Robert Harper at a glance
- Current role
- Statutory County Court Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Robert Harper
Statutory County Court Judge · Taylor County Court at Law
Biography
Professional career
- The Honourable Justice Robert Harper is a Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (since 18 January 2018) and Judge of the Family Court of Australia (since 11 March 2019).
- Judge of Taylor County Court at Law No. 1 in Abilene, Texas
- You can find official details for the Texas judge via the Taylor County Court website and for the Australian judge via the MTECC profile
- Prior role: Assistant District Attorney in the Office of the Taylor County District Attorney
Education
- Texas Tech University School of Law — J.D. (1992)
- BA (Hons) in Classical Languages and LLB from the University of Sydney
Additional information
- Senior Counsel for NSW (2004).
- Appointment: Elected to the bench in 2004.
- Doctorate in 1997.
- Personal background: Fourth‐generation St Andrew’s College alumnus; son of Ian Harper (Councillor 1972–1997).
- Reporter for the NSW Law Reports (1986–1993).
- Career: Admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW in 1985; called to the NSW Bar in 1986.
- Extensive experience in building and construction litigation, family law, commercial law, and alternative dispute resolution.
- Public service: Adjunct Lecturer at UNSW Law School; contributor to legal publications and seminars.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
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.
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 ↗
Recording and broadcasting
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Taylor County Court at Law
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Taylor County Court at Law
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings ↗Taylor County Court at Law official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Taylor County Court at Law official directory ↗