--- title: "Patrick Michael Garcia | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-michael-garcia" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Patrick Michael Garcia Texas 384th District Court · District Judge, El Paso County 384th District Court (civil and criminal docket) ## Profile - Court: Texas 384th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge, El Paso County 384th District Court (civil and criminal docket) - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Patrick M. Garcia is a Democratic‐party elected judge of the Texas 384th District Court in El Paso County, serving since 1996 and re‐elected in 2024, with his current term ending December 31, 2028 - Presiding Judge, Texas 384th Judicial District Court, El Paso, TX, 2017-2020 - Presiding Judge, Texas 384th Judicial District Court, El Paso, TX, 2013-2016 - Presiding Judge, Texas 384th Judicial District Court, El Paso, TX, 2005-2008 - Presiding Judge, Texas 384th Judicial District Court, El Paso, TX, 2001-2004 - Presiding Judge, Texas 384th Judicial District Court, El Paso, TX, 1997-2000 ### Education - B.A. — San Francisco State University (1982) J.D. — University of Texas at Austin School of Law (1985) ### Additional information - Garcia’s current term runs through December 31, 2028. - Re‐elected: November 5, 2024 (won 100% of Democratic primary and general election votes) - Presiding Judge, El Paso, TX, 2021-2024 - Presiding Judge, El Paso, TX, 2009-2012 - Elected to the bench: 1996 - Date of birth: 1959-09-13 - Notable contribution: Played a key role in creating the Substance Abuse Punishment Facility Program (SAPFP) in Texas - Last elected under Texas’s partisan election system for district judges. - Patrick M. Garcia presides over cases in the 384th District Court, located at 500 E. San Antonio, Suite 906, 9th Floor, El Paso, TX 79901. - The court handles both civil and criminal matters, and appeals from its decisions go to the Eighth Court of Appeals. - Born and raised: El Paso, Texas - Political affiliation: Democrat ## 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 ### trial exhibits and jury charge Scope: courtwide El Paso civil litigants must prepare an electronic copy of admitted trial exhibits for the court reporter. They must also provide both a hard copy and an editable electronic version of the proposed jury charge, including reasonably anticipated special issues or requested instructions. Evidence excerpt: Parties shall prepare an electronic copy of admitted trial exhibits which are to be provided to the court reporter for preparation of the reporter's record. [El Paso County Local Rules for Civil Courts](https://www.epcounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/2044/El-Paso-County-Local-Rules---Civil-PDF) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### hearing materials and setting Scope: courtwide Before an El Paso civil hearing, parties must timely provide the court with motions, responses, replies, and pertinent supporting documents by hand delivery or email according to the assigned court's preference. Non-jury settings must be arranged through the court coordinator. Evidence excerpt: Parties shall timely provide directly to the court, either by hand delivery or email, based on the court's preference, a copy of motions, responses, replies, and pertinent supporting documents before the hearing. [El Paso County Local Rules for Civil Courts](https://www.epcounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/2044/El-Paso-County-Local-Rules---Civil-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.epcounty.com/641/384th-District-Court) - [Official roster](https://www.epcounty.com/641/384th-District-Court) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15658/patrick-michael-garcia/) - [El Paso County 384th District Court official judicial roster](https://www.epcounty.com/641/384th-District-Court) - [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) - [El Paso County Local Rules for Civil Courts](https://www.epcounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/2044/El-Paso-County-Local-Rules---Civil-PDF) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15658/patrick-michael-garcia/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-michael-garcia", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/patrick-michael-garcia", "name": "Patrick Michael Garcia | KnowJudges", "description": "Patrick Michael Garcia, Texas 384th 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.