---
title: "Susanna Dokupil | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/susanna-dokupil-tx-1st-court-appeals"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-27"
---

# Susanna Dokupil

Texas 1st Court of Appeals · Court of Appeals Justice

## Profile

- Court: Texas 1st Court of Appeals
- State: Texas
- Role: Court of Appeals Justice
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## 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

### appellate electronic filing

Scope: statewide

In Texas appellate courts, attorneys must electronically file civil and criminal documents, subject to a good-cause motion; self-represented parties may e-file but are not required to do so.

Evidence excerpt: Attorneys in civil cases must electronically file documents. Attorneys in criminal cases must electronically file documents except for good cause shown in a motion filed in the appellate court.

[Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.txcourts.gov/1stcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-susanna-dokupil/)
- [Official roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/1stcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-susanna-dokupil/)
- [Texas Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.txcourts.gov/1stcoa/about-the-court/justices/justice-susanna-dokupil/)
- [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- Republican‐party judge for Place 9 of the Texas First District Court of Appeals, elected in November 2024 and serving until 2030
- In summary: Justice Susanna Dokupil is a seasoned legal professional with a strong record in constitutional law, federal appellate work, and public policy advocacy, now serving on the Texas First Court of Appeals as of 2025
- Federal Judiciary: Law clerk to Hon. Jerry Smith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

### Education

- Harvard Law School — J.D.
- in Strategic Public Relations: George Washington University — M.A.
- B.A. and M.A.: Baylor University

### Additional information

- Elected: November 5, 2024, defeating Amber Boyd‐Cora in the general election
- U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee: Special Counsel.
- Private practice: Commercial litigation and strategic communications advising for technology companies and founders.
- Other roles: CEO of Paladin Strategies.
- Base salary: $192,500
- Texas Attorney General’s Office: Special Counsel and Assistant Solicitor General, drafting briefs before the Fifth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court, often on First Amendment issues.
- Also a prolific speaker and author on law and public policy, with publications in The Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy, The Texas Review of Law & Politics, American Enterprise, Washington Times, and Houston Chronicle.
- Justice Dokupil lives in Houston, Texas, and has four children.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, Rule 9.2, Electronic Filing](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-e966a5411b2587c600cf3508) — 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/1461885/texas-rules-of-appellate-procedure.pdf). Collected 2026-07-26.