--- title: "Maya S. Guerra Gamble | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maya-s-guerra-gamble" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Maya S. Guerra Gamble Texas 459th District Court · District Judge, Travis County 459th Civil District Court ## Profile - Court: Texas 459th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge, Travis County 459th Civil District Court - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official judge-specific and circuitwide procedural guidance has been located for this profile. ## Biography ### Professional career - Maya Guerra Gamble has held the role of the judge of the 459th District Court in Travis County, Texas, since January 2019 - Practitioner, Private Practice in Child Welfare Law, Austin, TX, 2017-present - Presiding Judge, Texas 459th Judicial District Court, Austin, TX, 2019-2022 - Practitioner, U.S. Department of Justice, Commercial Litigation Section, ?-present - att-gen-ass, Office of the Texas Attorney General, TX, ?-present - Of Counsel, O'Connell & Soifer LLP, ?-present - Law Clerk, Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, ?-present - Law clerk — early career - In summary, Maya Guerra Gamble is a highly experienced judge with a strong record in child advocacy, civil litigation, and community service, recognized for her dedication to fairness, equity, and public service in Travis County ### Education - Yale University — J.D. (1996) - Psychology, with distinction — Yale University — 1992 - B.A. and J.D., Yale University ### Additional information - She advanced from the Democratic primary earlier in 2026 and seeks to continue her service on the 459th District Court, where her current term ends on December 31, 2026. - Maya Guerra Gamble is a member of the Democratic Party and is running for re-election in the general election on November 3, 2026. - She has also been named among the 50 most courageous judges of all time by the National College of the Judiciary. - The first judge elected to preside over this court and has built a career as a trial lawyer specializing in Child Protective Services cases, advocating for vulnerable children and families. - Her legal experience also includes handling whistleblower cases, including one that resulted in a settlement exceeding $100 million against a major hospital chain for fraud. - She has held the role of Vice President of the Austin Bar Association, founded the Equity Summit to promote diversity in the legal profession, and created mentoring programs for new lawyers. - She has received numerous awards, including the Joseph C. Parker Jr. Diversity Award, the U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, and recognition from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. - Beyond the courtroom, Maya Guerra Gamble is deeply involved in her community. - She is also active in Scouting America, serving as a Scoutmaster and executive board member, and volunteers in local schools through PTA leadership. - Birth place: Austin, 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 ### powerpoint demonstratives and exhibits Scope: judge specific The 459th Civil District Court strongly prefers electronic exhibits uploaded to Box. PowerPoint presentations and demonstratives should also be uploaded to Box or supplied in at least two paper copies. Evidence excerpt: If you use a PowerPoint presentation or demonstrative aid, please upload them to Box or bring at least two paper copies [459th Civil District Court Expectations and Preferences](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20250630-Second_Amended_459th_Civil_District_Court.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### technology training Scope: judge specific Before a jury trial in the 459th Civil District Court, all attorneys must certify that they completed the Court IT staff's technology training. Evidence excerpt: All attorneys must certify to the Court before a jury trial that you have taken the Technology Training offered by the Court IT staff. [459th Civil District Court Expectations and Preferences](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20250630-Second_Amended_459th_Civil_District_Court.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### powerpoint video and electronic exhibits Scope: courtwide Travis County courtrooms support PowerPoint, digitized exhibits, taped depositions, video evidence, document-camera material, and laptop presentations, but counsel must first obtain the judge's permission before routing a laptop presentation to the courtroom displays. Evidence excerpt: YOU MUST FIRST make sure the Judge is ok with you presenting. Then the Judge will have to unlock the video routing source button for you to use it. [Travis County Attorney E-Courtroom Documentation](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20230203-Attorney_E-Courtroom_Documentation_Final.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### virtual or hybrid proceedings Scope: courtwide Virtual or hybrid hearings, trials, and witness appearances must be arranged in advance and approved by the court. Evidence excerpt: Any requests for hybrid or virtual options for hearings/trials/witnesses must be pre-arranged and approved by the Court. [Travis County Attorney E-Courtroom Documentation](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20230203-Attorney_E-Courtroom_Documentation_Final.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### central docket assignment Scope: courtwide Travis County uses a central civil docket. Unless a case is specially assigned, an available judge may hear a hearing or trial regardless of the district court in which the case was filed. Evidence excerpt: hearings and trials are assigned to available judges without regard to the court in which the case is filed. [Travis County District Courts Local Rules](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20241120-Amended_LOCAL_RULES_as_of_Nov_15_2024.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### remote proceedings Scope: courtwide District-court hearings and trials are in person by default. A remote proceeding requires agreement of all parties or a good-cause finding, and arrangements must be made before the proceeding. Evidence excerpt: All hearings and trials (proceedings) will be in person unless (a) all parties agree ... or (b) a judge finds good cause to determine that a remote proceeding is appropriate. [Travis County District Courts Local Rules](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20241120-Amended_LOCAL_RULES_as_of_Nov_15_2024.pdf) 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.traviscountytx.gov/courts/civil/district/459) - [Official roster](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/courts/civil/district/459) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15696/maya-s-guerra-gamble/) - [Travis County 459th Civil District Court official judicial roster](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/courts/civil/district/459) - [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) - [Travis County Attorney E-Courtroom Documentation](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20230203-Attorney_E-Courtroom_Documentation_Final.pdf) - [Travis County District Courts Local Rules](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20241120-Amended_LOCAL_RULES_as_of_Nov_15_2024.pdf) - [459th Civil District Court Expectations and Preferences](https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/courts/Docs/20250630-Second_Amended_459th_Civil_District_Court.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15696/maya-s-guerra-gamble/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maya-s-guerra-gamble", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/maya-s-guerra-gamble", "name": "Maya S. 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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.