Erica R. Hughes at a glance
- Current role
- District Judge, Harris County 151th Civil District Court
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Erica R. Hughes
District Judge, Harris County 151th Civil District Court · Texas 151th District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Federal Immigration Judge — Appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in 2021, she began hearing immigration cases in late 2021
- Harris County Criminal Court at Law No. 3 — Elected in 2018, Hughes became the first African American female presiding judge of this court
- She also held the role of a Judge Advocate with the U.S. Army National Guard of Texas from 2016 onward
- She also held the role of presiding judge of the Harris County Veterans Treatment Court
- Hughes has stated that she is dedicated to restoring integrity, fairness, and justice in the legal system, opposing bias and ensuring equal treatment regardless of financial status, race, or connections
Education
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University in 2003 and a J.D. from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in 2006.
- Full scholarship to law school and has cited her early exposure to civil inequalities as a driving force in her judicial philosophy.
Additional information
- Texas 151st District Court — In 2024, she won the general election for this seat and assumed office January 1, 2025, with a term ending December 31, 2028.
- TRAC reports she decided 185 asylum claims between FY 2021 and early FY 2026, granting asylum in 9.2% of cases and denying 90.8%.
- Before entering the judiciary, Hughes practiced law for over 11 years in Houston, TX, specializing in criminal and personal injury law.
- Born in Dallas, Texas, Hughes grew up with a father who served in the U.S. Army and later worked for the postal service, and a mother who raised her.
- She has held the role of an adjunct professor at San Jacinto College, pre-law program director at Prairie View A&M University, and board member of the Association of Women Attorneys Foundation.
- She is also active in the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and local community organizations.
Erica R. Hughes Procedures & Courtroom Rules
Courtroom Technology
Courtroom Specific
The 151st Civil District Court publishes a two-part training series covering use of Harris County civil courtroom technology.
Two part YouTube series on the use of the Harris County Civil Courthouse technology.How To Use Our Civil Courtroom Technology ↗
Remote appearances
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.
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 ↗
Recording and broadcasting
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Texas 151th District Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Texas 151th District Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 28, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Harris County Civil District Courts official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 28, 2026
View Harris County Civil District Courts official judicial roster ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings ↗How To Use Our Civil Courtroom Technology
Courtroom Specific source · HTML · Source checked July 28, 2026
View How To Use Our Civil Courtroom Technology ↗Texas 151th District Court official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Texas 151th District Court official directory ↗