---
title: "Federico (Fred) Garza, Jr. | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/federico-fred-garza-jr"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-28"
---

# Federico (Fred) Garza, Jr.

Texas County Court at Law No. 4 · Judge, Hidalgo County Court at Law No. 4 (civil jurisdiction concurrent with district court)

## Profile

- Court: Texas County Court at Law No. 4
- State: Texas
- Role: Judge, Hidalgo County Court at Law No. 4 (civil jurisdiction concurrent with district court)
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-28

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## 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.hidalgocounty.us/181/County-Court-4)
- [Official roster](https://www.hidalgocounty.us/181/County-Court-4)
- [Hidalgo County official judicial roster](https://www.hidalgocounty.us/181/County-Court-4)
- [Hidalgo County Officials](https://www.hidalgocounty.us/937/County-Officials)
- [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)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Federico “Fred” Garza, Jr. is the long‐time judge of Hidalgo County Court‐at‐Law No. 4 in Texas, elected in 1996 and serving for over 30 years
- Helped incorporate the City of Alton in 1978; held the role of Director of the Alton Development Corporation and on the Alton Planning & Zoning Board
- Instrumental in creating the County’s Collections Department and the Public Defender’s Office

### Education

- Reynaldo G. Garza School of Law — J.D. (1989)
- in Government — Pan American University — B.A. (1981)

### Additional information

- Election: First elected in 1996; re‐elected in 2014 unopposed
- Served on the Mission Consolidated Independent School District Board for 11 years (1985–1996).
- Appointed to the Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone Board (1995).
- Texas State Bar admission: 1990
- Strict courtroom decorum and no interruptions during arraignments/jury trials.
- Public service: 47 years total, 41 in elected office.
- Raised on a rural farm outside Mission, TX, Garza attended Mission High School and has described himself as a “country boy” who still lives in Hidalgo County.



## 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.