Natalia Cornelio at a glance
- Current role
- District Judge
- Court
- 351st District Court
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Natalia Cornelio
District Judge · 351st District Court
Judicial assignments
- Texas 351st District CourtJudgeSource checked October 15, 2026. Roster source
These published assignments do not certify a complete bench.
Biography
Professional career
- Natalia “Nata” Cornelio is a Democratic Party judge serving on the Texas 351st Criminal District Court in Harris County, Houston, since January 1, 2021, with her current term running through December 31, 2028
- In 2025, she was also elected by her peers as the Harris County Administrative Judge
- The commission concluded her actions “cast public discredit on the judiciary and the administration of justice” and showed bias toward the defense
Education
- Bachelor’s degree from New York University (2003) and her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School (2006).
Additional information
- Removed from the case in January 2025.
- Signed a “secret” bench warrant in July 2024 ordering Haskell’s return for a midnight court hearing that never occurred, to facilitate a defense‐requested MRI.
- She was re‐elected in the November 5, 2024 general election and had previously won the 2020 race against Arlene Hecht.
- As a district judge, Cornelio presides over criminal cases in her court, including felony trials, appeals, and other matters.
- overseeing other district judges.
- She admitted she “should have been more careful” and said she has taken steps to prevent similar errors.
- Her attorney has said she strongly disputes the reprimand and plans to appeal.
- Cornelio acknowledged the warrant’s factual error but denied bias, stating she was “following the law as best she knew at the time” and that the mistake was due to staff using a standard form.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
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.
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 ↗
Recording and broadcasting
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
351st District Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
351st District Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 27, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Texas Office of Court Administration, active Judicial Directory official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 27, 2026
View Texas Office of Court Administration, active Judicial Directory official judicial roster ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings ↗Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster ↗351st District Court official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View 351st District Court official directory ↗Service record and verification
- 351st District Court · District Judge · Current · present
- 351st District Court · Judge · Current · present
- 351st District Court · District Judge · Historical or current service unconfirmed