--- title: "Ellen S. Smith | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ellen-s-smith-16073" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Ellen S. Smith Texas 323rd Judicial District Court · Associate Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas 323rd 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 323rd Judicial District Court, Fort Worth, TX, 1995-present - Former Position: Associate District Judge, Fort Worth, Texas - Practice Areas: Juvenile law, child abuse and neglect - Retired Texas juvenile court judge, originally serving as an Associate District Judge in Fort Worth, with a background in juvenile law and child abuse/neglect cases - Over four decades of legal service in Texas, with a strong focus on juvenile justice ### Education - University of Houston, Class of — J.D. (1986) - Stephen F Austin State University — B.A. (1979) - Bachelor’s Degree: B.S., Stephen F. Austin State University, Class of 1979 - West Virginia University — J.D. ### Additional information - Bar Admission: Texas State Bar, 1986 - Current Status: Retired from judicial service - Years in Practice: Over 40 years since admission - Served in Fort Worth’s district court system and was recognized for her work in these specialized areas. - For historical or professional references, her profiles are available through Texas State Bar records and legal directories. - Judge Smith’s judicial career focused on juvenile justice matters, including cases involving child abuse and neglect. - her profile lists no active cases in the database, consistent with her retirement status. ## 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/16073/ellen-s-smith/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16073/ellen-s-smith/) - [Texas 323rd Judicial District Court current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16073/ellen-s-smith/) - [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/16073/ellen-s-smith/) - [Ellen Smith - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ellen_Smith) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ellen-s-smith-16073", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ellen-s-smith-16073", "name": "Ellen S. Smith | KnowJudges", "description": "Ellen S. Smith, Texas 323rd Judicial District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ellen-s-smith-16073#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ellen-s-smith-16073#judge", "name": "Ellen S. Smith", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ellen-s-smith-16073", "jobTitle": "Associate Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Texas 323rd Judicial District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16073/ellen-s-smith/" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Stephen F Austin State University" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "University of Houston" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "West Virginia 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": "Ellen S. Smith", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ellen-s-smith-16073" } ] } ] } ``` ## 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.