---
title: "Sandra J. Peake | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sandra-j-peake"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-26"
---

# Sandra J. Peake

Texas 257th District Court · District Judge

## Profile

- Court: Texas 257th 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.

## 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)
- [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)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sandra-j-peake",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sandra-j-peake",
      "name": "Sandra J. Peake | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Sandra J. Peake, Texas 257th District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-07-26",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sandra-j-peake#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sandra-j-peake#judge",
      "name": "Sandra J. Peake",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sandra-j-peake",
      "jobTitle": "District Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Texas 257th District Court"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspx"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Texas",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/texas"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Sandra J. Peake",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sandra-j-peake"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Democratic Party judge of the 257th District Court in Harris County, Texas, serving since January 1, 2019, with her current term ending December 31, 2026

### Education

- University of Houston Law Center — J.D. (1982)
- University of Houston — B.A.

### Additional information

- Currently running for re‐election in the November 3, 2026 general election.
- She was elected in 2018 to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Hon. Judy Warne and re‐elected in 2022.
- Legal Practice: Before joining the bench, Peake ran the Law Offices of Sandra J. Peake in Harris County
- handling family law, wills, probate, and consumer bankruptcy.
- Over 30 years in legal practice, with a focus on family law.
- Judge Peake presides over the 257th Family District Court in the Harris County Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline Street, Houston, TX 77002.
- Since her appointment, Judge Peake has emphasized accessibility, efficiency, and fairness.
- She introduced an “Express Docket” for uncontested matters, implemented hybrid/virtual hearings, and avoided political symbols in the courtroom to maintain impartiality.
- Raised in Minnesota, moved to Harris County over 40 years ago; married with two grown children.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-119ce7e69a3752f1da3cfce0) — 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.
- [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.