--- title: "R. Bruce McFarling | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-bruce-mcfarling" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-28" --- # R. Bruce McFarling Texas 362nd District Court · District Judge, Denton County 362nd District Court (general jurisdiction, mixed docket) ## Profile - Court: Texas 362nd District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge, Denton County 362nd District Court (general jurisdiction, mixed docket) - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## 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 ### electronic devices and recording Scope: courtwide Denton County permits participating attorneys and their staff to use electronic devices during hearings, but otherwise prohibits electronic-device use and prohibits recording court proceedings. Evidence excerpt: No electronic devices shall be used in Court, except by attorneys or the attorney's staff during hearings in which that attorney is participating. Further, no audible sounds from communication devices or other electronic devices shall be permitted and no recording of court proceedings shall be permitted. [Uniform Rules of Court for the District and Statutory County Courts of Denton County, Texas](https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/957/Uniform-Rules-of-Court-for-the-District-and-Statutory-County-Courts-of-Denton-County-Texas-PDF) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### civil trial materials and exhibits Scope: courtwide For a Denton County civil trial, parties must deliver witness and exhibit lists, motions in limine, and proposed jury instructions or questions when reporting for trial. Exhibits must be marked, exchanged, and examined at least seven days before trial. Evidence excerpt: At least seven (7) days prior to commencement of trial, all exhibits must be marked, exchanged, and examined by counsel so that the trial will not be delayed by such examination. [Uniform Rules of Court for the District and Statutory County Courts of Denton County, Texas](https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/957/Uniform-Rules-of-Court-for-the-District-and-Statutory-County-Courts-of-Denton-County-Texas-PDF) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### ai generated filings Scope: courtwide Denton County District Courts require certification that material created or contributed to by generative AI was independently verified by a person using traditional, non-AI legal sources before submission. Evidence excerpt: Any information created or contributed to by generative artificial intelligence-including, but not limited to, language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments, and legal analysis-was, before submission to this Court, independently verified as accurate using traditional (non-AI) legal sources by a human being. [Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence in Denton County District Courts](https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11419/Standing-Order-Regarding-Use-of-Artificial-Intelligence-Denton-County-District-Courts-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.dentoncounty.gov/537/362nd-District-Court) - [Official roster](https://www.dentoncounty.gov/537/362nd-District-Court) - [Denton County 362nd District Court official judicial roster](https://www.dentoncounty.gov/537/362nd-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) - [Uniform Rules of Court for the District and Statutory County Courts of Denton County, Texas](https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/957/Uniform-Rules-of-Court-for-the-District-and-Statutory-County-Courts-of-Denton-County-Texas-PDF) - [Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence in Denton County District Courts](https://www.dentoncounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11419/Standing-Order-Regarding-Use-of-Artificial-Intelligence-Denton-County-District-Courts-PDF) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-bruce-mcfarling", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/r-bruce-mcfarling", "name": "R. 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Bruce McFarling is a Republican judge of the 362nd District Court in Denton County, Texas, elected in 2000 and re‐elected in 2024, with a career background in public service and law enforcement - Judge in the 362nd Judicial District Court, covering Denton County, Texas ### Education - Texas Tech University School of Law — J.D. (1994) - B.B.A. from Texas Tech University (1988) ### Additional information - His current term began January 1, 2001, and is set to end December 31, 2028. - He was first elected to the bench in 2000 and has been re‐elected multiple times, most recently in November 2024, winning 100% of the vote in the general election. - Registered Republican. - Before becoming a judge, McFarling held a position as an assistant district attorney in the Narcotics Task Force of the Denton County District Attorney’s Office. - He was raised in Flower Mound, Texas, and is the son of the first female council member of Flower Mound and the first female justice of the peace in Lewisville. ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-119ce7e69a3752f1da3cfce0) — 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. - [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.