--- title: "Donald J. Cosby | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-j-cosby" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-03" --- # Donald J. Cosby Texas 67th District Court · District Judge, Tarrant County 67th Civil District Court ## Profile - Court: Texas 67th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge, Tarrant County 67th Civil District Court - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge of the 67th District Court in Tarrant County, Texas, serving since 2000 and currently in a term that ends December 31, 2028 - Presiding Judge, Texas 67th Judicial District Court, Fort Worth, TX, 2021-2024 - Presiding Judge, Texas 67th Judicial District Court, Fort Worth, TX, 2017-2020 - Presiding Judge, Texas 67th Judicial District Court, Fort Worth, TX, 2013-2016 - Presiding Judge, Texas 67th Judicial District Court, Forth Worth, TX, 2009-2012 - Presiding Judge, Texas 67th Judicial District Court, Fort Worth, TX, 2005-2008 - Presiding Judge, Texas 67th Judicial District Court, TX, 2001-2004 - Presiding Judge, Texas 67th Judicial District Court, Fort Worth, TX, 2000-2000 - Administrative Law Judge, Tarrant County District Courts, TX, ?-present ### Education - B.A., Tulane University (1977) J.D., St. Mary’s University School of Law (1980) - Tulane University of Louisiana — B.A. (1977) ### Additional information - Election: Re-elected in the November 5, 2024 general election with 100% of the vote. - Previous Election: Defeated Matthew Hegeman in 2020. - First Appointed: 2000 - Date of birth: 1955-02-12 - Practitioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC, ?-present - Practitioner, Auld & Stephenson, P.C., Bedford, TX, ?-present - Current Term: Ends Dec. - Early Life: Cosby grew up in the Lena Pope Home after his mother, a Japanese immigrant, placed him and his siblings there as a child. - Political Affiliation: Registered Republican. - Birth place: Fort Worth, TX ## 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 ### trial exhibits and video Scope: courtwide Before trial, parties must mark and exchange exhibits; films and videotaped depositions generally must be disclosed early enough for objections to be heard before trial. Evidence excerpt: Prior to commencement of trial all exhibits will be marked, exchanged and examined by counsel so that the trial will not be delayed by such examination. [Local Rules of the Civil Courts of Tarrant County](https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/content/dam/main/county-clerk/Civil_Rules.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.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/civil-courts/district-courts/67th-district-court.html) - [Official roster](https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/civil-courts/district-courts/67th-district-court.html) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15572/donald-jay-cosby/) - [Tarrant County 67th Civil District Court official judicial roster](https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/civil-courts/district-courts/67th-district-court.html) - [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) - [Local Rules of the Civil Courts of Tarrant County](https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/content/dam/main/county-clerk/Civil_Rules.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15572/donald-jay-cosby/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-j-cosby", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-j-cosby", "name": "Donald J. Cosby | KnowJudges", "description": "Donald J. Cosby, Texas 67th District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-03", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-j-cosby#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-j-cosby#judge", "name": "Donald J. Cosby", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-j-cosby", "jobTitle": "District Judge, Tarrant County 67th Civil District Court", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Texas 67th District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/civil-courts/district-courts/67th-district-court.html", "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15572/donald-jay-cosby/" ], "birthDate": "1955-02-12", "birthPlace": "Fort Worth, TX", "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Tulane University of Louisiana" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "St Mary's University" } ] }, { "@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": "Donald J. Cosby", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-j-cosby" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.