--- title: "J. Patrick (Pat) Atkins | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/j-patrick-pat-atkins" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # J. Patrick (Pat) Atkins Texas County Court at Law No. 3 · Statutory County Court Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas County Court at Law No. 3 - State: Texas - Role: Statutory County Court Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## 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://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [Official roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [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) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/j-patrick-pat-atkins", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/j-patrick-pat-atkins", "name": "J. 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Patrick (Pat) Atkins", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/j-patrick-pat-atkins", "jobTitle": "Statutory County Court Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Texas County Court at Law No. 3" }, "sameAs": [ "https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Texas", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/texas" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "J. Patrick (Pat) Atkins", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/j-patrick-pat-atkins" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - The Statutory County Court Judge for County Court at Law No. 3 in McLennan County, Texas, a role he assumed in March 2024 after more than 30 years in private legal practice. - Named Outstanding Young Lawyer in McLennan County in 2000 ### Education - Graduated from Baylor Law School in 1991. ### Additional information - Founded his own firm in 2006 - Private Practice: Joined Sheehy, Lovelace & Mayfield, P.C. in Waco after law school. - focusing on civil litigation, probate, and business disputes. - Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. - Appeals: Cases from this court go to the Tenth Court of Appeals. - Professional Recognition: “AV‐Preeminent” rating from Martindale‐Hubbell Peer Review Ratings (highest in legal ability and ethics). ## 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.