--- title: "Donald R. Pierson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-r-pierson" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Donald R. Pierson Texas County Court at Law No. 1 · Judge, Tarrant County Court at Law No. 1 ## Profile - Court: Texas County Court at Law No. 1 - State: Texas - Role: Judge, Tarrant 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. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge of Tarrant County Court at Law No. 1 in Texas, serving since 2022 and currently running for re‐election in 2026 - His legal practice has included real estate, wills, trusts, probate, elder law, creditor‐debtor, commercial litigation, personal injury, and debt collection - Highly experienced Texas judge with a strong background in tax, estate planning, and commercial law, recognized for his professional excellence and mentorship in the legal community ### Education - (Taxation), Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law the biographical record+1 — LL.M. (1987) - J.D., University of Houston Law Center, 1978 LL.M., Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, 1987 - University of Houston Law Center the biographical record+1 — J.D. (1978) - M.B.A., Texas Christian University, 1975 - B.B.A., Texas Christian University, 1974 ### Additional information - As of 2026, Judge Pierson is seeking re‐election for his current term, which runs through the end of 2026 - in Texas, serving since his re‐election in 2022, with his current term ending December 31, 2026 - Re‐election: Incumbent, advanced from the Republican primary on March 3, 2026; general election scheduled for November 3, 2026 - Recent filings (April 2025) include cases such as IPFS Corporation v. - He is registered as a Republican and was re‐elected in the 2022 general election - Mentor of the Year (2012), Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association the biographical record - Estate Planning and Probate Law (1987) the biographical record - Tax Law (1985) - Estate Planning and Probate Law (1987) the biographical record - Certifications: Board Certified in Tax Law (1985) Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law (1987) - Pierson was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1978 and has also been admitted to the U.S. Tax Court and the Texas Northern District Court - Pierson presides over a variety of civil cases, including debt, contract, and collection matters. - AMG Express Trucking, LLC and Synchrony Bank v. - Lena Bell. - Appeals from his court go to the Texas Second Court of Appeals. - Pierson presides over cases in Tarrant County, among them commercial, debt, and contract matters - Donald R. Pierson - AV Preeminent® peer rating (highest level of professional excellence) - Mentor of the Year award from the Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association the biographical record ## 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 Counsel may inspect the courtroom audiovisual equipment before trial by arranging a time with the bailiff or court coordinator. Evidence excerpt: Counsel are welcome to visit the courtroom and inspect the audio-visual equipment to prepare for trial. Contact the Court bailiff or Court Coordinator Tracey Wood for an appropriate time. [County Court at Law No. 1 Court Policies](https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/civil-courts/county-courts/county-court-at-law-1/court-policies.html) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### 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/county-courts/county-court-at-law-1.html) - [Official roster](https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/civil-courts/county-courts/county-court-at-law-1.html) - [Tarrant County Court at Law No. 1 official judicial roster](https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/civil-courts/county-courts/county-court-at-law-1.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) - [County Court at Law No. 1 Court Policies](https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/en/civil-courts/county-courts/county-court-at-law-1/court-policies.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-r-pierson", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/donald-r-pierson", "name": "Donald R. 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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.