Maggie Ellis, a Democrat who was elected Tuesday as chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, has expressed opposition to a policy that lets Texas judges decline to officiate weddings that conflict with their sincerely held religious beliefs. The policy, adopted by the court in October 2025, covers judges who refuse to perform certain marriage ceremonies, including same-sex weddings. Ellis has said she wants to revisit those protections, raising questions about whether judges who choose to officiate weddings should be required to serve all legally eligible couples.
On Friday, the Plano-based First Liberty Institute criticized Ellis's position. The group accused the incoming chief justice of undermining religious freedom.
Ellis has opposed the policy since before the election. In a 2025 candidate questionnaire submitted to Stonewall Democrats of Austin, she said the court's order was an attack on the LGBTQ+ community and the Constitution, and that it led her to run for a seat on the court. Ellis, who has served on the Texas Third Court of Appeals since January 2025, campaigned on expanding access to justice.