--- title: "Robert D. Burns III | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-d-burns-iii-15438" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Robert D. Burns III Texas Court of Appeals, 5th District (Dallas) · Chief Justice ## Profile - Court: Texas Court of Appeals, 5th District (Dallas) - State: Texas - Role: Chief Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Chief Justice, Texas Court of Appeals, 5th District (Dallas), Dallas, TX, 2019-present - Chief Justice, Texas Fifth District Court of Appeals (2019–2024): Elected in November 2018, he led the intermediate appellate court for Dallas County for six years - Judge, Texas Criminal District Court, No. 1, Dallas City, Dallas, TX, 2007-2018 - Dallas County Criminal District Court No. 1 (2007–2018): Served 12 years as a felony district court judge, presiding over serious criminal cases - Deputy Chief, Dallas County District Attorney's Office, Dallas, TX, 1997-2007 - Before the bench, Burns held a position as Deputy Chief of the Organized Crime Division in the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office (1997–2007), prosecuting over 150 jury trials, including capital murder cases. - Other roles: held the role of Local Administrative District Judge for Dallas County, presided over Dallas County’s DIVERT Court (treatment court for first-time felony drug offenders), and sat on the Dallas County Juvenile Board ### Education - Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in — J.D. (1990) - Business — Austin College — 1986 ### Additional information - He also had a decade in private legal practice. - Born in Dayton, Ohio, Burns has been recognized for his fairness and work ethic, consistently ranking highly in Dallas Bar Association judicial evaluations. - He has also served on the Texas Board of Legal Specialization Advisory Board and in leadership roles with the Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association. ## 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 ### oral argument purpose Scope: courtwide Use oral argument to emphasize and clarify the briefs, not merely read prepared text; assume the panel has read the briefs, be ready for questions, and stay within the record. Evidence excerpt: Oral argument should emphasize and clarify the written arguments in the briefs. Counsel should not merely read from prepared text. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### oral argument time Scope: courtwide The court sets argument time. Finish within the allotment unless the court permits continuation; the appellant must be allowed to conclude. Evidence excerpt: Counsel must complete argument in the time allotted and may continue after the expiration of the allotted time only with permission of the court. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### number of arguing counsel Scope: courtwide Generally one lawyer should argue for each side. Without leave, no more than two may argue per side, and only one may present rebuttal. Evidence excerpt: Generally, only one counsel should argue for each side. Except on leave of court, no more than two counsel on each side may argue. Only one counsel may argue in rebuttal. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### oral argument request Scope: courtwide Request oral argument on the front cover of the brief. If argument is set, all parties that filed briefs may participate even if they did not request it. Evidence excerpt: A party desiring oral argument must note that request on the front cover of the party’s brief. [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ### oral argument notice Scope: courtwide The clerk's notice states whether argument is allowed, the date, allotted time, location or electronic-joining instructions, exhibit instructions, and panel members. Evidence excerpt: The clerk must send to the parties—at least 21 days before the date the case is set for argument or submission without argument—a notice telling the parties: [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) Source checked: 2026-07-30 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15438/robert-d-burns-iii/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15438/robert-d-burns-iii/) - [Texas Court of Appeals, 5th District (Dallas) current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15438/robert-d-burns-iii/) - [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 39 - Oral Argument](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15438/robert-d-burns-iii/) - [Robert D. Burns III - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Robert_D._Burns_III#:~:text=4%20External%20links-,Biography,School%20of%20Law%20in%201990.) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-d-burns-iii-15438", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-d-burns-iii-15438", "name": "Robert D. Burns III | KnowJudges", "description": "Robert D. Burns III, Texas Court of Appeals, 5th District (Dallas). Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-d-burns-iii-15438#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/robert-d-burns-iii-15438#judge", "name": "Robert D. 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