Jhiela (Gigi) Mirdamadi Poynter at a glance
- Current role
- Constitutional County Judge
- Court
- Refugio County Court
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Jhiela (Gigi) Mirdamadi Poynter
Constitutional County Judge · Refugio County Court
Biography
Professional career
- Jhiela “Gigi” Mirdamadi Poynter is the County Judge of Refugio County, Texas, serving since 2023, and a practicing attorney with extensive legal, administrative, and community leadership experience
- The owner and attorney of Poynter Law, PLLC (since 2020) and previously worked at the Law Offices of Bernard T. Klimist (2012–2020)
- Chief Budget Officer for the county, managing a ~$9 million annual budget and maintaining balanced budgets
- Judicial duties as County Court Judge for criminal, civil, probate, juvenile, and appeal cases from Justice of the Peace Court
- Emergency management as Director of Emergency Management for the county
Education
- Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center (2012) and a Master of Laws in Wealth Management from Texas A&M University School of Law (2022).
- BA, Political Science & English, cum laude, University of Louisiana at Lafayette (2009).
Additional information
- Poynter is active in the Refugio Lions Club, Refugio County Chamber of Commerce, and Junior League of Victoria, and has led initiatives like Horizon Refugio 2036, a long-term planning project recognized with a 2026 Texas Association of Counties Best Practices Award.
- Recognized as a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star (2021–2025) and Coastal Bend’s 50 Women of Distinction (2022).
- Executive leadership over departments such as Emergency Management, Airport Operations, Animal Control, Elderly Services, Food Services, Library, and Maintenance.
- As County Judge, Poynter presides over the five-member Commissioners Court, sets the agenda, and represents the county on multiple boards, including the Coastal Bend Council of Governments, Crossroads Regional Public Defender Office Oversight Board, and Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend.
- International legal studies in South Africa, Turkey, and Italy.
- Certifications include U.S. Federal Taxation and Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
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.
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 ↗
Recording and broadcasting
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Refugio County Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Refugio County Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings ↗Refugio County Court official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Refugio County Court official directory ↗