--- title: "Jose Luis Garza | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jose-luis-garza" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Jose Luis Garza Texas 381st District Court · District Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas 381st 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. ## Biography ### Professional career - Jose L. Garza is the presiding judge of the 381st District Court in Starr County, Texas, serving since 2007 and currently in office until the end of 2028 - Presiding Judge, Texas 381st Judicial District Court, Rio Grande City, TX, 2021-2024 - Presiding Judge: held the role of Presiding Judge of the 381st Judicial District Court from 2007 through 2024 - Presiding Judge, Texas 381st Judicial District Court, Rio Grande City, TX, 2017-2020 - Presiding Judge, Texas 381st Judicial District Court, Rio Grande City, TX, 2013-2016 - Presiding Judge, Texas 381st Judicial District Court, TX, 2009-2012 - Presiding Judge, Texas 381st Judicial District Court, Rio Grande City, TX, 2007-2008 - Qualifications: Meets Texas district court requirements — U.S. citizen, Texas resident, licensed attorney, at least four years of legal practice, and two years of district residency ### Education - Bachelor’s degree, Texas A&M University Juris Doctor (J.D.), Texas Southern University, 1991 ### Additional information - First elected: 2007; re‐elected in 2012 and 2016 - For case filings, agendas, and court records, visit the Starr County Courthouse website or the CourtListener profile for Judge Jose Luis Garza. - Political Affiliation: Democratic - Residency: Rio Grande City, 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://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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15668/jose-luis-garza/) - [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/15668/jose-luis-garza/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jose-luis-garza", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/jose-luis-garza", "name": "Jose Luis Garza | KnowJudges", "description": "Jose Luis Garza, Texas 381st District Court. 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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.