--- title: "Dennis Wayne Bridewell | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/dennis-wayne-bridewell-15530" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Dennis Wayne Bridewell Johnson County Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: Johnson County Court - State: Texas - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, Johnson County Court, 1985-present - Presiding Judge, Texas 249th Judicial District Court, TX, 2019-2022 - 1991–2022: Served in multiple Presiding Judge roles at the 249th Judicial District Court, including terms from 1991–1994, 1995–1998, 1999–2002, 2003–2006, 2007–2010, 2011–2014, 2015–2018, and 2019–2022 - Judge, Texas 249th Judicial District Court, TX, 2015-2018 - Presiding Judge, Texas 249th Judicial District Court, TX, 2011-2014 - Presiding Judge, Texas 249th Judicial District Court, TX, 2007-2010 - Presiding Judge, Texas 249th Judicial District Court, TX, 2003-2006 - Presiding Judge, Texas 249th Judicial District Court, TX, 1999-2002 - Presiding Judge, Texas 249th Judicial District Court, TX, 1991-1994 - Prior to his judicial election in 1991, Bridewell was a county judge for Johnson County "Johnson County, Texas (Judicial)"). - 1985–1987: Judge, Johnson County Court at Law - Assistant District Attorney, Assistant County Attorney, Somervell County, TX, ?-present - Former Roles: Assistant District Attorney (Jefferson County), County Attorney (Johnson County) - He also served as an assistant district attorney and a county attorney for Johnson and Somervell "Somervell County, Texas (Judicial)") counties - Dennis W. Bridewell is a retired judge of the 249th District Court of Texas in Johnson County, with a long career in judicial service, law enforcement, and community leadership ### Education - B.A. in Government, Tarleton State University J.D., Texas Tech University School of Law (1973) - J.D. — Texas Tech University and also received certification from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law ### Additional information - Retired: End of 2022 - Presiding Judge, TX, 1995-1998 - 1987: Elevated to Johnson County District Court - Bar Admission: Texas State Bar, 1974 - Born in 1948, raised in Somervell County, TX - Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, ?-present - Certifications: Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization - Chairman, Juvenile Board of Johnson County - Served on United Way of Johnson County Allocations Committee and local boards for United Way of America’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program - Member of Johnson County Bar Association, Texas Bar Foundation, and various civic clubs - Former Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army - Graduate of Glen Rose High School - Affiliated with Field Street Baptist Church in Cleburne - Registered as a Republican ## 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 ### 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.courtlistener.com/person/15530/dennis-wayne-bridewell/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15530/dennis-wayne-bridewell/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15530/dennis-wayne-bridewell/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15530/dennis-wayne-bridewell/) - [Wayne Bridewell - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Wayne_Bridewell) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/dennis-wayne-bridewell-15530", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/dennis-wayne-bridewell-15530", "name": "Dennis Wayne Bridewell | KnowJudges", "description": "Dennis Wayne Bridewell, Johnson County Court. 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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.