United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas
About This Court
Located in the Fifth Circuit, the Southern District of Texas spans a large geographic area from Houston along the Gulf Coast to the Texas-Mexico border, encompassing major cities including Houston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen, and Brownsville. The district covers a diverse range of communities and serves one of the most populous and economically active regions in the United States, with jurisdiction over federal civil and criminal matters arising within its boundaries.
The court is notable for its significant volume of immigration-related criminal cases, given its proximity to the international border with Mexico. It also handles a substantial number of cases involving international trade, maritime law, and energy industry disputes, reflecting the commercial character of the Houston metropolitan area and the Gulf Coast region.
With 30 active Article III judges, the Southern District of Texas is one of the larger federal district courts in the country. The district has historically carried one of the heaviest caseloads in the federal court system, particularly in criminal filings driven by border enforcement activity.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Texas.
Divisions
Houston Division (Houston), Galveston Division (Galveston), Corpus Christi Division (Corpus Christi), Laredo Division (Laredo), McAllen Division (McAllen), Brownsville Division (Brownsville), Victoria Division (Victoria)
Caseload
The Southern District of Texas consistently ranks among the busiest federal district courts in the nation for criminal filings, with a large proportion of cases involving immigration offenses, drug trafficking, and related border crimes. The court also handles complex civil litigation in areas including maritime law, energy, and international commerce.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to practice before the Southern District of Texas by applying through the clerk's office and demonstrating good standing with the State Bar of Texas or another state bar. Pro hac vice admission is available for attorneys not admitted to the district bar, subject to local rules.
Clerk's Office
515 Rusk Street, Houston, TX 77002
(713) 250-5500
Active Judges 30
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micaela Alvarez | George W. Bush | 2004 | University of Texas School of Law |
| Alfred Bennett | Barack Obama | 2015 | University of Texas School of Law |
| Jeffrey Brown | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | University of Houston Law Center |
| Randy Crane | George W. Bush | 2002 | University of Texas School of Law |
| Keith Ellison | William J. Clinton | 1999 | Yale Law School |
| Charles Eskridge | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | Pepperdine University School of Law (now Rick J. Caruso School of Law) |
| Nicholas Ganjei | Donald J. Trump | 2026 | University of California, Berkeley, School of Law |
| Marina Garcia Marmolejo | Barack Obama | 2011 | St. Mary's University School of Law, Texas |
| Andrew Hanen | George W. Bush | 2002 | Baylor University School of Law |
| George Hanks | Barack Obama | 2015 | Harvard Law School |
| Melinda Harmon | George H.W. Bush | 1989 | University of Texas School of Law |
| Hayden Head | Ronald Reagan | 1981 | University of Texas School of Law |
| Ricardo Hinojosa | Ronald Reagan | 1983 | Harvard Law School |
| David Hittner | Ronald Reagan | 1986 | New York University School of Law |
| Kenneth Hoyt | Ronald Reagan | 1988 | Texas Southern University School of Law |
| Lynn Hughes | Ronald Reagan | 1985 | University of Texas School of Law |
| Janis Jack | William J. Clinton | 1994 | South Texas College of Law |
| John Kazen | Joseph R. Biden | 2024 | University of Houston Law Center |
| Simeon Lake | Ronald Reagan | 1988 | University of Texas School of Law |
| Gray Miller | George W. Bush | 2006 | University of Houston Law Center |
| David Morales | Donald J. Trump | 2019 | St. Mary's University School of Law, Texas |
| Jose Olvera | Barack Obama | 2015 | University of Texas School of Law |
| John Rainey | George H.W. Bush | 1990 | Southern Methodist University School of Law (now Dedman School of Law) |
| Nelva Ramos | Barack Obama | 2011 | University of Texas School of Law |
| Fernando Rodriguez | Donald J. Trump | 2018 | University of Texas School of Law |
| Lee Rosenthal | George H.W. Bush | 1992 | University of Chicago Law School |
| Diana Saldaña | Barack Obama | 2011 | University of Texas School of Law |
| Hilda Tagle | William J. Clinton | 1998 | University of Texas School of Law |
| Drew Tipton | Donald J. Trump | 2020 | South Texas College of Law |
| Ewing Werlein | George H.W. Bush | 1992 | University of Texas School of Law |
Local Rules
124 local rules extracted from this court's published rules. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.