if any errors warrant appeals or new trials. The 3rd District Court of Appeals will be composed entirely of women for the first time. 

“It’s significant that I would be the first openly queer female justice in the entire state of Texas,” Ellis said. “It’s important that all of our elected seats reflect the population that they serve.”

She began attending UT in 1986 and gave birth to her first child in 1988. She graduated after 16 years.

“UT is not the best or easiest campus for pushing a stroller around,” Ellis said. “It was really working with kids in the classroom that I knew something wasn’t right at home, and I realized that was the work I wanted to do. I wanted to make a difference for children and families.” 

Ellis began her legal career in child welfare, prosecuting abuse and neglect cases for Child Protective Services. Later, she practiced family law with a focus on divorces and custody disputes and dedicated much of her time to helping low-income clients. 

“I did a lot of pro bono work,” Ellis said. “If somebody said, ‘Hey, Maggie, there’s this lady in (this) county. She can’t afford an attorney, she needs a divorce,’ I would spend more money on gas than she would pay me to handle the divorce.” 

Ellis said access to services and adequate representation can determine the outcome for families.

“There’s just a need for education for the kids, and at the same time, so many parents want to be good parents,” Ellis said. “They want to do right by their children, so it’s about getting them set up with services so they can be safe and appropriate with their children.” 

Ellis said she finds joy in practicing family law despite its emotional toll, particularly when the legal system brings meaningful change for children and families.

“When you have these cases where a child who suffered severe abuse and they get adopted into a safe and wonderful home … it’s amazing,” Ellis said.