--- title: "Sonya Lillie Aston | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sonya-lillie-aston" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-28" --- # Sonya Lillie Aston Texas 80th District Court · District Judge, Harris County 80th Civil District Court ## Profile - Court: Texas 80th District Court - State: Texas - Role: District Judge, Harris County 80th Civil District Court - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-28 ## 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://www.justex.net/courts/civil) - [Official roster](https://www.justex.net/courts/civil) - [Harris County Civil District Courts official judicial roster](https://www.justex.net/courts/civil) - [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/sonya-lillie-aston", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/sonya-lillie-aston", "name": "Sonya Lillie Aston | KnowJudges", "description": "Sonya Lillie Aston, Texas 80th District Court. 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Aston is the District Judge for the Texas 80th District Court, serving Harris County, elected in November 2024 to replace Hon. Jeralynn Manor - Private Practice: Founded her own Houston law firm in 2019 - Government Roles: General Counsel to Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar (4 years) Administrator of Elections for Harris County Clerk’s Office (2011–2019) - Corporate & Litigation Work: Environmental attorney for Conoco Inc. and Campbell, George & Strong Lead attorney on the Enron litigation at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw ### Education - South Texas College of Law Houston — J.D. (1993) - B.A. in World History, University of Texas at Austin (1986) ### Additional information - Election: Won the general election on November 5, 2024, defeating incumbent Jeralynn Manor - Other Roles: General Counsel to Texas State Senator Paul Bettencourt; associate general counsel at OSET Institute; independent counsel for various clients - Played a role in the Exxon Valdez oil spill litigation - Oversaw elections for over 2.7 million registered Harris County voters - held the role of articles editor of the Currents, International Trade Law Journal during law school ## 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.