---
title: "Paul Francis McNulty | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-francis-mcnulty"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Paul Francis McNulty

Plano Municipal Court · Municipal Judge

## Profile

- Court: Plano Municipal Court
- State: Texas
- Role: Municipal Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## 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

### limited criminal remote appearance

Scope: statewide

For the specific fine-and-cost hearings governed by Articles 45A.258 and 45A.259, a justice or municipal judge may allow a defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference when an in-person appearance would impose undue hardship.

Evidence excerpt: If the justice or judge determines that requiring a defendant to appear before the justice or judge in person for a hearing under Article 45A.258 or 45A.259 would impose an undue hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge may allow the defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference.

[Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.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)
- [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-francis-mcnulty",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-francis-mcnulty",
      "name": "Paul Francis McNulty | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Paul Francis McNulty, Plano Municipal Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-07-27",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-francis-mcnulty#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-francis-mcnulty#judge",
      "name": "Paul Francis McNulty",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-francis-mcnulty",
      "jobTitle": "Municipal Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Plano Municipal Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@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": "Paul Francis McNulty",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/paul-francis-mcnulty"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- McNulty had previously held the role of Senior Associate Municipal Court Judge for the City of Plano since October 2007, and also as an Associate Municipal Court Judge for the City of Murphy
- McNulty’s legal practice spans criminal defense, corporate law, civil litigation, and business litigation
- Chief Municipal Judge of the Plano Municipal Court, a position established under the City of Plano’s Home Rule Charter to oversee the trial of misdemeanor offenses

### Education

- California Western School of Law — J.D. (1984)
- Dickinson College — B.A. (1981)

### Additional information

- Appointed by the Plano City Council via Resolution No. 2022‐5‐10(R) on May 23, 2022, and his term runs until June 30, 2024.
- The Chief Judge of the Plano Municipal Court of Record in Plano, Texas, appointed by the City Council in 2022 and recognized for his legal expertise and service.
- Arizona District Court 1996 – U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas & Northern District of Illinois
- Admissions: 1987 – Texas State Bar 1988 – U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
- Arkansas Eastern & Western Bankruptcy Courts
- He has been recognized by with AV Preeminent® peer ratings, reflecting the highest level of professional excellence.
- His appointment followed the retirement of Chief Judge Don Stevenson after 25 years of service.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7a6578736340dbebb75e89c7) — 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.
- [Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0fa5a7f51969f3609de00053) — 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://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.