--- title: "Veronica M. Nelson | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/veronica-m-nelson" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-07-26" --- # Veronica M. Nelson Texas 482nd District Court · District Judge ## Profile - Court: Texas 482nd District Court - State: Texas - Role: District 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) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/veronica-m-nelson", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/veronica-m-nelson", "name": "Veronica M. 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Nelson", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/veronica-m-nelson" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - Democratic Party judge of the 482nd District Court in Harris County, Texas, elected in 2022 and currently serving a term through 2027 - Staff Attorney (2019–2022): For Harris County Courts, where she helped create the Manage Assigned Counsel program and launched specialty programs in mental health, domestic violence, and youthful offender cases. - Prosecutor (2008–2018): Senior and Chief Prosecutor for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, with assignments in juvenile, mental health, intake, misdemeanor, felony, and justice of the peace divisions ### Education - University of Alabama School of Law, with honors including the Dean’s Community Service Award, Order of Samaritan Medal, and best papers in Adoption, Sentencing, and Mediation — J.D. (2007) - in Legal Studies and African American Studies, University of California, Berkeley — B.A. (2003) ### Additional information - Her current term runs until January 1, 2027. - She was elected on November 8, 2022 and re‐elected in the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary. - She played softball and basketball in high school, obtained a full athletic scholarship to UC Berkeley, and was inducted into the Cal Berkeley Hall of Fame for softball in 2016. - Judge Nelson presides over the 482nd Criminal District Court in Houston, Texas, and is recognized as the first African American and female staff attorney for criminal and civil court judges in the county. - Nelson was raised in Oakland, California, the daughter of Michael and Sharon Nelson. ## 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.