---
title: "James Scott Hacker | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/james-scott-hacker-9580"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-08-02"
---

# James Scott Hacker

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas · Magistrate

## Profile

- Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- State: Texas
- Role: Magistrate
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-06-30

## Biography

### Professional career

- U.S. Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, appointed in 2008 and currently serving a renewable 8‐year term
- James Scott Hacker has held the role of a United States Magistrate Judge since October 17, 2008, on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- J. Scott Hacker is a United States Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, appointed in 2008 and serving a renewable eight‐year term

### Education

- University of Texas School of Law, Austin — J.D. (2000)
- B.A., University of Texas at Austin (1990)

### Additional information

- His current term was set to expire October 16, 2024, and a public notice confirmed his reappointment to a new 8‐year term.
- Magistrate, District Court, S.D. Texas, 2008-present
- Served on the Southern District of Texas court for 17 years as of 2026.
- Appointment: First appointed October 17, 2008; term expired October 16, 2024
- Trial and disposition of civil cases with litigant consent
- Magistrate judges in this district are appointed by the district’s judges to renewable eight‐year terms.
- Case history includes numerous federal criminal and civil matters, such as USA v.
- Doe, USA v.
- Perez, and USA v.
- Salinas.

## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9580/james-scott-hacker/)
- [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9580/james-scott-hacker/)
- [U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9580/james-scott-hacker/)
- [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/9580/james-scott-hacker/)

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## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-651872d6e45e0d82319ecccc) — Civil actions in United States District Courts; Rule 81 exceptions apply. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.
- [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.