--- title: "Leslie F. Hatch | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leslie-f-hatch-district-237th-district-court-texas" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Leslie F. Hatch 237th District Court · District Judge ## Profile - Court: 237th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-27 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Presiding Judge, Texas 237th Judicial District Court, Lubbock, TX, 2019-2022 - Presiding Judge, Texas 237th Judicial District Court, Lubbock, TX, 2015-2018 - Presiding Judge, Texas 237th Judicial District Court, Lubbock, TX, 2011-2014 - Presiding Judge, Texas 237th Judicial District Court, Lubbock, TX, 2009-2010 - Administrative Law Judge, Lubbock County District Courts, Lubbock, TX, ?-present ### Education - B.S. in 1985, Texas A&M University J.D., Texas Tech University School of Law, 1988 - Political Science — Texas A & M University-College Station — 1985 ### Additional information - Leslie (Les) F. Hatch is a District Judge of the 237th District Court in Lubbock County, Texas, where he has presided over civil and family cases since his appointment in 2009. - Date of birth: 1963-05-18 - adj-prof, Texas Tech University, ?-present - Practitioner, Mayfield, Crutcher, and Sharpee, ?-present - Practitioner, Craig, Terrill & Hale, L.L.P., Lubbock, TX, ?-present - Registered Republican. - Judge Hatch has been active in judicial and community leadership roles, including service on the Supreme Court of Texas Expedited Actions and Alternative Dispute Resolution Evaluation Advisory Committee. - Legal Career: previously practiced in personal injury defense, board certified in that area Worked at Mayfield, Crutcher & Sharpee, LLP in family, commercial, litigation, and personal injury law Adjunct professor at Texas Tech University School of Law - Professional Memberships: Board of Trustees, Texas Bar Foundation Past chair, Judicial Section, State Bar of Texas Past president, Texas Association of District Judges Past president, Lubbock County Bar Association Former director, Texas Young Lawyers Association - Birth place: Lubbock, TX ## 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/ExcelExportPublic.aspx?type=P&export=E&CommitteeID=0&Court=&SortBy=tblCounty.Sort_ID%2C%20Last_Name&Active_Flg=true&Last_Name=&First_Name=&Court_Type_CD=0&Court_Sub_Type_CD=0&County_ID=0&City_CD=0&Address_Type_CD=0&Annual_Report_CD=0&PersonnelType1=&PersonnelType2=&DistrictPrimaryLocOnly=0&AdminJudicialRegion=0&COADistrictId=0) - [Official roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/ExcelExportPublic.aspx?type=P&export=E&CommitteeID=0&Court=&SortBy=tblCounty.Sort_ID%2C%20Last_Name&Active_Flg=true&Last_Name=&First_Name=&Court_Type_CD=0&Court_Sub_Type_CD=0&County_ID=0&City_CD=0&Address_Type_CD=0&Annual_Report_CD=0&PersonnelType1=&PersonnelType2=&DistrictPrimaryLocOnly=0&AdminJudicialRegion=0&COADistrictId=0) - [Texas Office of Court Administration, active Judicial Directory official judicial roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/ExcelExportPublic.aspx?type=P&export=E&CommitteeID=0&Court=&SortBy=tblCounty.Sort_ID%2C%20Last_Name&Active_Flg=true&Last_Name=&First_Name=&Court_Type_CD=0&Court_Sub_Type_CD=0&County_ID=0&City_CD=0&Address_Type_CD=0&Annual_Report_CD=0&PersonnelType1=&PersonnelType2=&DistrictPrimaryLocOnly=0&AdminJudicialRegion=0&COADistrictId=0) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15718/leslie-f-hatch/) - [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/15718/leslie-f-hatch/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leslie-f-hatch-district-237th-district-court-texas", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/leslie-f-hatch-district-237th-district-court-texas", "name": "Leslie F. 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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.