--- title: "Robert Bruce McFarling | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-bruce-mcfarling-15852" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Robert Bruce McFarling Denton County District Courts · Administrative Law Judge ## Profile - Court: Denton County District Courts - State: Texas - Role: Administrative Law Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - R. Bruce McFarling is a Republican‐party judge of the 362nd District Court in Denton County, Texas, elected in 2000 and re‐elected in 2024, with a current term through 2028 - Presiding Judge, Texas 362nd Judicial District Court, Denton, TX, 2021-2024 - Presiding Judge, Texas 362nd Judicial District Court, Denton, TX, 2017-2020 - Presiding Judge, Texas 362nd Judicial District Court, Denton, TX, 2013-2016 - Presiding Judge, Texas 362nd Judicial District Court, Denton, TX, 2009-2012 - Presiding Judge, Texas 362nd Judicial District Court, Denton, TX, 2005-2008 - Presiding Judge, Texas 362nd Judicial District Court, Denton, TX, 2001-2004 - Assistant District Attorney, Denton County District Attorney's Office, TX, 1994-2000 - Administrative Law Judge, Denton County District Courts, ?-present ### Education - magna cum laude — Texas Tech University — 1994 - Texas Tech University School of Law — J.D. (1994) - Business Administration, cum laude — Texas Tech University — 1988 ### Additional information - His current term runs until December 31, 2028. - He was first elected to the bench in 2000 and has been re‐elected in 2020 and 2024. - 2020 General Election: Also re‐elected with 100% of the vote. - Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1998-2000 - Auditor, KPMG US, 1988-1991 - Date of birth: 1966-05-11 - Before joining the judiciary, McFarling held a position as an assistant district attorney in the Narcotics Task Force of the Denton County District Attorney’s Office. - 362nd Judicial District Court in Denton County, Texas, a court that handles a wide range of cases including civil, criminal, family, and tax matters. - He is registered as a Republican and was raised in Flower Mound, Texas. - Birth place: Richardson, 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 ### 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.courtlistener.com/person/15852/robert-bruce-mcfarling/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15852/robert-bruce-mcfarling/) - [Denton County District Courts current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15852/robert-bruce-mcfarling/) - [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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15852/robert-bruce-mcfarling/) - [Bruce McFarling - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Bruce_McFarling) - [Judge Bruce McFarling – Tough but Fair - Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News](https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2013/11/25/judge-bruce-mcfarling-tough-but-fair) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-bruce-mcfarling-15852", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-bruce-mcfarling-15852", "name": "Robert Bruce McFarling | KnowJudges", "description": "Robert Bruce McFarling, Denton County District Courts. 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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.