--- title: "Donald Maxson Turner II | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-maxson-turner-ii-16131" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Donald Maxson Turner II Texas 254th Judicial District Court · Associate Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas 254th Judicial District Court - State: Texas - Role: Associate Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Associate Judge, Texas 254th Judicial District Court, Dallas, TX, 2012-present - Formerly held the role of Associate Judge at the 254th District Court until May 2023, when he transitioned to mediation work at North Texas Litigation Solutions - Appointment: Appointed October 15, 2012, by Justice James B. Martin ### Education - J.D. (Juris Doctor): University of Houston Law Center, 1992 - B.A. (Political Science & Government): University of Texas at Austin, 1989 ### Additional information - Licensed by the State Bar of Texas since November 6, 1992 (Bar No. 00785125) - Associate Judge of the 254th (Family) District Court in Dallas County, Texas, specializing in family law cases. - Practice Area: Family law, including divorce, custody, and related matters - Judge Turner has over three decades of legal experience, combining judicial service with mediation and legal advocacy. ## 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/16131/donald-maxson-turner-ii/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16131/donald-maxson-turner-ii/) - [Texas 254th Judicial District Court current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16131/donald-maxson-turner-ii/) - [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/16131/donald-maxson-turner-ii/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-maxson-turner-ii-16131", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-maxson-turner-ii-16131", "name": "Donald Maxson Turner II | KnowJudges", "description": "Donald Maxson Turner II, Texas 254th Judicial District 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.