About Thomas

Thomas Just, a former senior intelligence analyst with the U.S. Air Force and an experienced trial attorney in family, criminal, and federal courts, is running for Hays County Court at Law #2. His campaign is centered around promoting integrity, fairness, and accountability in the judicial system. Thomas is deeply committed to protecting individuals’ rights and ensuring equal justice, consistently advocating for the people rather than the powerful. His journey from the gymnasium to the Air Force, and ultimately to a courtroom litigator, has instilled in him the core values of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.

Thomas grew up in a middle-class family and is the first member of both his immediate and extended family to attend law school. He learned the value and dignity of hard work from an early age while working on his grandparents’ farm, for an excavation company, and as an award-winning gymnast in high school.

At the age of 18, Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Air Force immediately after graduating from high school in 2003, during a time when the country was involved in conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. After serving honorably as an intelligence analyst, he utilized his GI Bill to attend the University of Texas at Austin and the Seattle University School of Law. While studying philosophy and government at UT, Thomas interned for Congressman Lloyd Doggett and was an active member of the University Democrats. After graduating from law school, he returned to Central Texas to practice law and currently lives in Buda with his wife, Dr. Beth Just, a dedicated primary care physician.

Thomas, a trial lawyer, has managed hundreds of family law cases and contested hearings, and he has experience trying both felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. He has also practiced in federal court, giving him a broader perspective beyond the county courthouse. His notable achievements include successfully leading a legal effort to remove an incompetent District Clerk from Hays County, thereby safeguarding the integrity of local government. Additionally, he uncovered and built a case against an individual who was practicing law without a license, resulting in a felony conviction, and held the law firm owner accountable before the State Bar.

In addition to representing veterans in VA proceedings, Thomas is dedicated to serving his community by providing pro bono legal counsel to Task Force Butler. This organization focuses on building criminal and civil cases against neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups across the country. He has also collaborated with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) to advocate for pro-veteran legislation. Furthermore, he is an active member of VFW Post 12161, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and the Truman National Security Project.

Thomas has held various leadership roles, including serving as a board member for the Kyle Buda Area Democrats (KBAD) and as Vice Chair of the Hays County Democratic Party. He has also been a Commissioner on the City of Austin Veterans Commission. Currently, he serves as a board member of both the Criminal Justice Section of the Austin Bar Association and Veterans Fighting Fascism.

Thomas and Beth share a lively, joyful home centered around two dogs—a two-year-old German Shepherd in Schutzhund training and a three-year-old Beagle who marches to the beat of his own drum. Thomas is an enthusiastic chess player with a passion for history and political philosophy. Beth is a committed healthcare professional who cares for patients during the day and unwinds with acrylics and her sketchbook at night. Their week blends structure and creativity: training in the mornings, courtroom preparations and clinic days in the afternoons, and evenings spent on chess practice, painting, and neighborhood walks. Outside of work, they enjoy exploring new restaurants and traveling—and when at home, they geek out over a new show together (just not legal or medical dramas; the inaccuracies are too distracting). On game days, everything pauses for the Texas Longhorns.

Affiliations