Denise Hernandez at a glance
- Current role
- Statutory County Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Denise Hernandez
Statutory County Court Judge · Travis County Court at Law No. 6
Biography
Professional career
- Denise Hernández has held the role of Presiding Judge of County Court at Law #6 in Travis County, Texas, since January 1, 2023, with a term ending December 31, 2026
- Racial Justice Champion Notley (2023)
- Judge Denise Hernández is the presiding judge of Travis County Court at Law No. 6 and leads the Transformative Youth Justice program, and is a national advocate for equity and trauma-informed justice
- Academic roles: Adjunct professor at Huston‐Tillotson University and St. Edward’s University
Education
Additional information
- Running for re‐election in the November 3, 2026 general election for County Court at Law #6.
- Austin 40 Under 40 (2024)
- Elected in 2022.
- Hernández’s approach is community‐centered, trauma‐informed, and rooted in human dignity.
- Awards: Bettie Naylor Award from the Human Rights Campaign for LGBTQ+ rights advocacy
- She also oversees Transformative Youth Justice (TYJ), a court‐led diversion program for 17‐ to 20‐year‐olds, partnering with over 15 community organizations to provide trauma‐informed care, mental health support, education, and career development.
- Her campaign emphasizes co‐creating a justice system that “centers human dignity and community care”.
- She has led initiatives to expand resources for system‐impacted youth and to integrate holistic support beyond the courtroom.
- She draws on her own experience as a working‐class, migrant farm worker family member navigating the court system, which often dehumanized them.
- Community leadership: Founder of Chingona Fest Texas; active in civil rights, cultural, and legal organizations.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
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.
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 ↗
Recording and broadcasting
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Travis County Court at Law No. 6
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Travis County Court at Law No. 6
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings ↗Travis County Court at Law No. 6 official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Travis County Court at Law No. 6 official directory ↗