--- title: "John William-Thomas Biard | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-william-thomas-biard-15506" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # John William-Thomas Biard Lamar County District Courts · Administrative Law Judge ## Profile - Court: Lamar County District Courts - State: Texas - Role: Administrative Law Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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 ## 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://www.courtlistener.com/person/15506/john-william-thomas-biard/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15506/john-william-thomas-biard/) - [Lamar County District Courts current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15506/john-william-thomas-biard/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15506/john-william-thomas-biard/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-william-thomas-biard-15506", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-william-thomas-biard-15506", "name": "John William-Thomas Biard | KnowJudges", "description": "John William-Thomas Biard, Lamar County District Courts. 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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.