--- title: "Mario E. Ramirez Jr. | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mario-e-ramirez-jr-15984" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Mario E. Ramirez Jr. Hidalgo County District Courts · Administrative Law Judge ## Profile - Court: Hidalgo County District Courts - State: Texas - Role: Administrative Law Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Presiding Judge, Texas 332nd Judicial District Court, Edinburg, TX, 2021-2024 - 1983 – Judge, newly created 332nd District Court, serving 41 years until retirement in December 2024 - Presiding Judge, Texas 332nd Judicial District Court, Edinburg, TX, 2017-2020 - Presiding Judge, Texas 332nd Judicial District Court, Edinburg, TX, 2009-2012 - Presiding Judge, Texas 332nd Judicial District Court, Edinburg, TX, 2005-2008 - Presiding Judge, Texas 332nd Judicial District Court, Edinburg, TX, 2001-2004 - Presiding Judge, Texas 332nd Judicial District Court, Edinburg, TX, 1997-2000 - Presiding Judge, Texas 332nd Judicial District Court, Edinburg, TX, 1993-1996 - Presiding Judge, Texas 332nd Judicial District Court, Edinburg, TX, 1989-1992 - Presiding Judge, Texas 332nd Judicial District Court, Edinburg, TX, 1985-1988 - Presiding Judge, Texas 332nd Judicial District Court, Edinburg, TX, 1983-1984 - Presiding Judge, Texas 93rd Judicial District Court, TX, 1981-1982 - Judge, Texas County Courts at Law, Hidalgo County Court at Law, TX, 1980-1981 - Assistant District Attorney, McAllen Municipal Court, 1976-1980 - State Staff Attorney, Department of Public Welfare, TX, 1975-1975 - Administrative Law Judge, Hidalgo County District Courts, ?-present - Remembered for his passion, fairness, humor, and deep commitment to public service, especially in juvenile justice - Distinguished Texas judge and long-time overseer of the Hidalgo County Juvenile Probation Department, remembered for his integrity, fairness, and dedication to juvenile justice ### Education - St. Mary’s University School of Law in — J.D. (1974) - University of Notre Dame in — B.A. (1972) ### Additional information - Judge Ramirez passed away peacefully on December 24, 2025, surrounded by his family. - St. Mary’s later honored him as a Distinguished Alumnus in 2019. - Presiding Judge, Edinburg, TX, 2013-2016 - In 2008, Hidalgo County named the Judge Mario E. Ramirez Jr. Juvenile Justice Center in his honor. - Located in Edinburg, Texas, the 137,459 sq. ft. facility opened in 2007 and was dedicated to Ramirez in recognition of his contributions to juvenile justice. - Born September 5, 1950 in Laredo, Texas, Ramirez grew up in Roma and graduated from Rio Grande City High School in 1968. - Date of birth: 1950-09-05 - The Texas Senate recognized his service with “unparalleled integrity, fairness, and courage”. - It houses the Juvenile Probation Department, a 96-bed secure pre-adjudication detention facility, and the 449th State District Court for juvenile cases. - Ramirez began his legal career in the Texas Department of Public Welfare in Laredo. - He also held the role of Overseer of the Hidalgo County Juvenile Probation Department for over 28 years. - His legacy is embodied in the enduring work of the Juvenile Justice Center and the respect he earned from colleagues, the community, and the Texas judicial system. - Birth place: Roma, 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://www.courtlistener.com/person/15984/mario-e-ramirez-jr/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15984/mario-e-ramirez-jr/) - [Hidalgo County District Courts current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15984/mario-e-ramirez-jr/) - [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/15984/mario-e-ramirez-jr/) - [Mario Ramirez Jr. - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Mario_Ramirez_Jr.) - [Tributes pour in for former state District Judge Mario E. Ramirez - Rio Grande Guardian](https://riograndeguardian.com/stories/video-district-judge-mario-e-ramirez,52228) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mario-e-ramirez-jr-15984", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mario-e-ramirez-jr-15984", "name": "Mario E. Ramirez Jr. | KnowJudges", "description": "Mario E. Ramirez Jr., Hidalgo County District Courts. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mario-e-ramirez-jr-15984#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/mario-e-ramirez-jr-15984#judge", "name": "Mario E. 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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.