--- title: "Renee Rodriguez-Betancourt | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/renee-rodriguez-betancourt" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Renee Rodriguez-Betancourt Texas 449th District Court · District Judge, Hidalgo County 449th District Court (general civil jurisdiction; juvenile matters receive preference) ## Profile - Court: Texas 449th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge, Hidalgo County 449th District Court (general civil jurisdiction; juvenile matters receive preference) - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Presiding Judge, Texas 449th Judicial District Court, Edinburg, TX, 2021-2024 - Presiding Judge, Texas 449th Judicial District Court, Edinburg, TX, 2017-2020 - The youngest District Judge in Texas when elected in 2017 to preside over juvenile cases in Hidalgo County’s 449th District Court - Partner, O'Hanlon, Rodriguez, Betancourt & Demerath, Edinburg, TX, ?-present - 449th State District Court, a specialized court located at the Judge Mario E. Ramirez Jr. Juvenile Justice Center in Edinburg, Texas - Strong advocate for youth justice and mental health, serving on committees addressing dual-status youth, rehabilitation, mental health, and child sex trafficking ### Education - B.A. in Political Science, University of Texas at Pan-American (2001) J.D., University of Texas at Austin School of Law (2005) - Business Administration — The University of Texas-Pan American — 2001 ### Additional information - Elected: November 8, 2016, took bench January 1, 2017 - The court was created to handle juvenile cases, with a focus on rehabilitation while ensuring public safety. - Invited by the Supreme Court of Texas and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to serve on the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health. - She has led initiatives such as the Hidalgo County LIFELINES Girls Juvenile Mental Health Specialty Court and the Hidalgo County Juvenile Drug Specialty Court. - Pre-judicial career: 10 years in private practice handling federal/state criminal, family law, and personal injury cases; legal counsel for multiple Hidalgo County school districts. - Awards: Outstanding Young Texas Ex Award - Boys & Girls Club Child & Adolescent Mental Health Advocate Award - Women of Distinction Rising Award - Public Elected Official of the Year (NASW-Texas LRGV Branch). - A native of Edinburg, Texas, she resides in Edinburg with her husband J.R. and three daughters. - Birth place: Edinburg, 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 ### pretrial exhibits and video depositions Scope: courtwide For a Hidalgo County district-court civil trial, the joint pretrial order must list expected exhibits and make them available to opposing counsel. Exhibits must be premarked with inadmissible material redacted, and page-and-line designations for videotaped deposition excerpts must be exchanged before trial. Evidence excerpt: All Exhibits are to be premarked with inadmissible matters redacted prior to trial. [Local Rules of Hidalgo County, Texas District Courts](https://www.hidalgocounty.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/4637) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### joint pretrial order and jury charge Scope: courtwide The parties must file a joint pretrial order at least 14 days before the final pretrial conference. It must include witness and exhibit lists, and each party must attach a proposed jury charge with instructions, definitions, and questions. Evidence excerpt: A Joint Pretrial Order shall be filed by the parties at least 14 days before the final pretrial conference scheduled by the court. [Local Rules of Hidalgo County, Texas District Courts](https://www.hidalgocounty.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/4637) Source checked: 2026-07-28 ### summary judgment submission Scope: courtwide Summary-judgment motions in Hidalgo County district courts are decided by submission unless the court orders an oral hearing. Evidence excerpt: Summary Judgment Motions shall be heard by submission only unless an oral hearing is ordered by the Court. [Local Rules of Hidalgo County, Texas District Courts](https://www.hidalgocounty.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/4637) 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.hidalgocounty.us/1076/449th-District-Court) - [Official roster](https://www.hidalgocounty.us/1076/449th-District-Court) - [Hidalgo County official judicial roster](https://www.hidalgocounty.us/1076/449th-District-Court) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16014/renee-rodriguez-betancourt/) - [Hidalgo County Officials](https://www.hidalgocounty.us/937/County-Officials) - [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) - [Local Rules of Hidalgo County, Texas District Courts](https://www.hidalgocounty.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/4637) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16014/renee-rodriguez-betancourt/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/renee-rodriguez-betancourt", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/renee-rodriguez-betancourt", "name": "Renee Rodriguez-Betancourt | KnowJudges", "description": "Renee Rodriguez-Betancourt, Texas 449th 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.