Who is Ken Curry? What to know about Lubbock, Texas judge who granted Brendan Sorsby’s injunction originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Barring an appeal, Brendan Sorsby will be playing games for Texas Tech in 2026.
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That seemed an unlikely proposition a few days ago. The Red Raiders hurler admitted to placing more than $90,000 in bets during his time at Indiana. Some of Sorsby’s wagers were made on the Hoosiers, an apparent violation of NCAA rules.
On Monday, a Texas court granted Sorsby an injunction in his case against the NCAA, opening the door for him to return to action in Lubbock in the fall. Sorsby will serve a two-game suspension as laid out in the ruling.
With that, here’s what you need to know about Sorsby’s case and the judge who presided over it, Ken Curry.
MORE: Will Brendan Sorsby play for Texas Tech in 2026?
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Who is Ken Curry?
A Fort Worth, Texas native, Curry retired from the 153rd District Court in 2012 following a 20-year spell on the bench. He has continued to serve as a visiting judge for the Tarrant County in the years since his retirement.
Curry earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from UTSA in 1974. In 1976, he completed his J.D. at Houston. He started his career in private practice shortly thereafter. In 1979, he started his own law firm.
Curry was assigned to judge the Sorsby case by 9th Administrative Judicial Region presiding judge Anna Estevez. He took the case over from Judge Phillip Hays, who recused himself from the case. Hays, a Lubbock native with attended Texas Tech for undergraduate and law school, didn’t give a reason for his recusal.
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MORE: Explaining Brendan Sorsby’s NCAA investigation
Did Ken Curry got to Texas Tech?
Curry did not attend Texas Tech. He received his bachelor’s degree from UTSA in 1974. Two years later, he completed his J.D. at Houston. There is no reported link between Curry and Texas Tech.
Is the NCAA appealing Ken Curry’s ruling?
According to The Athletic’s Justin Williams, the NCAA filed an official appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Seventh District of Texas in Amarillo.
Termed as an “accelerated” appeal, those involved in the ruling
he result of the appeal will likely need to be announced before June 22, the deadline for players to apply for the supplemental draft.
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Who are the Seventh Court of Appeals judges?
All four justices slated to hear the NCAA’s appeal are Texas Tech law school graduates. Chief Justice Judy C. Parker was appointed to the Seventh Court of Appeals in 2026 following a three-decade spell across Texas’ judiciary. She spent time as Judge of Lubbock’s County Court at Law Number 3 and Associate Judge of Lubbock County.
She previously served as President of the Texas Tech University School of Law American Inn of Court during her time in law school.
Justice Laura A.W. Pratt was appointed to the bench in March 2026, having previously worked in private practice. She attended Arkansas for undergraduate before completing her J.D. (magna cum laude) at Texas Tech.
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Justice Alex Yarbrough picked up his bachelor’s degree at Angelo State before completing his J.D. at Texas Tech. He spent time at a handful of law firms before being appointed to the bench.
Lastly, Justice Larry Doss has served on the Seventh District Court of Appeals since 2019. He received his J.D. from Texas Tech in 1999 and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Circuits.