--- title: "Jill R. Willis | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jill-r-willis" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Jill R. Willis Texas 429th District Court · District Judge, Collin County 429th District Court (general jurisdiction) ## Profile - Court: Texas 429th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge, Collin County 429th District Court (general jurisdiction) - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Republican‐affiliated judge of the 429th District Court in Collin County, Texas, appointed in 2009 and currently serving a term through December 31, 2026 - Presiding Judge, Texas 429th Judicial District Court, McKinney, TX, 2019-2022 - Legal Career: Private practice in Plano, TX; former associate at Strasburger & Price L.L.P. Judicial clerk for the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas held the role of Presiding Judge for the 429th Judicial District Court in McKinney, TX (2009–2022) - Presiding Judge, Texas 429th Judicial District Court, McKinney, TX, 2015-2018 - Presiding Judge, Texas 429th Judicial District Court, McKinney, TX, 2011-2014 - Presiding Judge, Texas 429th Judicial District Court, McKinney, TX, 2009-2010 - Law Clerk, District Court, E.D. Texas, TX, ?-present ### Education - B.A., Baylor University (1990) J.D., University of Texas at Austin School of Law (1993) ### Additional information - In summary: Judge Jill R. Willis is an experienced Texas trial court judge with a background in private practice, federal judicial clerkship, and local judicial leadership, now serving in Collin County’s general jurisdiction court and seeking re‐election in 2026. - Certifications: Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2020) - Appointment: Appointed by former Texas Governor Rick Perry in 2009 - Named a Rising Star by Texas Monthly in 2005 and 2006 - Owner/Practitioner, Private Practice, Plano, TX, ?-present - Practitioner, Texas 429th Judicial District Court, Dallas, TX, ?-present - Political Party: Republican - Collin County Bench/Bar Foundation - Judge Paul Brown American Inn of Court - U.S. Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Committee (E.D. Texas) - Active in local judicial and bar organizations ## 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 ### photography broadcasting and recording Scope: courtwide Photography, broadcasting, live streaming, and audio or video recording are prohibited in the Collin County courthouse unless a written court order specifically authorizes them. Evidence excerpt: No one may take photographs, broadcast, live stream, or make recordings (audio or video) in the courthouse, unless specifically authorized by written court order [Local Rules of Practice for the District Courts of Collin County](https://www.collincountytx.gov/docs/default-source/district-courts/documents/lrp.pdf?sfvrsn=bf028790_4) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### hearing setting conference Scope: courtwide Before requesting a hearing setting, parties generally must confer in good faith. A unilateral request requires reasonable efforts that include at least two attempts to contact the other side. Evidence excerpt: parties shall make a good-faith effort to confer and obtain agreement on a hearing date before requesting that the Court set a hearing [Local Rules of Practice for the District Courts of Collin County](https://www.collincountytx.gov/docs/default-source/district-courts/documents/lrp.pdf?sfvrsn=bf028790_4) 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.collincountytx.gov/courts/district-courts/) - [Official roster](https://www.collincountytx.gov/courts/district-courts/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16181/jill-renfro-willis/) - [Collin County District Courts roster official judicial roster](https://www.collincountytx.gov/courts/district-courts/) - [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) - [Local Rules of Practice for the District Courts of Collin County](https://www.collincountytx.gov/docs/default-source/district-courts/documents/lrp.pdf?sfvrsn=bf028790_4) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16181/jill-renfro-willis/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jill-r-willis", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jill-r-willis", "name": "Jill R. 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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.