Kim Williams at a glance
- Current role
- Statutory County Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Kim Williams
Statutory County Court Judge · Travis County Court at Law No. 9
Biography
Professional career
- Sworn in as the first presiding judge of County Court at Law No. 9 in Travis County, Texas, in March 2016 and continues to serve in this role, with her current term ending on December 31, 2028
- Began her legal career at the Travis County Attorney’s Office, prosecuting misdemeanors, and later moved to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office to handle felony cases
- Native of Austin, Texas, and the daughter of a criminal defense attorney, which influenced her early interest in law
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in history from Emory University in 2002 and a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2005.
Additional information
- She has been re-elected multiple times, including in the 2024 general election.
- She also contributed to the State Bar of Texas Committee on Legal Services to the Poor in Criminal Matters from 2014 to 2020.
- Registered as a Democrat and has successfully run for re-election in Travis County judicial elections.
- She has experience across all stages of the criminal justice system, including grand jury proceedings, plea negotiations, jury trials, and appellate work.
- Her prosecutorial work covered a wide range of offenses, with particular expertise in domestic violence and child abuse cases.
- She presides over the Misdemeanor Mental Health Docket, a specialized court program for defendants with diagnosed mental illnesses, offering treatment and supervision in exchange for potential dismissal of charges upon successful completion.
- Recognized not only for her judicial expertise but also for her commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and improving the criminal justice system in Travis County.
- Actively involved in professional and community organizations, including the National Association of Women Judges, Texas Association of County Court at Law Judges, Austin Bar Association, and Travis County Women Lawyers Association.
- She is a Barrister in the Lloyd Lochridge American Inn of Court, a Life Fellow of the Austin Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation, and serves on the boards of Green Doors and TreeFolks.
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
Travis County Court at Law No. 9
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
Travis County Court at Law No. 9
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 ↗Travis County Court at Law No. 9 official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Travis County Court at Law No. 9 official directory ↗