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# Jermaine Thomas

Texas County Civil Court at Law No. 5 · Judge, Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 5

## Profile

- Court: Texas County Civil Court at Law No. 5
- State: Texas
- Role: Judge, Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 5
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-28

## 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

### trial exhibits and demonstratives

Scope: courtroom specific

Court 5 requires all trial exhibits to be pre-marked and e-filed five business days before trial, and requires anticipated demonstratives to be exchanged before the pretrial conference.

Evidence excerpt: All trial exhibits must be pre-marked and e-filed with the Clerk 5 business days prior to the trial setting. ... copies of anticipated demonstrative exhibits with all parties

[Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 5 Policies and Procedures](https://www.ccl.hctx.net/civil/5/files/Civil%205%20Court%20Procedures.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.ccl.hctx.net/civil/5/default.htm)
- [Official roster](https://www.ccl.hctx.net/civil/5/default.htm)
- [Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 5 official judicial roster](https://www.ccl.hctx.net/civil/5/default.htm)
- [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)
- [Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 5 Policies and Procedures](https://www.ccl.hctx.net/civil/5/files/Civil%205%20Court%20Procedures.pdf)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Unanimously appointed in 2025 by the Harris County Commissioners Court as the first judge of Civil Court at Law No. 5
- Judicial Appointments: First Associate Judge for Harris County Civil Courts (2023) and inaugural judge of Court No. 5 (2025)
- Legal Career: Built a 21-year career at Barnes & Associates, rising from Clerk to Associate Attorney to Partner, with experience in trial litigation, commercial law, real estate, and corporate transactions
- The inaugural judge of Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 5, serving in Texas with a background in 21 years of legal practice and a record of efficiency and community engagement

### Education

- B.A. in Political Science from Texas Southern University
- South Texas College of Law — J.D.

### Additional information

- Noted for consistency, efficiency, and compassion in adjudication, balancing legal fidelity with community service.
- He also previously held the role of the first Associate Judge for Harris County Civil Courts at Law, where he presided over 90% of eviction appeals and reduced average docket time from 120 to 45 days.
- His court is part of the Harris County Civil Courts system, which handles cases such as evictions, small claims, and other civil matters.
- He is active in the Houston Bar Association, Houston Lawyers Association, and Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity, and is a member of the NAACP, Area 5 Democrats, Tejano Democrats, and H-BAD.

