--- title: "D'Metria Benson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/d-metria-benson" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-28" --- # D'Metria Benson Texas County Court at Law No. 1 · Judge, Dallas County Court at Law No. 1 ## Profile - Court: Texas County Court at Law No. 1 - State: Texas - Role: Judge, Dallas County Court at Law No. 1 - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### courtroom technology and trial materials Scope: courtroom specific All counsel and self-represented litigants must attend trial docket call with clients and witnesses ready; failure to appear can result in default or dismissal. Evidence excerpt: All cases are called for trial the day they are set. The Court requires all counsel and self-represented litigants to appear for docket call. You should have your clients and witnesses ready. Failure to appear may result in a default or dismissal. [Dallas County Court at Law No. 1 Procedures](https://www.dallascounty.org/Assets/uploads/docs/courts/county-court-at-law/law1/DallasCourt1ProceduresMay2025.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### civil remote appearances Scope: statewide In civil district and county court proceedings, the court may permit or require electronic participation after appropriate notice; compelled electronic participation for oral-testimony proceedings requires good cause or party agreement, and a jury trial requires party agreement. Evidence excerpt: Upon appropriate notice by a party or the court, a court may allow or require a participant to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means, except as otherwise provided in (2). [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### civil recording and broadcasting Scope: statewide Civil district and county trial courts may permit courtroom recording or broadcasting only under Supreme Court guidelines, with the required party and witness consent, or for ceremonial proceedings. Evidence excerpt: A trial court may permit broadcasting, televising, recording, or photographing of proceedings in the courtroom only in the following circumstances: [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.dallascounty.org/government/courts/county_court_at_law/law1/) - [Official roster](https://www.dallascounty.org/government/courts/county_court_at_law/law1/) - [Dallas County Court at Law No. 1 official judicial roster](https://www.dallascounty.org/government/courts/county_court_at_law/law1/) - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) - [Dallas County Court at Law No. 1 Procedures](https://www.dallascounty.org/Assets/uploads/docs/courts/county-court-at-law/law1/DallasCourt1ProceduresMay2025.pdf) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/d-metria-benson", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/d-metria-benson", "name": "D'Metria Benson | KnowJudges", "description": "D'Metria Benson, Texas County Court at Law No. 1. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-07-28", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/d-metria-benson#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/d-metria-benson#judge", "name": "D'Metria Benson", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/d-metria-benson", "jobTitle": "Judge, Dallas County Court at Law No. 1", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Texas County Court at Law No. 1" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.dallascounty.org/government/courts/county_court_at_law/law1/" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Texas", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/texas" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "D'Metria Benson", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/d-metria-benson" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - In May 2026, Benson was in the national spotlight after the Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice questioned her “mask up or go to jail” courtroom rule, which required masks and health screening for all in her courtroom since March 2023. - D’Metria Benson is a Democratic Party judge of Dallas County Court at Law No. 1 in Texas, serving since 2006 and currently through the end of 2026 ### Education ### Additional information - She is also a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Cathedral choir - Benson has served on multiple bar association boards, including the State Bar of Texas Women and the Law Section, and on the Dallas County Dispute Resolution Systems Board. ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-119ce7e69a3752f1da3cfce0) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-a5f587f769df9f3231ef4f9a) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.