--- title: "Kristen Brauchle Hawkins | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kristen-brauchle-hawkins" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-28" --- # Kristen Brauchle Hawkins Texas 11th District Court · District Judge, Harris County 11th Civil District Court ## Profile - Court: Texas 11th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge, Harris County 11th Civil District Court - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## 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 ### courtroom technology Scope: courtroom specific The courtroom provides laptop inputs, a document camera, a projector, attorney and witness displays, jury-box screens, annotation tools, and simultaneous video-and-exhibit presentation; material not yet admitted should not be displayed to the jury. Evidence excerpt: If a document is not yet in evidence, you can display the document at the Witness Stand and Attorneys' screens only; when the document is admitted into evidence, you can press "All" to display it to the jury. [Instructions for Operating Audio/Video Equipment](https://www.justex.net/JustexAPI/api/Articles/CourtSectionByID/?CourtSectionTextID=349) 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.justex.net/courts/civil) - [Official roster](https://www.justex.net/courts/civil) - [Harris County Civil District Courts official judicial roster](https://www.justex.net/courts/civil) - [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) - [Instructions for Operating Audio/Video Equipment](https://www.justex.net/JustexAPI/api/Articles/CourtSectionByID/?CourtSectionTextID=349) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kristen-brauchle-hawkins", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kristen-brauchle-hawkins", "name": "Kristen Brauchle Hawkins | KnowJudges", "description": "Kristen Brauchle Hawkins, Texas 11th District Court. 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(1999) - B.A. in Government and Spanish – University of Texas at Austin (1996) ### Additional information - She was elected in 2016 and re‐elected in 2020, with her current term ending December 31, 2028. - 11th Civil Court of the 11th District Court, the oldest court in Texas, and is the first woman elected to that seat. - handling non‐jury tax cases. - On her official site, Judge Hawkins emphasizes civility, professionalism, and respect as guiding values, and she encourages all parties before the court to uphold them. - Also active in community events, including naturalization ceremonies. - Before joining the bench, Hawkins practiced law for over two decades, including at Sheehy, Serpe & Ware, Cruse, Scott, Henderson & Allen, Faubus & Taft, and her own firm, Brauchle Law Firm. - She also held the role of a Harris County Tax Master for eight years - Active in the State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association, College of the State Bar of Texas, Texas Bar Foundation, Houston Bar Foundation, Houston Young Lawyers Foundation, and the Texas Lyceum. - She is double board‐certified in Civil Trial Law and Personal Injury Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. - She has chaired committees for the Harris County Board of District Judges, including the Jury Committee and COVID Response Task Force. - Born in Dallas, TX; raised in Houston ## 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.