--- title: "Martin J. Hoffman | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martin-j-hoffman" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Martin J. Hoffman Texas 68th District Court · District Judge, Dallas County 68th Civil District Court ## Profile - Court: Texas 68th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge, Dallas County 68th Civil District Court - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Presiding Judge, Texas 68th Judicial District Court, Dallas, TX, 2019-2022 - Presiding Judge, Texas 68th Judicial District Court, Dallas, TX, 2015-2018 - Presiding Judge, Texas 68th Judicial District Court, Dallas, TX, 2011-2014 - He has been recognized for his leadership in civil justice, including as Presiding Judge of the Central Jury Room (2009) and Presiding Judge of the Civil District Judges (2014). - Presiding Judge, Texas 68th Judicial District Court, Dallas, TX, 2007-2010 - Martin J. Hoffman is the Presiding Judge of the 68th Civil District Court in Dallas County, Texas, elected in 2006 and re‐elected multiple times, with nearly 20 years on the bench and over 30 years of combined legal and judicial experience ### Education - JD — The University of Texas at Austin — 1992 - Economics & Philosophy — Trinity University — 1989 - B.A. in Economics from Trinity University and a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law. ### Additional information - Judge Hoffman has been re‐elected four times and is seeking another term in the 2026 election cycle. - Trial Judge of the Year (2018) by the American Board of Trial Advocates Dallas Chapter - Outstanding Jurist of the Year (2017) by the Dallas Women Lawyers Association - Cleo R. Steele Committed Mentor Award (2016) from the J.L. Turner Legal Association - Outstanding Trial Judge Award (2013) from the Texas Attorney Mediator Coalition - Litigation Manager, Smoger & Associates, 1995-2006 - Practitioner, Private Practice, ?-present - The court is located at the George L. Allen, Sr. Courts Building, 600 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX. - Mentored mock trial teams and presided over mock trials - He continues to emphasize fairness, objectivity, and efficiency in the court’s operations. - Judge Hoffman presides over the 68th Civil District Court, which handles civil cases in Dallas County. - Before joining the bench, Hoffman was a practicing civil litigator for 13 years, initially at Windle Turley and later as litigation manager for Smoger & Associates. - He is board certified in Personal Injury Trial Law. - Outstanding Mentor Awards from the Texas Young Lawyers Association and Dallas Association of Young Lawyers - Created the “Foreclosure Fairness” program to give homeowners a voice in foreclosure processes - Runs a court internship program with over 250 law students served - Advocated for diversity in the legal field and supported sister bar status for the Dallas Women Lawyers Association and Dallas LGBT Bar Association ## 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 ### courtroom technology and trial materials Scope: courtroom specific The courtroom provides an easel, ELMO, overhead projector, video equipment, and DVD/VCR players; parties may arrange advance equipment familiarization with the coordinator. Evidence excerpt: The Court provides its own easel, ELMO, overhead projector, video equipment, and DVD/VCR players, which are available to all parties. Parties may contact the coordinator to arrange time to become familiar with equipment. [68th Civil District Court Procedures](https://www.dallascounty.org/Assets/uploads/docs/courts/civil-district/68/CivilCourtQuestion.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### courtroom technology Scope: courtwide Dallas County's civil district court directory provides an official AV equipment training video for courtroom preparation. Evidence excerpt: AV Equipment Training Video [Dallas County Civil District Courts](https://www.dallascounty.org/government/courts/civil_district/) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### 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.dallascounty.org/government/courts/civil_district/68th/) - [Official roster](https://www.dallascounty.org/government/courts/civil_district/68th/) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15735/martin-j-hoffman/) - [Dallas County 68th Civil District Court official judicial roster](https://www.dallascounty.org/government/courts/civil_district/68th/) - [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) - [Dallas County Civil District Courts](https://www.dallascounty.org/government/courts/civil_district/) - [68th Civil District Court Procedures](https://www.dallascounty.org/Assets/uploads/docs/courts/civil-district/68/CivilCourtQuestion.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15735/martin-j-hoffman/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martin-j-hoffman", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martin-j-hoffman", "name": "Martin J. Hoffman | KnowJudges", "description": "Martin J. Hoffman, Texas 68th District Court. 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/martin-j-hoffman#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martin-j-hoffman#judge", "name": "Martin J. Hoffman", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martin-j-hoffman", "jobTitle": "District Judge, Dallas County 68th Civil District Court", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Texas 68th District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.dallascounty.org/government/courts/civil_district/68th/", "https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15735/martin-j-hoffman/" ], "alumniOf": [ { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "Trinity University" }, { "@type": "EducationalOrganization", "name": "The University of Texas at Austin" } ] }, { "@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": "Martin J. Hoffman", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/martin-j-hoffman" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-119ce7e69a3752f1da3cfce0) — 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. - [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.