Josh Hill at a glance
- Current role
- District Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Josh Hill
District Judge · Texas 232nd District Court
Biography
Professional career
- the judge of the 232nd District Court in Harris County, Texas, a position he assumed in 2019
- Hill has emphasized judicial independence and fairness, aiming to create a courtroom environment where every voice is heard and justice is applied equally
Education
- Law degree from the University of Houston Law Center and has over seven years of experience on the bench.
Additional information
- His term is set to end on December 31, 2026.
- He is a member of the Democratic Party and is running for re-election in the 2026 Democratic primary.
- The 232nd District Court exclusively handles felony criminal cases, ranging from drug offenses to capital murder.
- Judge Hill has faced public scrutiny for decisions involving probation and bond.
- Despite such controversies, Hill maintains that his rulings are based on facts and applicable law, not external pressures.
- He has consistently received high ratings in judicial preference polls and evaluations by the Houston Bar Association and the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association.
- For example, he allowed a defendant who violated probation and committed new crimes to remain free on bond, which drew criticism from local observers concerned about the message it sends to other defendants.
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
Texas 232nd District Court
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
Texas 232nd District Court
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 July 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster ↗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 ↗Texas 232nd District Court official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Texas 232nd District Court official directory ↗