Sarah Duff appointed as Collin County Probate Judge

The Collin County Commissioners Court has appointed Sarah Duff as the new Probate Judge, succeeding Judge Weldon Copeland who is retiring after 35 years of service. Judge Copeland's retirement will take effect on January 31, and Ms. Duff will assume her new role on February 1.

Sarah Duff, a resident of McKinney and a Texas Tech University law graduate from 2007, was selected by a unanimous vote from the Commissioners Court. Her appointment followed interviews with multiple candidates during Monday's session.

Ms. Duff began her legal career in private practice in 2007, serving as the municipal court prosecutor for Anna and Aubrey. In 2013, she founded The Duff Law Firm in McKinney, representing clients in probate and guardianship cases across several counties. Since 2018, she has served as the associate judge for the mental health docket at the Probate Court of Collin County.

Commissioner Darrell Hale commented on the selection process: “Finding an honorable replacement for Judge Copeland was certainly no easy task; we were fortunate to have four strong candidates to consider." He added that Ms. Duff distinguished herself during interviews, ensuring continuity for the probate court.

Judge Chris Hill also expressed confidence in Ms. Duff's appointment: “All of our citizens can be pleased to know that we have tremendously talented folks in our community... In the end, we unanimously believe we have found the right candidate."

Ms. Duff's appointment will last until the November 2024 general election results are confirmed by the Commissioners Court. The position will not appear on the March primary ballot, and the winner of November's election will complete the term ending December 2026.