--- title: "John Cooper | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-cooper" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # John Cooper Texas Precinct 1 Place 1 · Justice of the Peace ## Profile - Court: Texas Precinct 1 Place 1 - State: Texas - Role: Justice of the Peace - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## 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 ### justice court remote appearances Scope: statewide In justice-court civil proceedings, the judge may allow or require electronic participation after considering case, evidence, access, and party factors; written notice must include joining and evidence-submission instructions. Evidence excerpt: A judge may allow or require a participant to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means. [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.9, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### limited criminal remote appearance Scope: statewide For the specific fine-and-cost hearings governed by Articles 45A.258 and 45A.259, a justice or municipal judge may allow a defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference when an in-person appearance would impose undue hardship. Evidence excerpt: If the justice or judge determines that requiring a defendant to appear before the justice or judge in person for a hearing under Article 45A.258 or 45A.259 would impose an undue hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge may allow the defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference. [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.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 500.9, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdf) - [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-cooper", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-cooper", "name": "John Cooper | KnowJudges", "description": "John Cooper, Texas Precinct 1 Place 1. 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Cooper is a retired circuit judge who served on the Second Judicial Circuit Court of Florida from 2003 until his retirement in late 2025, presiding over tens of thousands of cases across civil, criminal, family, probate, and constitutional matters. - Trial Judge of the Year (American Board of Trial Advocates, 2007 & 2017) - Private practice: Partner at Cooper, Coppins & Monroe in Tallahassee for over 25 years - Colleagues and the court highlight Judge Cooper’s judicial independence, thoughtful legal analysis, and respect for litigants, as well as his role in shaping courtroom procedures in the Second Judicial Circuit ### Education - B.A. (1972) and J.D. (1974) from Florida State University. ### Additional information - Retirement: Officially recognized by the Second Judicial Circuit on December 19, 2025, after more than two decades on the bench. - President’s Distinguished Jurist Award (2016). - Thurgood Marshall Award (2008). - Elected: 2002 to fill a vacancy after the retirement of Hon. F. E. Steinmeyer III. - Florida Bar admission: 1975; also admitted to the U.S. District Courts (Northern & Middle Districts of Florida), U.S. Courts of Appeal (5th & 11th Circuits), and the U.S. Supreme Court. - handling civil litigation, civil rights, employment, land use, corporate, and professional liability matters. - Service: Served in Leon County and other counties in the Second Judicial Circuit, including Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty, and Wakulla. - Divisions: Civil, criminal, family, probate, and complex constitutional/administrative cases. - Case volume: Over 27,000 cases handled during his judicial career. ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.9, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0b7995f0d74b12852c186361) — 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 Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7a6578736340dbebb75e89c7) — 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26. - [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0fa5a7f51969f3609de00053) — 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.