Justice Charles Spain, 14th Court of Appeals - Retired

A native Houstonian, Charles Spain served the judiciary for 35 years.

He is the first openly LGBTQ+ appellate judge in Texas and is a retired justice of the Court of Appeals for the Fourteenth District of Texas.

01/20/2025

My honor to visit Rice University today and speak to the Rice Young Democrats.

I shared that I was young and q***r during the intolerant administration of Presidents Reagan and Bush. The band played on while people died of AIDS, and those administrations made jokes about the dead and dying. Let your hearts not suffer, for surely they have their reward.

Time is the fire in which we burn. Move through the five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—and then fight like hell.

ACT UP, Fight Back!

01/01/2025

01/01/2025

Best wishes to Justice Tonya McLaughlin, who assumed the office this morning when she took the oath. I am now a retired justice and no longer a public official.

It's anyone's guess when Facebook will process my request to change the name of this page. Meta doesn't work for me!

11/06/2024

My congratulations to Tonya McLaughlin on her win.

Six years ago I earned a place at the table on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals as the first openly LGBTQ justice in Texas. I have had the high honor of serving and have done my best to do what I am supposed to do and not do what I am not supposed to do. The work is not easy, but I love it.

Growing up in Houston, I never dreamt that I would get to be in this position. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to serve. Je ne regrette rein.

Live long and prosper.