Waco attorney Barrett Thomas enters race for 170th State District Judge; DeCluitt, Robertson drop out
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - The McLennan County judicial merry-go-round continues to spin, with one candidate joining the race for 170th State District judge and two others dropping out.
Waco attorney Barrett Thomas, a former police chief and prosecutor, is joining Waco attorney Gina Long in the race to succeed longtime 170th State District Judge Jim Meyer, who is retiring at the end of his current term in December 2026.
As Thomas and Long gear up to face each other in the March 2026 Republican primary, felony prosecutor Kristi DeCluitt and attorney Aubrey Robertson, who previously announced their intent to run for the 170th State District Court bench, both have suspended their campaigns for the court.
While the county’s six state district courts have general jurisdiction, the 170th Court primarily handles civil and family law matters.
Thomas, 47, said with his broad experience in civil, family and criminal law, he is in a unique position to serve the citizens of McLennan County.
“If you look at the caseload in McLennan County, 45% are family law cases, and the families and children of McLennan County deserve someone who has experience in that area of law,” Thomas said. “My vision is simple: to bring fairness, compassion and experience to the bench for all cases before the court, but also to provide a venue where the judge has the experience, training and judicial temperament to effectively manage the emotions and intimate dynamics of family law cases. Family first. Justice always.”
Thomas and Long both applied for the gubernatorial appointment for the vacancy left when 74th State District Judge Gary Coley Jr. resigned from office in February. Gov. Greg Abbott tapped longtime Waco attorney Peter Rusek to fill that spot last month, so Thomas and Long shifted their attention to 170th.
DeCluitt, a former McLennan County justice of the peace, is currently a felony court chief in McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens’ office. DeCluitt, defeated by 19th State District Judge Thomas West in a July 2020 primary runoff, threw her support behind Long after dropping out of the race.
“A three-person race is not something I’m willing to put my family through again, both emotionally and financially,” DeCluitt said. “A runoff would be inevitable, and I am happy with the job as a felony chief. I enjoy working to keep out families safe from the worst of the worst.”
Long, 39, has worked at the Waco law firm of Harrison Davis Morrison and Jones, handling civil plaintiff litigation cases since November 2018. She said she is honored to have DeCluitt’s endorsement in the race.
“Kristi is a dedicated attorney who has given so much to this community, and her confidence means a lot to me,” Long said. “Her support shows that I’m ready to serve McLennan County with honesty, integrity and compassion. I’m committed to building a court that serves everyone fairly, no matter what kind of case comes through the door.”
While Robertson left the170th State District Court race, he said he intends to run for the Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1, Place 2 seat currently held by Pete Peterson, a retired Department of Public Safety trooper who is ready to retire again.
Thomas has a bachelor’s degree from Hardin-Simmons University, graduated from the McLennan Community College Law Enforcement Academy, earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Tarleton State University and a law degree from Texas Tech University. He currently is a part-time graduate student studying marriage and family therapy at Texas Wesleyan University.
He is a former police chief in Anson, Texas, a former police officer in McGregor and a former prosecutor in Abilene and Sweetwater. He has been the managing attorney at Lighthouse Legal Services, formerly Blanchard & Thomas in Waco, since 2015.
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