--- title: "Natalia Cokinos Oakes | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/natalia-cokinos-oakes" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Natalia Cokinos Oakes Texas 313th District Court · District Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas 313th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Natalia Cokinos Oakes is a Democratic Party judge of the 313th Juvenile Family District Court in Harris County, Texas, elected in 2018 and re‐elected in 2022, with her current term ending in 2026. - Before becoming a judge, Oakes practiced juvenile, family, and probate law for nearly 20 years, managing her own firm, Natalia Cokinos Oakes, PLLC, since 2000. - Presiding Judge, Texas 313th Judicial District Court, Houston, TX, 2019-2022 - Law Clerk, James Foster Andrews, PC., 1999-1999 - Her court is located at the Harris County Juvenile Justice Center, 1200 Congress St., 5th Floor, Houston, TX 77002 ### Education - Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University — J.D. (1999) - Literature — Tulane University of Louisiana - B.A. in English Literature from Tulane University (Sophie Newcomb College) ### Additional information - Manager, Natalia Cokinos Oakes PLLC, Houston, TX, 2000-present - Manager, NMC Enterprises, LLC., Houston, TX, 1982-present - Intern, Gulf Coast Legal Clinic, 1998-1999 - Athens, Greece, 1974-1982 - English Teacher, Beaumont and Houston, Texas - Oakes presides over the Juvenile Court and has served two years as Administrative Judge of the Juvenile Section. - Presides over the GRIP Court (Gang Recidivism Intervention Program) - Serves on the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) Advisory Board and Strategic Planning Committee - Is Co‐Chair of the Harris County Juvenile Board - Works with the Mayor’s Anti‐Gang Office, Annie Casey Foundation, Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative, and other youth rehabilitation programs - She also held the role of Attorney ad Litem and Guardian ad Litem for children. - Oakes is of Greek heritage and attends the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. - She is widowed after 27 years of marriage and remains active in community organizations, including the Criss Cole Children’s Fund. - Birth place: Beaumont, 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/directorysearch.aspx) - [Official roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster](https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15926/natalia-cokinos-oakes/) - [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/15926/natalia-cokinos-oakes/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/natalia-cokinos-oakes", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/natalia-cokinos-oakes", "name": "Natalia Cokinos Oakes | KnowJudges", "description": "Natalia Cokinos Oakes, Texas 313th District Court. 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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.