John William-Thomas Biard at a glance
- Current role
- Administrative Law Judge
- Current assignment
- Lamar County District Courts
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
John William-Thomas Biard
Administrative Law Judge · Lamar County District Courts
Biography
Professional career
- John William‐Thomas Biard — often referred to as Will Biard — is a former presiding judge of the Texas 62nd Judicial District, serving in Paris, Texas, from 2013 until his resignation in January 2025
- Presiding Judge, Texas 62nd Judicial District Court, TX, 2021-2024
- Previous Judicial Roles: held the role of Administrative Law Judge at Lamar County District Courts and held multiple presiding judge positions from 2013 through 2024
- Presiding Judge, Texas 62nd Judicial District Court, TX, 2017-2020
- Presiding Judge, Texas 62nd Judicial District Court, TX, 2013-2016
- Chief Financial Officer & Partner, Harrison, Walker & Harper, TX, ?-present
- Partner, McLaughlin, Hutchinson & Biard, LLP, TX, ?-present
- Administrative Law Judge, Lamar County District Courts, TX, ?-present
- As presiding judge, he oversaw the 62nd Judicial District Court, which covers Lamar, Hopkins, and Red River Counties
Education
- Texas Tech University School of Law — J.D. (2001)
- Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University‐Commerce (1999)
- Texas A & M University-Commerce — B.A. (1999)
Additional information
- Resignation: On January 10, 2025, Biard resigned to pursue private legal practice.
- Elected & Service: First elected in 2012, Biard began serving in 2013 and was re‐elected unopposed in 2016 and 2020.
- Real Estate Examiner, Stone Title Company, TX, ?-present
- Replacement: Under Texas law, the governor appoints a temporary replacement until the next partisan judicial election.
- Current Role: Joined the law firm McLaughlin, Hutchinson & Biard, LLP in Paris, Texas.
- Early Career: Held various legal and administrative roles, including positions as mayor of Paris, vice president precinct chair for the ALCR, and work in law firms.
- Court Duties: District judges in Texas handle general trial matters, including serious civil and criminal cases, jury and bench trials, motions, warrants, grand jury proceedings, and other critical legal decisions.
- Birth place: TX
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
Lamar County District Courts
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
Lamar County District Courts
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 June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Lamar County District Courts current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Lamar County District Courts current judicial profile ↗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 ↗