Laura Beth Fossett at a glance
- Current role
- District Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Laura Beth Fossett
District Judge · Texas 137th District Court
Biography
Professional career
- The newly appointed Judge of the 137th District Court in Lubbock, Texas, serving out the remainder of Judge John J. McClendon III’s term and beginning her full elected term on January 1, 2027
Education
- B.A. in Business Administration from Abilene Christian University, followed by her J.D. and M.B.A. from Texas Tech University in 2011.
Additional information
- Her full term will start January 1, 2027.
- Governor Greg Abbott appointed Fossett on August 10, 2026 to fill the vacancy caused by Judge McClendon’s retirement.
- She was admitted to the Texas Bar that same year and began her legal career in private practice before joining the Lubbock Criminal District Attorney’s Office in 2012.
- She had previously won the Republican primary for the position and is unopposed in the November general election.
- Fossett has been named one of Lubbock’s Top 20 Under 40, nominated for Young Lawyer of the Year, and received multiple awards from the Crime Victim Coalition of West Texas.
- She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Lubbock, serves on her children’s PTA board, and is a board member of the Children’s Advocacy Center.
- She lives in Lubbock County with her husband, Calvin, their two children, and three dogs.
- The family is active in Redeemer Church and community service.
- In her own words, Fossett said she is “deeply honored” to continue serving Lubbock County and to “honor the trust and responsibility that comes with this office”.
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
Texas 137th District Court
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
Texas 137th District Court
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 August 14, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Texas Governor appointment; Texas OCA Trial Court Judges baseline official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 14, 2026
View Texas Governor appointment; Texas OCA Trial Court Judges baseline 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 ↗Texas 137th District Court official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Texas 137th District Court official directory ↗