Sonia Christina Lopez at a glance
- Current role
- Judge, Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Sonia Christina Lopez
Judge, Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1 · Texas County Civil Court at Law No. 1
Biography
Professional career
- In summary: Sonia Christina Lopez is a seasoned legal professional and community leader now serving as a civil court judge in Harris County, Texas, with a background in public service, labor law, and community outreach, and is currently seeking public support for her 2026 judicial re‐election
- The presiding judge of Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1 in Texas, appointed in December 2025 to fill a vacancy, and is running for re‐election in the November 2026 general election
- Appointed by Harris County commissioners on December 11, 2025 to fill a vacancy while presiding judge Audrie Lawton‐Evans ran for Harris County attorney in the 2026 Democratic primary
- Was Chief of Staff and District Director to State Representative Ana Hernandez
- Lifelong Harris County resident and graduate of South Texas College of Law, the University of Texas at Austin, and Houston’s High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice
Education
Additional information
- Also a Democratic Party candidate for the November 3, 2026 general election for this judicial seat, having advanced from the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary.
- handling civil cases such as evictions, property disputes, personal injury claims, contract disputes, and small business matters.
- The court’s jurisdiction is under Texas law, and proceedings may include remote appearances and, in certain cases, recording or broadcasting under state rules.
- She has also been active in community service, including over a decade as a volunteer Project Administrator for the National Hispanic Institute’s youth leadership program.
- Judge Lopez is married to Emmanuel Gonzalez and has a daughter.
Sonia Christina Lopez Procedures & Courtroom Rules
Exhibits
Courtroom Specific
Before the pretrial conference, Court 1 requires parties to exchange anticipated demonstrative exhibits and requires pretrial documents to be e-filed with courtesy copies delivered by the preceding Wednesday.
copies of anticipated demonstrative exhibits with all parties ... Pretrial documents must be efiled, and courtesy copies delivered to the Clerk, by Wednesday prior to the pre-trial conference.Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1 Policies and 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 ↗
Sources
Identity source checked July 28, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 10, 2026.
Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1 official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 28, 2026
View Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1 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 ↗Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1 Policies and Procedures
Courtroom Specific source · PDF · Source checked July 28, 2026
View Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1 Policies and Procedures ↗Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1 official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Harris County Civil Court at Law No. 1 official directory ↗