--- title: "Jan Soifer | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jan-soifer" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Jan Soifer Texas 345th District Court · District Judge, Travis County 345th Civil District Court ## Profile - Court: Texas 345th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge, Travis County 345th Civil District Court - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile. ## Biography ### Professional career - Jan Soifer is the presiding judge of the 345th District Court in Travis County, Texas, elected in 2016, re‐elected in 2020, and again in 2024, with her current term ending December 31, 2028 - Presiding Judge, Texas 345th Judicial District Court, Austin, TX, 2021-2024 - Presiding Judge, Texas 345th Judicial District Court, Austin, TX, 2017-2020 - Partner, O'Connell & Soifer LLP, 2010-2016 - Special Counsel to False Claims Action Section, Baron & Budd, 2008-2010 - Partner, Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, 1997-2004 - att-gen-ass, Office of the Texas Attorney General, TX, ?-present - She had over 34 years as a full‐time trial lawyer in Travis County and other jurisdictions - She also held the role of Chief of the Texas Attorney General’s Charitable Trusts Section and Deputy Chief of the Consumer Protection Division - Before becoming a judge, Soifer was a partner at O’Connell & Soifer LLP in Austin ### Education - JD — The University of Texas at Austin — 1982 - University of Texas School of Law Board‐certified in Consumer and Commercial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization — J.D. (1982) - History — Yale University — 1979 ### Additional information - 2016 General Election: First elected to the bench. - adj-prof, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 1992-2008 - Practitioner, Brown McCarroll, 1982-1986 - focusing on anti‐fraud litigation and high‐impact public interest cases. - A whistleblower case resulting in a $100 million settlement. - A class action against Pedernales Electric Cooperative for fraud and fiduciary breaches. - The 345th District Court is located in Austin, Texas, and handles both civil and family cases. - Whole Woman’s Health and other Texas abortion providers’ victory against Texas HB2, which closed over half of abortion clinics. - Judge Soifer presides over civil and family law cases, including business, commercial, administrative, consumer, real estate, divorce, child custody, and Child Protective Services (CPS) matters. - She has been President of the Austin Bar Association, Austin Young Lawyers Association, and State Bar of Texas Director. - A same‐gender couple’s successful challenge against the Hood County Clerk for refusing a marriage license after the U.S. Supreme Court’s same‐sex marriage ruling. - Soifer has held the role of Chair of the Travis County Democratic Party and is a registered Democrat. - She has also held leadership roles in the Jewish Community Relations Council of Austin, Interfaith Action of Central Texas, and Congregation Beth Israel of Austin. ## 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 ### powerpoint demonstratives and exhibits Scope: judge specific The 345th Civil District Court strongly prefers electronic exhibits uploaded to Box. PowerPoint presentations and demonstratives should also be uploaded to Box or supplied in at least three paper copies. Evidence excerpt: If you use a PowerPoint presentation or demonstrative aid, please upload them to Box or bring at least three paper copies [345th Civil District Court Expectations and Preferences](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20230614-345ths_Expectations_and_Preferences_as_of_June_2023.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### powerpoint video and electronic exhibits Scope: courtwide Travis County courtrooms support PowerPoint, digitized exhibits, taped depositions, video evidence, document-camera material, and laptop presentations, but counsel must first obtain the judge's permission before routing a laptop presentation to the courtroom displays. Evidence excerpt: YOU MUST FIRST make sure the Judge is ok with you presenting. Then the Judge will have to unlock the video routing source button for you to use it. [Travis County Attorney E-Courtroom Documentation](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20230203-Attorney_E-Courtroom_Documentation_Final.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### virtual or hybrid proceedings Scope: courtwide Virtual or hybrid hearings, trials, and witness appearances must be arranged in advance and approved by the court. Evidence excerpt: Any requests for hybrid or virtual options for hearings/trials/witnesses must be pre-arranged and approved by the Court. [Travis County Attorney E-Courtroom Documentation](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20230203-Attorney_E-Courtroom_Documentation_Final.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### central docket assignment Scope: courtwide Travis County uses a central civil docket. Unless a case is specially assigned, an available judge may hear a hearing or trial regardless of the district court in which the case was filed. Evidence excerpt: hearings and trials are assigned to available judges without regard to the court in which the case is filed. [Travis County District Courts Local Rules](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20241120-Amended_LOCAL_RULES_as_of_Nov_15_2024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### remote proceedings Scope: courtwide District-court hearings and trials are in person by default. A remote proceeding requires agreement of all parties or a good-cause finding, and arrangements must be made before the proceeding. Evidence excerpt: All hearings and trials (proceedings) will be in person unless (a) all parties agree ... or (b) a judge finds good cause to determine that a remote proceeding is appropriate. [Travis County District Courts Local Rules](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20241120-Amended_LOCAL_RULES_as_of_Nov_15_2024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### 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.traviscountytx.gov/courts/civil/district/345) - [Official roster](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/courts/civil/district/345) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16079/jan-soifer/) - [Travis County 345th Civil District Court official judicial roster](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/courts/civil/district/345) - [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) - [Travis County Attorney E-Courtroom Documentation](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20230203-Attorney_E-Courtroom_Documentation_Final.pdf) - [Travis County District Courts Local Rules](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20241120-Amended_LOCAL_RULES_as_of_Nov_15_2024.pdf) - [345th Civil District Court Expectations and Preferences](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20230614-345ths_Expectations_and_Preferences_as_of_June_2023.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16079/jan-soifer/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jan-soifer", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jan-soifer", "name": "Jan Soifer | KnowJudges", "description": "Jan Soifer, Texas 345th 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.