---
title: "Travis H. Ernst | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/travis-h-ernst"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-07-26"
---

# Travis H. Ernst

Texas County Court at Law No. 1 · Statutory County Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Texas County Court at Law No. 1
- State: Texas
- Role: Statutory County Court 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)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- The current Judge of Victoria County Court-at-Law No. 1 in Texas, serving until December 31, 2026, and is running for re‐election in the 2026 Texas General Election
- Ernst has held the role of Victoria County Court-at-Law Judge – Court 1 since his 2013 appointment by the Victoria County Commissioners Court

### Education

- Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law — J.D. (1997)
- B.A. – University of Texas at San Antonio

### Additional information

- His current term runs through December 31, 2026.
- Candidate for re‐election in the November 3, 2026 Texas General Election.
- Re‐elected in 2014 for a term ending 2018
- Appointed to the bench in 2013
- Admitted to the Texas Bar in 1998 Before joining the judiciary, Ernst practiced law privately for about ten years.
- Served on the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent Board
- Ernst presides over a variety of civil cases in Victoria County Court-at-Law No. 1, including commercial disputes, breach of contract matters, and other civil filings.
- Recent docket entries show him handling cases such as Capital One N.A. v.
- John G. Stofer and The State of Texas v.
- Adrian Galvan.
- Prior to judicial service, ran a law practice in Victoria County



## 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.