---
title: "Leonel J. Lopez | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leonel-j-lopez"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Leonel J. Lopez

Rio Grande City Municipal Court · Municipal Judge

## Profile

- Court: Rio Grande City Municipal Court
- State: Texas
- Role: Municipal Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## 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

### limited criminal remote appearance

Scope: statewide

For the specific fine-and-cost hearings governed by Articles 45A.258 and 45A.259, a justice or municipal judge may allow a defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference when an in-person appearance would impose undue hardship.

Evidence excerpt: If the justice or judge determines that requiring a defendant to appear before the justice or judge in person for a hearing under Article 45A.258 or 45A.259 would impose an undue hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge may allow the defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference.

[Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.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)
- [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leonel-j-lopez",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leonel-j-lopez",
      "name": "Leonel J. Lopez | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Leonel J. Lopez, Rio Grande City Municipal Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-07-27",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leonel-j-lopez#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leonel-j-lopez#judge",
      "name": "Leonel J. Lopez",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leonel-j-lopez",
      "jobTitle": "Municipal Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Rio Grande City Municipal Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Texas",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/texas"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Leonel J. Lopez",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leonel-j-lopez"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Lopez held the role of a municipal court judge in Rio Grande City, Texas
- Former municipal judge in Rio Grande City, TX; no law degree; ethics complaint over alleged political endorsement

### Education


### Additional information

- In 2025, Lopez was also the defendant in a federal case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
- The case was handled by Magistrate Judge Allison H. Goddard, with an initial appearance on April 28, 2025, and an arraignment on May 22, 2025.
- The case, USA v.
- The other count was dismissed by the government’s motion.
- The matter was pending at the time of the report, with the outcome dependent on the Texas Judicial Commission’s decision.
- he did not hold a law degree and had not attended college.
- Lopez (3:25-cr-01831), involved multiple counts, one of which led to a 13‐month prison sentence with 3 years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.
- His tenure was marked by an ethics complaint alleging he engaged in conduct that could be seen as endorsing political candidates for Rio Grande City Commissioner, in violation of the Texas Judicial Code of Conduct.
- The complaint claimed he attended a campaign event with candidates, though he denied any endorsement.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7a6578736340dbebb75e89c7) — 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.
- [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0fa5a7f51969f3609de00053) — 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.