--- title: "Joseph P. Appelt | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-p-appelt" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-27" --- # Joseph P. Appelt Devine Municipal Court · Municipal Judge ## Profile - Court: Devine Municipal Court - State: Texas - Role: Municipal Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## 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 ### 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 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/joseph-p-appelt", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-p-appelt", "name": "Joseph P. Appelt | KnowJudges", "description": "Joseph P. Appelt, Devine Municipal Court. 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Appelt", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/joseph-p-appelt" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - Judicial service: Alternate municipal court judge for Devine Municipal Court since August 2013 - 2022 Bexar County Justice of the Peace (Precinct 3): Lost the Republican primary runoff to Julie Bray Patterson on May 24, 2022 - Other judicial races: Has run for various district judge positions in Texas between 2012 and 2020, including the 37th Judicial District. - Government service: Interned with the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office (1992–1994), preparing and presenting over 300 felony cases to the grand jury - Texas attorney and former municipal court judge who has sought judicial office in Bexar County, Texas, most recently for the Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 position - Running for Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 again, citing over 28 years of legal practice, extensive trial and appellate experience, and more than eight years as a municipal court judge - In summary: Joseph P. Appelt is a seasoned Texas attorney and judge with a long record in trial, appellate, and municipal court work, currently seeking a Justice of the Peace judgeship in Bexar County ### Education - Law degree: Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1994 from St. Mary’s University School of Law. - Undergraduate degree: Bachelor’s in 1987 from the University of Texas at San Antonio. ### Additional information - Private practice: Sole practitioner in San Antonio since 1994 - handling a broad range of cases including criminal law, family law, DTPA, injury, wills & probate, guardianship, contracts, and real estate. - Litigation experience: Over 2,500 district court cases and 1,500 county court cases; more than 300 contested hearings, trials, and jury trials. - Appellate work: Argued appeals to county courts, the 4th Court of Appeals, and the Texas Supreme Court. - handling traffic, ordinance, and Class C misdemeanor cases. - 104, San Antonio, TX 78228, and phone 210‐375‐1212. - His campaign website lists his office at 5825 Callaghan Rd., Ste. - Professional license: Licensed in Texas; also licensed in the Western District of Texas. - Appelt is married to Gladys and has a son and daughter. - He is a member of St. Luke Catholic Church and serves on the legal advisory board for Catholic Charities. ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [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.