--- title: "Kristin L. Bays | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kristin-l-bays" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Kristin L. Bays Texas 284th District Court · District Judge, Montgomery County 284th District Civil Court ## Profile - Court: Texas 284th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge, Montgomery County 284th District Civil Court - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile. ## Biography ### Professional career - Presiding Judge, Texas 284th Judicial District Court, 2019-2022 - Prior roles include associate attorney positions at multiple Texas law firms and partnership at Bays & Bays ### Education - summa cum laude — Baylor University — 1993 - Baylor University School of Law — J.D. (1993) - Education, English, cum laude — Baylor University — 1990 - Baylor University — B.S. (1990) ### Additional information - Partner, Bays and Bays, Conroe, TX, 2017-2018 - Practitioner, Texas County Court at Law, Montgomery County Court at Law, TX, 2016-2017 - Practitioner, Bays and Bays, Conroe, TX, 2001-2016 - Practitioner, Solo Practice, The Woodlands, TX, 1997-2001 - Practitioner, Wetzel & Herron, LLP, The Woodlands, TX, 1995-1997 - Practitioner, Winner & Associates, Anchorage, AK, 1994-1995 - Practitioner, Dinkins, Kelly, Lenox, Gerstner & Lamb, Houston, TX, 1993-1994 - Former private‐practice attorney specializing in insurance claims, probate, personal injury, collections, and commercial disputes. - Past president of the Montgomery County Bar Association. - Has overseen over 102 jury trials, 3,316 bench trials, 7,513 hearings, and 17,292 case dispositions during her tenure. ## 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: judge specific Judge Bays' courtroom provides an HDMI connection at both counsel tables and an Elmo document camera. The court warns that Apple products are not supported by the current setup and directs counsel using one to bring a backup device. Evidence excerpt: There is an HDMI cord available at both counsel tables for laptop hookups. An Elmo is available for use in the courtroom. [284th District Court Rules](https://www.mctx.org/departments/departments_d_-_f/district_courts/284th_district_court/court_rules.php) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### hearing and submission settings Scope: judge specific Judge Bays requires counsel to obtain a date from court staff before sending a hearing or submission notice. Ancillary matters are heard in person, while the submission docket is decided without appearance or oral argument. Evidence excerpt: Please DO NOT send a notice of submission or hearing without prior confirmation from the Court. [284th District Court Rules](https://www.mctx.org/departments/departments_d_-_f/district_courts/284th_district_court/court_rules.php) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### civil trial settings and pretrial control Scope: courtwide Montgomery County civil cases are controlled by a court-generated docket control order. Jury-trial requests must be written and served, and the assigned court has sole discretion over the jury-trial week. Evidence excerpt: All requests for jury trials shall be in writing and copies of said request served upon all attorneys and parties pro se involved in the case. The court shall have sole discretion as to which jury trial week the case will be assigned. [Local Rules of the District Courts of Montgomery County, Texas](https://www.mctx.org/LocalRulesoftheDistrictCourts.pdf) 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.mctx.org/departments/departments_d_-_f/district_courts/284th_district_court/index.php) - [Official roster](https://www.mctx.org/departments/departments_d_-_f/district_courts/284th_district_court/index.php) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15491/kristin-l-bays/) - [Montgomery County 284th District Court official judicial roster](https://www.mctx.org/departments/departments_d_-_f/district_courts/284th_district_court/index.php) - [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 the District Courts of Montgomery County, Texas](https://www.mctx.org/LocalRulesoftheDistrictCourts.pdf) - [284th District Court Rules](https://www.mctx.org/departments/departments_d_-_f/district_courts/284th_district_court/court_rules.php) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15491/kristin-l-bays/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kristin-l-bays", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/kristin-l-bays", "name": "Kristin L. 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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.