--- title: "Ron Clark | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ron-clark" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Ron Clark U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas · Judge ## Profile - Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas - State: Texas - Role: Judge - Service status: senior - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Judge, District Court, E.D. Texas, 2002-present - Began his legal career as an assistant city attorney in Abilene, Texas, from 1979 to 1982, and also worked in the Public Defender's office - Clark held the role of an armor officer in the United States Army from 1974 to 1976, including assignments at Fort Hood, Texas, and in Germany as a mortar platoon leader and tank company executive officer in the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 2nd Armor Division. - His contributions to law, both as a practitioner and a judge, have had a significant impact on the Eastern District of Texas and the broader legal community ### Education - He later received a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 1979, where he held the role of Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Criminal Law and was recognized for his academic excellence. - He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with High Honors and a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Connecticut in 1973 and 1974, respectively. ### Additional information - Clark held the role of Chief Judge from January 1, 2015, to February 28, 2018, and assumed senior status on February 28, 2018. - received his commission on October 10, 2002. - On January 23, 2002, President George W. Bush nominated Clark to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, filling the seat vacated by Howell Cobb. - State representative, District 62, TX, 1997-2002 - Politically, he held the role of a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 62nd district from 1997 to 2002, although he was elected to the 78th Texas Legislature but never sworn in. - Private practice, Texas, 1982-2002 - Practiced privately in Texas from 1982 to 2002. - U.S. Army Reserve, 1980-1990 - He continued service in the United States Army Reserve from 1980 to 1990, reaching the rank of captain. - Assistant city attorney, Abilene, TX, 1979-1982 - U.S. Army, 1974-1976 - Ronald Hurley Clark was born on January 5, 1953, in Caripito, Venezuela. - Date of birth: 1953-01-01 - BMW North America and United States v. - Johnson. - He spent over two decades trying cases and serving as appellate counsel in both state and federal courts. - He authored multiple editions of the Texas Municipal Law and Procedure Manual and contributed to Rayburn on Condemnation. - His judicial opinions include cases such as Affinity Labs of Texas, LLC v. - Ron Clark's career spans military service, legal practice, legislative work, and federal judicial service, reflecting a broad and accomplished professional background. - Clark is one of fewer than 100 attorneys certified in Civil Trial Law and Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. - Birth place: Caripito, Venezuela ## 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 testimony Scope: courtwide In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards. Evidence excerpt: For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location. [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### criminal recording and broadcasting Scope: courtwide Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception. Evidence excerpt: Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom. [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391636) - [Official roster](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391636) - [Federal Judicial Center biography](https://www.fjc.gov/node/1391636) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/633/ron-clark/) - [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court](https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure) - [Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited](https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/633/ron-clark/) - [Wikidata: Ron Clark](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7363632) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ron-clark", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ron-clark", "name": "Ron Clark | KnowJudges", "description": "Ron Clark, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. 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Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-civil-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27. - [Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, December 1, 2025](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8721a344fececced2257fe1d) — Criminal proceedings in United States District Courts; this conservative mapping does not distribute appellate-specific provisions to appellate judges. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/document/federal-rules-of-criminal-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-10-27.