Why does it typically cost more money to win a seat on the Texas Supreme Court than a seat on the Texas court of criminal appeals? The Texas legislature has placed a strict cap on the spending for criminal appeals court election campaigns. There are few interest groups that contribute money to the criminal appeals court candidates’ campaigns, which keeps down the costs of the election. Judges running for the criminal appeals court do not have to be elected in a statewide election. Fewer people are interested in the court of criminal appeals.