--- title: "Richard F. Cortez | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-f-cortez" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # Richard F. Cortez Texas County Court · Constitutional County Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas County Court - State: Texas - Role: Constitutional County Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## 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 ### 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://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 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) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-f-cortez", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-f-cortez", "name": "Richard F. Cortez | KnowJudges", "description": "Richard F. Cortez, Texas County Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-07-26", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-f-cortez#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-f-cortez#judge", "name": "Richard F. Cortez", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-f-cortez", "jobTitle": "Constitutional County Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Texas County 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": "Richard F. Cortez", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/richard-f-cortez" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - Richard F. Cortez is the incumbent Hidalgo County Judge, serving his second term since being first elected in 2018 and re‐elected in 2022 - He also serves as Director of Emergency Management, leading the county’s crisis response for events such as the COVID‐19 pandemic, Hurricane Hanna, and the 2021 Texas deep freeze - Before becoming County Judge, Cortez held the role of Mayor of McAllen (2005–2013) and as a City Commissioner. - As County Judge, Cortez is the chief elected officer of Hidalgo County, Texas — the 8th most populous county in the state — overseeing county government operations, policy, and leadership ### Education - BBA from Pan American College in 1970. ### Additional information - Born in Weslaco, Texas, he graduated from Weslaco High School in 1962 - Certified Public Accountant with over 40 years’ experience in public and forensic accounting. - Cortez was married for 47 years to the late Elva (Longoria) Cortez and has four children. ## 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.