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title: "Latosha Lewis Payne | KnowJudges"
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# Latosha Lewis Payne

Texas 55th District Court · District Judge, Harris County 55th Civil District Court

## Profile

- Court: Texas 55th District Court
- State: Texas
- Role: District Judge, Harris County 55th 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

### 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)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- The Presiding Judge of the 55th Civil District Court in Harris County, Texas, elected in 2018 and serving through 2026
- She also held the role of the Local Administrative Judge for Harris County District Courts from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2025
- Former elected partner at Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP (previously Foley Lardner) and co‐founding partner of Trahan Dinn Kornegay Payne LLP, a woman‐owned civil litigation and insurance coverage firm

### Education

- University of Texas School of Law — J.D. (2000)
- in Environmental Studies & Political Science, Tulane University H. Sophie Newcomb Women’s College — B.A. (1996)

### Additional information

- Judge Payne presides over the 55th Civil District Court, part of the Harris County District Court system.
- overseeing the creation of 11 district courts, including five new civil courts.
- Court location: Harris County Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline, 9th Floor, Houston, TX 77002.
- Phone: (832) 927‐2650.
- Judge Payne has received multiple awards, including Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year from the Houston Young Lawyers Association.
- Before joining the judiciary, Judge Payne had an 18‐year legal career in complex civil trials, including environmental, toxic tort, wrongful death, personal injury, real estate/banking, breach of contract, and fraud cases in state and federal courts.
- She is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and Texas Bar Foundation.
- She is a D1 scholarship athlete and former Tulane record holder in the Women’s 400m Hurdles.
- She is active in community service, mentoring youth and coaching 10–12‐year‐old girls in track and hurdles.



## 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.