Horace Newton Cunningham III at a glance
- Current role
- Constitutional County Judge
- Court
- County Court
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Horace Newton Cunningham III
Constitutional County Judge · County Court
Biography
Professional career
- In a separate district court hearing, visiting judge Fred Duncan Thomas, Jr., allowed “discovery” proceedings to move forward, with Cunningham’s testimony subject to scrutiny
- Cunningham serves as County Judge for Fannin County, a role that combines judicial authority over the county’s court system with administrative leadership of county government
Education
Additional information
- Legal career: Practiced law since 1976, with extensive experience in business, property, and employment law.
- In October 2026, Cunningham was involved in a high-profile case concerning the restoration of the 1888 Fannin County Courthouse.
- He testified before a grand jury in connection with six indictments (later dismissed for lack of probable cause) related to the project.
- His jurisdiction includes civil, criminal, probate, and small claims matters, with appeals from his court going to the First District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee, Florida.
- Married to Rhonda Grubbs Cunningham; four daughters and six grandchildren; resides in Allens Chapel (Honey Grove).
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
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
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 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Texas Office of Court Administration, active Judicial Directory official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View Texas Office of Court Administration, active Judicial Directory 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 ↗