--- title: "Tim M. Sulak | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tim-m-sulak-16096" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Tim M. Sulak Texas 353rd Judicial District Court · Senior Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas 353rd Judicial District Court - State: Texas - Role: Senior Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-06-30 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Senior Judge, Texas 353rd Judicial District Court, 2021-present - Appointed as Local Administrative Judge for Travis County in 2019 and later as Senior Judge in 2021 - Presiding Judge, Texas 353rd Judicial District Court, Austin, TX, 2017-2020 - Timothy M. Sulak is a retired judge of the 353rd District Court in Travis County, Texas, serving from 2010 until the end of his term in 2020, and now a Senior Judge in the same court - Presiding Judge, Texas 353rd Judicial District Court, Austin, TX, 2013-2016 - Judge, Texas 353rd Judicial District Court, TX, 2011-2012 - Private practice at Morris, Craven & Sulak, LLP (1980–2010) - Assistant District Attorney, Travis County District Attorney, TX, 1979-1980 - Assistant County Attorney (1978–1979) and Assistant District Attorney (1979–1980) in Travis County - While no longer an active trial judge, Judge Sulak remains a Senior Judge of the 353rd District Court and continues to participate in judicial and professional activities ### Education - JD — The University of Texas at Austin — 1978 - University of Texas School of Law — J.D. (1978) - B.A. in Government, University of Texas at Austin, 1975. ### Additional information - Recipient of the Distinguished Lawyer Award (Austin Bar Association, 2021) and multiple professionalism awards. - Retired from active judicial duties in 2020 after losing the Democratic primary for re‐election on March 3, 2020. - Elected to the 353rd District Court in 2010 and served until December 31, 2020. - Board‐certified in Personal Injury Trial Law (1990–2020). - Director, Texas Trial Lawyers Association (1993–2010). - Practitioner, Morris, Craven & Sulak, LLP, TX, 1980-2010 - Chair, Texas Bar Foundation (2002–03). - President, Travis County Bar Association (1995–96). - Admitted to the Texas Bar in 1978 and to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. - Presided over a wide range of cases, including family matters, property disputes, and commercial litigation. ## 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.courtlistener.com/person/16096/tim-m-sulak/) - [Official roster](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16096/tim-m-sulak/) - [Texas 353rd Judicial District Court current judicial profile](https://www.courtlistener.com/person/16096/tim-m-sulak/) - [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/16096/tim-m-sulak/) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tim-m-sulak-16096", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/tim-m-sulak-16096", "name": "Tim M. 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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.