--- title: "Julia A. Maldonado | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/julia-a-maldonado-15632" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Julia A. Maldonado Harris County Court Family District Court · Administrative Law Judge ## Profile - Court: Harris County Court Family District Court - 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 - Former judge of the 507th District Court in Harris County, Texas, and a current Democratic candidate for the 183rd District Court in the 2026 general election - Licensed to practice law in Texas since 1998 - Presiding Judge, Texas 507th Judicial District Court, Houston, TX, 2021-2024 - Judge Maldonado held the role of Presiding Judge of the 507th District Court from 2017 to 2024 - She also acted as Administrative Judge for the Harris County Family Trial Division (2018–2020). - Presiding Judge, Texas 507th Judicial District Court, Houston, TX, 2017-2020 - experience includes founding the J. Maldonado Law Firm, P.C., and working as an attorney and accountant ### Education - Texas Southern University — J.D. (1998) - in Accounting – University of Houston–Downtown — B.A. (1995) - Business Administration — University of Houston - Thurgood Marshall School of Law — J.D. ### Additional information - Elected to the bench in 2016, she presided over a wide range of matters, including divorce, adoption, and criminal cases. - Owner, Solo Practitioner, J. Maldonado Law Firm, P.C., TX, 2008-2016 - Practitioner, Private Practice, 1999-2008 - Accountant, 1980-1995 - overseeing both criminal and family cases. - Administrative Law Judge, Harris County Court Family District Court, ?-present - Before joining the judiciary, she practiced law for 18 years at J. Maldonado Law Firm, P.C. - handling immigration, criminal, civil, family, tax, guardianship, and probate matters. - Judge Maldonado has volunteered in victim advocacy, legal education, youth mentorship, immigrant outreach, and public safety initiatives. - In summary: Judge Julia A. Maldonado is a veteran Texas judge with decades of legal experience, a strong record in family and criminal law, and a current campaign for a new judicial role in Harris County. - Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization - She also held a position as an accountant for over 15 years. - She is a member of the Mexican American Bar Association of Houston and other legal organizations. - Born in Nuevo León, Mexico, she was raised in Houston, Texas. - She is a proud Houston resident for over 45 years. - Birth place: Nuevo León (State), Mexico ## 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/15632/julia-a-maldonado/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15632/julia-a-maldonado/) - [Harris County Court Family District Court current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15632/julia-a-maldonado/) - [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/15632/julia-a-maldonado/) - [Julia Maldonado - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Julia_Maldonado) - [Meet Julia – Former Judge Julia Maldonado](https://judgemaldonado.com/meet-julia) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/julia-a-maldonado-15632", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/julia-a-maldonado-15632", "name": "Julia A. 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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.