--- title: "Ruben Gonzalez, Jr. | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ruben-gonzalez-jr" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Ruben Gonzalez, Jr. Texas 432nd District Court · District Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas 432nd District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Ruben Gonzalez, Jr. is a Republican‐affiliated judge of the Texas 432nd District Court in Tarrant County, appointed in 2009 and re‐elected in 2018 and 2022, with his current term ending December 31, 2026 - Presiding Judge, Texas 432nd Judicial District Court, Fort Worth, TX, 2019-2022 - Presiding Judge, Texas 432nd Judicial District Court, Fort Worth, TX, 2015-2018 - Presiding Judge, Texas 432nd Judicial District Court, Fort Worth, TX, 2011-2014 - Presiding Judge, Texas 432nd Judicial District Court, Fort Worth, TX, 2009-2010 - His legal career began as an assistant district attorney for Tarrant County, serving in the Narcotics Intelligence & Coordination Unit - on the Tarrant County Criminal Justice Task Force and the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board ### Education - Creighton University School of Law — J.D. (1995) - BA — The University of Texas at El Paso — 1987 ### Additional information - He was re‐elected in 2018 and again in 2022, the latter without a general election due to an incumbent‐only runoff. - His term began October 1, 2009, when he was appointed by then‐Governor Rick Perry. - Co-Founder, Defund One Security Company, 2007-2009 - He also co‐founded Defend One Security Company (2007–2009). - Practitioner, Law Office of Ruben Gonzalez, P.C., 2001-2009 - Serviceman, U.S. Air Force, 2001-2009 - Before joining the bench, Gonzalez was a sole practitioner in his own law firm (established 2000) specializing in criminal defense. - U.S. Air Force veteran, rising to Chief of the Intelligence Analysis Branch - overseeing Strategic Air Command’s Bomber Operations and Checkmate Program. - Gonzalez presides over cases in the 432nd District Court in Fort Worth, Texas, covering a range of criminal matters. - Gonzalez is a member of the American Bar Association, Texas Bar Association, and Tarrant County Bar 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 ### 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) - [CourtListener judicial biographical directory](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/15684/ruben-gonzalez-jr/) - [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/15684/ruben-gonzalez-jr/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ruben-gonzalez-jr", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/ruben-gonzalez-jr", "name": "Ruben Gonzalez, Jr. | KnowJudges", "description": "Ruben Gonzalez, Jr., Texas 432nd District Court. 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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.