--- title: "Frank Powell Pierce | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/frank-powell-pierce-15966" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Frank Powell Pierce Texas 311th Judicial District Court · Associate Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas 311th 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 311th Judicial District Court, Houston, TX, 2019-present - Judge, Child Support Court No. 2, Harris County (since 2001) - Judicial Service: Judge, County Court at Law No. 2, San Antonio (appointed 1987) - Judge, Texas County Courts at Law, Bexar County Court, San Antonio, TX, 1987-1987 - Texas‐licensed attorney and associate judge in Harris County, with a career spanning over four decades in public service, private practice, and judicial roles - Private Practice: Opened a law firm; later co‐counsel with the late Hon. Clarence Williams ### Education - Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University — J.D. (1980) - in Political Science, University of Houston — B.A. (1977) ### Additional information - Appointed to the 245th District Court in 2018. - Nominated for Who’s Who in American Law (2002). - Public Service: Assistant City Attorney, City of San Antonio (1983–1987). - Legal Aid: Staff attorney, Bexar County Legal Aid Association (1980–1983). - Date of birth: 1953-12-28 - Practitioner, Bexar County Legal Aid Association, TX, ?-present - Assistant City Attorney, City of San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, ?-present - Associate Judge, 311th Family District Court, Houston, TX — full‐time judge handling family law cases. - Also held the role of associate judge for the 245th District Court in Harris County, presiding over Family Court for both the 245th and 311th District Courts. - Other Roles: Member, San Antonio City Council; adjunct professor, South Texas College of Law. - State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association, American Bar Association. - Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Republican Leadership Council. - Community affiliations include Star of Hope Mission, Houston Food Bank Initiatives, Lone Star College System Male Summit. - Recipient of Department of Labor Institute Award for Non‐Custodial Parent Job Referral Project. - Multiple community service honors, including “Fatherhood Recipient of the Year”. ## 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/15966/frank-powell-pierce/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15966/frank-powell-pierce/) - [Texas 311th Judicial District Court current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15966/frank-powell-pierce/) - [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/15966/frank-powell-pierce/) - [Frank Powell Pierce - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Frank_Powell_Pierce) - [State Bar of Texas | Find A Lawyer | Frank Powell Pierce](https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=%2FCustomsource%2FMemberDirectory%2FMemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=182735) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/frank-powell-pierce-15966", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/frank-powell-pierce-15966", "name": "Frank Powell Pierce | KnowJudges", "description": "Frank Powell Pierce, Texas 311th 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.