--- title: "Lela Lawrence Mays | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lela-lawrence-mays" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Lela Lawrence Mays Texas 283rd District Court · District Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas 283rd District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge Mays has held the role of presiding judge of the 283rd Judicial District Court since January 1, 2019, a position she won in the 2026 general election and whose term runs through December 31, 2026 - Judge Mays has been on the Dallas County bench since 2000, with more than 25 years of judicial service - Presiding Judge, Texas 283rd Judicial District Court, 2019-2022 - Presiding Judge, D.I.V.E.R.T. Court, ?-present - The presiding judge of the 283rd Judicial District Court in Dallas County, Texas - Recognized for her experience, leadership, and dedication to balancing justice, safety, and rehabilitation in Dallas County’s criminal justice system ### Education - Texas Southern University — J.D. (1988) - Political Science — University of Houston — 1985 - Texas Southern University–Thurgood Marshall School of Law. ### Additional information - Community Involvement: Member of St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church for over 30 years; co-founded the church’s Corrections Ministry in 2015 and partnered with Legal Aid of Northwest Texas in 2020 to create ID Impact Texas, helping individuals clear tickets and restore driving privileges. - Magistrate, Dallas County Criminal District Court, 2000-2018 - Early work in specialty courts, including the DIVERT Court (2002) and the Intensive Intervention Program Court (2007–2009). - S.T.A.C. Court (Successful Treatment of Addiction Through Collaboration), launched in 2006, providing judicial oversight for over 250 felony probationers in a drug-treatment program that reduces recidivism and saves significant taxpayer funds. - Practitioner, Private Practice, TX, 1990-2000 - The court has jurisdiction over all felony criminal cases in Dallas County. - overseeing all felony-level criminal cases, with over 25 years of judicial service. - Advocacy for families and individuals facing homelessness, substance abuse, and mental health challenges, working to remove stigma and barriers to recovery. ## 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://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [Official roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15840/lela-lawrence-mays/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15840/lela-lawrence-mays/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lela-lawrence-mays", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/lela-lawrence-mays", "name": "Lela Lawrence Mays | KnowJudges", "description": "Lela Lawrence Mays, Texas 283rd District Court. 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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.