503RD DISTRICT COURT
Brian Williams, District Judge

Brian Williams is a lifelong resident of Rockwall County and a 1990 graduate of Rockwall High School. He received a B.A. in Government from the University of Texas at Austin in 1995 and a J.D. from Southern Methodist University in 2000.

503rd District Court

J. Brian Williams is a lifelong resident of Rockwall County. He earned a bachelor's degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from Southern Methodist University.

503rd District Court | Rockwall County-Official Website

Before entering law school, Williams worked as the Court Administrator for Rockwall County and as a legislative aide to the late Congressman Ralph Hall in Washington, D.C. After earning his J.D. at SMU, he began his legal career in the private sector practicing commercial litigation in Dallas. Prior to taking the bench, Williams served as the Chief of the Civil Division of the Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.

J. Brian Williams previously served as chief of the Civil Division of the Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney’s Office and practiced commercial litigation in Dallas. Before law school, he worked as court administrator for Rockwall County and as a legislative aide to Congressman Ralph Hall in Washington, D.C.

Judge Williams was appointed Judge of the County Court at Law of Rockwall County in November of 2010 and elected to that same bench in November of 2012. In October of 2025, he was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the bench of the newly created 503rd Judicial District Court of Rockwall County. Judge Williams was sworn in on December 1, 2025.

Brian was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the bench of the 503rd Judicial District Court of Rockwall County in 2025. He was previously appointed judge of the Rockwall County Court at Law in 2010 and elected to that bench in 2012.

2026 Texas General Election

Practiced commercial litigation in Dallas after earning a law degree.

Led the Civil Division of the Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney’s Office before taking the bench.

Served as a Rockwall County Court at Law judge after being appointed in 2010 and elected in 2012.

Serves as judge of Rockwall County’s 503rd Judicial District Court after a 2025 appointment by the governor.

- Practiced commercial litigation in Dallas after earning a law degree.
- Led the Civil Division of the Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney’s Office before taking the bench.
- Served as a Rockwall County Court at Law judge after being appointed in 2010 and elected in 2012.
- Serves as judge of Rockwall County’s 503rd Judicial District Court after a 2025 appointment by the governor.

Legal Experience

As of July 22, 2026, J. Brian Williams did not have a website or any information online.

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

J. Brian Williams of Rockwall is the Rockwall County Court at Law Judge. He is a member and past president of the Rockwall County Bar Association and the Rockwall Rotary Club. Additionally, he is vice president of the Rockwall County Open Space Alliance and member the State Bar of Texas and the Texas County Court at Law Judges Association. Williams received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from The University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

Governor Abbott Appoints Williams As Judge Of The 503rd Judicial District Court In Rockwall County

In addition to his judicial duties, Williams is active in professional and community organizations. He is a member and past president of the Rockwall County Bar Association and a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Texas County Court at Law Judges Association. He also serves on the Rockwall County Open Space Alliance and is a member of the Rockwall Rotary Club.

Governor appoints J. Brian Williams as judge of 503rd Judicial District Court

Serves as vice president of the Rockwall County Open Space Alliance.

- Serves as vice president of the Rockwall County Open Space Alliance.
- Is a member of the Rockwall Rotary Club.

Community Involvement

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
    <meta charset="utf-8">
    <title>Application Error</title>
    <style media="screen">
      html,body,iframe {
        margin: 0;
        padding: 0;
      }

      html,body {
        height: 100%;
        overflow: hidden;
      }

      iframe {
        width: 100%;
        height: 100%;
        border: 0;
      }
    </style>
  </head>
  <body>
    <iframe src="https://www.herokucdn.com/error-pages/application-error.html"></iframe>
  </body>
</html>

J. Brian Williams

As of July 22, 2026, J. Brian Williams’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Brian is a judge. He works at the 503rd Judicial District Court in Rockwall County, where he will begin serving on December 1, 2025. He previously served as the judge of the County Court at Law of Rockwall County since November 2010, as Chief of the Civil Division at the Rockwall County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, as a commercial litigation attorney in Dallas after earning his J.D. at SMU, as the Court Administrator for Rockwall County, and as a legislative aide to Congressman Ralph Hall in Washington, D.C.

Governor Abbott Appoints Williams As Judge Of The 503rd Judicial ...

As a legislative aide, assisted with research, helped draft bills and speeches, and maintained communication with constituents and other public officials.

As a private practice attorney, worked on civil and criminal defense cases.

Buket Urgen

Sahid Burgos

- District judges manage Texas district courts, which are trial courts with general jurisdiction, and have exclusive authority over felony cases. A judge may be presiding over a civil, criminal, juvenile, or special court. They also share jurisdiction with Texas county courts.
- Texas has over 470 district courts, each presided over by a single judge. Some courts cover multiple counties, while others are assigned to single counties based on population size.
- District judges are elected through partisan elections for four-year terms. Candidates must be between 25 and 75 years old, have lived in the district for at least 2 years, and be licensed lawyers with at least 4 years' experience.
- The annual salary for district judges ranges from $175,000 to $245,500, depending on years of service.

Presides over a trial court with general jurisdiction. 