--- title: "John Tidwell | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-tidwell" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # John Tidwell Texas 202nd District Court · District Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas 202nd 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/john-tidwell", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-tidwell", "name": "John Tidwell | KnowJudges", "description": "John Tidwell, Texas 202nd District Court. 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Tidwell is the elected judge of the 202nd District Court in Bowie County, Texas, serving since 2016 and re‐elected in 2020, with a term ending in 2028 - Before joining the judiciary, Tidwell was a partner at Mercy Carter Tidwell LLP since 2001, specializing in environmental, natural resources, and personal injury law. - Earlier in his career, he held a position as an agriculture teacher at Texas Senior High School in Texarkana ### Education - South Texas College of Law, Houston — J.D. (1988) - in Agricultural Education — Texas A&M University — B.S. (1982) ### Additional information - His current term runs through December 31, 2028. - Maintained a high case volume, with 800 cases in 2020 despite pandemic restrictions. - He is a registered Republican and was first elected in 2016, re‐elected in 2020. - Conducted socially distanced trials, including a sexual assault case at the New Boston High School Auditorium. - Advocated for in‐person jury trials, emphasizing the importance of the jury system. - Judge Tidwell presides over the 202nd District Court in Bowie County, which handles a heavy caseload of criminal, civil, and family law cases. - He is a member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, the Arkansas Bar Association, and the Defense Research Institute. ## 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.