--- title: "Kathryn Lanigan Pruitt | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kathryn-lanigan-pruitt" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-28" --- # Kathryn Lanigan Pruitt Texas 494th District Court · District Judge, Collin County 494th District Court (general jurisdiction) ## Profile - Court: Texas 494th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge, Collin County 494th District Court (general jurisdiction) - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile. ## 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 ### media exhibit equipment Scope: judge specific The 494th District Court requires counsel to bring a laptop for media exhibits, test compatibility with the courtroom A/V system, give audio or video exhibits to the reporter on a thumb drive, and bring extra paper copies. Evidence excerpt: Counsel/Litigants must bring their own laptop to present media exhibits using the courtroom's A/V equipment [494th District Court Policies and Exhibit Instructions](https://www.collincountytx.gov/docs/default-source/district-courts/documents/494exhibitstranscriptrequests.pdf?sfvrsn=46d1a3d6_2) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### photography broadcasting and recording Scope: courtwide Photography, broadcasting, live streaming, and audio or video recording are prohibited in the Collin County courthouse unless a written court order specifically authorizes them. Evidence excerpt: No one may take photographs, broadcast, live stream, or make recordings (audio or video) in the courthouse, unless specifically authorized by written court order [Local Rules of Practice for the District Courts of Collin County](https://www.collincountytx.gov/docs/default-source/district-courts/documents/lrp.pdf?sfvrsn=bf028790_4) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### hearing setting conference Scope: courtwide Before requesting a hearing setting, parties generally must confer in good faith. A unilateral request requires reasonable efforts that include at least two attempts to contact the other side. Evidence excerpt: parties shall make a good-faith effort to confer and obtain agreement on a hearing date before requesting that the Court set a hearing [Local Rules of Practice for the District Courts of Collin County](https://www.collincountytx.gov/docs/default-source/district-courts/documents/lrp.pdf?sfvrsn=bf028790_4) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### 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.collincountytx.gov/courts/district-courts/) - [Official roster](https://www.collincountytx.gov/courts/district-courts/) - [Collin County District Courts roster official judicial roster](https://www.collincountytx.gov/courts/district-courts/) - [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) - [Local Rules of Practice for the District Courts of Collin County](https://www.collincountytx.gov/docs/default-source/district-courts/documents/lrp.pdf?sfvrsn=bf028790_4) - [494th District Court Policies and Exhibit Instructions](https://www.collincountytx.gov/docs/default-source/district-courts/documents/494exhibitstranscriptrequests.pdf?sfvrsn=46d1a3d6_2) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kathryn-lanigan-pruitt", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kathryn-lanigan-pruitt", "name": "Kathryn Lanigan Pruitt | KnowJudges", "description": "Kathryn Lanigan Pruitt, Texas 494th District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-07-28", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kathryn-lanigan-pruitt#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kathryn-lanigan-pruitt#judge", "name": "Kathryn Lanigan Pruitt", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kathryn-lanigan-pruitt", "jobTitle": "District Judge, Collin County 494th District Court (general jurisdiction)", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Texas 494th District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.collincountytx.gov/courts/district-courts/" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Texas", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/texas" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kathryn Lanigan Pruitt", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kathryn-lanigan-pruitt" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - Appointed judge of the 494th Judicial District Court in Collin County, Texas, serving from September 12, 2024, until December 31, 2026, or until her successor is elected - Committed to efficient, fiscally responsible court operations and accessible justice - Previous Roles: Senior attorney at Plunk Smith, PLLC; owner of Pruitt Law Group, PLLC; partner at Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP; and various other legal leadership positions ### Education - B.A. in English, University of Texas at Austin - South Texas College of Law, cum laude — J.D. ### Additional information - Board Certification: Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 2009. - The seat is up for election in 2026, after the appointed term ends. - Governor Greg Abbott appointed Pruitt to the 494th District Court in September 2024. - She has been named to The Best Lawyers in America® in Family Law (2016–2024) and to Texas Super Lawyers (2011–2024). - Legal Experience: Over 31 years in law, with 11 years in civil litigation and 20 in family law. - Professional Memberships: State Bar of Texas, Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists, Collin County Bar Association, Texas Bar Foundation life fellow. - Pruitt emphasizes fairness, fidelity to the law, and judicial restraint, stating that judges must interpret the law as written and apply it impartially. - She presides over family law cases, including divorce, custody, child support, property division, paternity, and related matters. - In summary: Judge Kathryn Lanigan Pruitt is a highly experienced Texas family law attorney now serving as an appointed judge in Collin County, with a strong record in legal practice, professional recognition, and a philosophy centered on fairness and adherence to the law. ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-119ce7e69a3752f1da3cfce0) — 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. - [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.