Henry (Hank) Lee Whitman, Jr. at a glance
- Current role
- Constitutional County Judge
- Court
- Wilson County Court
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Henry (Hank) Lee Whitman, Jr.
Constitutional County Judge · Wilson County Court
Biography
Professional career
- Henry “Hank” Lee Whitman, Jr. is the Presiding Judge of Wilson County, Texas, serving since January 2023 until December 31, 2026
- Wilson County News feature: “From Texas Rangers Chief to Wilson County Judge” — covers his career, goals, and judicial priorities
Education
Additional information
- His appointment began in January 2023, with a term ending December 31, 2026.
- Whitman’s path to the bench included service as Chief of the Texas Rangers before his election as county judge.
- As Wilson County Judge, Whitman presides over the county court
- overseeing civil, probate, and guardianship matters, as well as administrative functions for the county’s judicial system.
- Uncontested probate cases: Heard by Judge Whitman on Wednesdays
- Contested matters, jury trials, appeals, guardianship hearings, and other civil cases: Handled by Wilson County Court at Law Judge Tina Hartmann
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
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
Wilson County 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
Wilson County 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 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Texas Office of Court Administration 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 ↗Wilson County Court official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Wilson County Court official directory ↗