--- title: "Jennifer Margaret Dillingham | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jennifer-margaret-dillingham" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # Jennifer Margaret Dillingham Texas 81st District Court · District Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas 81st District Court - State: Texas - Role: District 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/jennifer-margaret-dillingham", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jennifer-margaret-dillingham", "name": "Jennifer Margaret Dillingham | KnowJudges", "description": "Jennifer Margaret Dillingham, Texas 81st District Court. 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(Ebrom) Dillingham is the District Judge for the 81st Judicial District in Texas, serving Atascosa, Frio, Karnes, LaSalle, and Wilson counties since January 1, 2023 - Judge Dillingham has a background in both civil and criminal law and is also a mediator - She remains active in her community, advocating for access to justice and open courts in the 81st Judicial District ### Education ### Additional information - Sworn in on January 1, 2023 by Hon. Lynn Ellison alongside Hon. Stella Saxon. - Before her judgeship, she held the role of a twice-elected Republican County Attorney in Karnes County and maintained a civil law practice. - Judge Dillingham presides over cases in the 81st District Court, which covers five rural counties in South Texas. - Her jurisdiction includes both civil and criminal matters, and appeals from her court go to the Fourth Court of Appeals. - She is married to a San Antonio firefighter/paramedic and is the mother of three children. - She has also taught Business Law, Criminal Law, and other courses at Texas Lutheran University for over a decade. ## 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.