Joshua T. Burgess at a glance
- Current role
- Presiding Judge
- Current assignment
- Texas 352nd Judicial District Court
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Joshua T. Burgess
Presiding Judge · Texas 352nd Judicial District Court
Biography
Professional career
- Presiding Judge, Texas 352nd Judicial District Court, TX, 2024-present
- Joshua T. Burgess is a Republican judge of the 352nd District Court in Tarrant County, Texas, appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2017 and re‐elected in 2024, with a career that includes U.S. Air Force JAG service and federal prosecution of organized crime cases
- Judge Josh Burgess is a Republican‐affiliated judge of the Texas 352nd District Court in Tarrant County, appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2017 and re‐elected in 2024, with a career spanning U.S. Air Force JAG service, federal prosecution, and judicial service
- Presiding Judge, Texas 352nd Judicial District Court, TX, 2019-2020
- Presiding Judge, Texas 352nd Judicial District Court, TX, 2017-2018
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office, Organized Drug Enforcement Task Force, Fort Worth, TX, 2007-2017
- U.S. Air Force JAG Corps (1997–2017), reaching the rank of Major Assignments included Sheppard AFB, Kyrgyzstan (sole attorney for an allied base), and Lakenheath, UK (Chief of Military Justice, Deputy Staff Advocate)
- Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office, Organized Drug Enforcement Task Force, Sherman, TX, 2005-2007
- Officer (1997-2004), Major (2004), U.S. Air Force JAGC Corps, 1997-2004
Education
- Washington and Lee University School of Law — J.D. (1997)
- Communications, cum laude — Biola University — 1994
- in Communication, cum laude, Biola University — B.A. (1994)
Additional information
- Re‐elected: November 5, 2024, winning 100% of the Republican primary and 520,114 votes in the general election
- Date of birth: 1972-01-01
- Veteran of the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps, reaching the rank of Major, with assignments at Sheppard AFB, in Kyrgyzstan, and the UK.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Texas, prosecuting organized crime, including a high‐profile drug cartel murder case in Southlake, TX
- Burgess presides over a range of civil cases, including garnishment, debt/collection, and other civil matters.
- Official site: Court info: 352nd District Court – Tarrant County
- Before joining the state court system, Burgess held the role of Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Texas, working on the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.
- He litigated over 100 jury trials and prosecuted high‐profile cases, including a drug cartel murder conspiracy in Southlake, Texas.
- His judicial philosophy emphasizes transparency, constitutional adherence, and respect for all parties.
- Member of the Tarrant County Bar Association and the Federalist Society.
- Burgess and his wife, Amy, are parents of two children and attend Christ Chapel Bible Church.
- He is registered as a Republican.
- Describes himself as a veteran, conservative, and legal scholar
- Active in Christ Chapel Bible Church; children attend Covenant Classical School in Fort Worth
- Endorsed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Tarrant County officials, and other state leaders
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 352nd 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 352nd 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 June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Texas 352nd Judicial District Court current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Texas 352nd Judicial District Court 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 ↗Service record and verification
- Texas 352nd District Court · District Judge, Tarrant County 352nd Civil District Court · Current · present
- Texas 352nd District Court · Presiding Judge · Current · 2024-12-31–present