Wesley C. Ritchey at a glance
- Current role
- Constitutional County Judge
- Court
- Dallam County Court
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Wesley C. Ritchey
Constitutional County Judge · Dallam County Court
Biography
Professional career
- “Wes” Ritchey is the County Judge of Dallam County, Texas, serving as presiding officer of the Constitutional County Court and the Commissioners Court, with a term ending December 31, 2030
- In summary: Judge Wesley C. Ritchey is a long‐serving, politically active county judge in Dallam County, Texas, combining judicial, administrative, and community leadership roles, with a term extending to 2030
Education
- Texas Tech University — B.A.
Additional information
- Term ends: December 31, 2030
- Reappointed: March 10, 2021
- Leadership roles: Appointed Chair of the Board by Governor Abbott in 2018; member of the Texas Association of Counties and Panhandle County Judge & Commissioners Association
- Entered office: January 2015
- Appellate jurisdiction from justice of the peace courts for certain cases
- They also may act as juvenile judge, conduct marriages, and serve as coroner when necessary.
- In his role, Ritchey oversees county government operations through the Commissioners Court, approves the county’s annual budget, and presides over constitutional county court cases.
- Volunteer work: Dallam County 4‐H and Dalhart Area Child Care Center Board President
- His court handles civil cases (generally $200–$10,000), probate, certain misdemeanors, and appeals from lower courts.
- As County Judge, Ritchey is both the presiding officer and a voting member of the Commissioners Court and the Constitutional County Court.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Remote appearances
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.
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 ↗
Recording and broadcasting
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.
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 ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Dallam County Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Dallam County Court
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 ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 25, 2026.
Biography sources checked October 11, 2026.
Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 25, 2026
View Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings ↗Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings
Statewide source · PDF · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings ↗Dallam County Court official directory
Identity source · HTML · Source checked October 11, 2026
View Dallam County Court official directory ↗