Benjamin N. Smith at a glance
- Current role
- District Judge, Collin County 380th District Court (general jurisdiction)
- Court
- Texas 380th District Court
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Benjamin N. Smith
District Judge, Collin County 380th District Court (general jurisdiction) · Texas 380th District Court
Available research
Courtroom rules and guidance
Photography Broadcasting And Recording
Photography, broadcasting, live streaming, and audio or video recording are prohibited in the Collin County courthouse unless a written court order specifically authorizes them.
No one may take photographs, broadcast, live stream, or make recordings (audio or video) in the courthouse, unless specifically authorized by written court orderLocal Rules of Practice for the District Courts of Collin County ↗
Hearing Setting Conference
Before requesting a hearing setting, parties generally must confer in good faith. A unilateral request requires reasonable efforts that include at least two attempts to contact the other side.
parties shall make a good-faith effort to confer and obtain agreement on a hearing date before requesting that the Court set a hearingLocal Rules of Practice for the District Courts of Collin County ↗
Civil Remote Appearances
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 ↗
Civil Recording And Broadcasting
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 ↗
Sources
Collin County District Courts roster official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · checked July 28, 2026
https://www.collincountytx.gov/courts/district-courts/Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdfTexas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdfLocal Rules of Practice for the District Courts of Collin County
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 28, 2026
https://www.collincountytx.gov/docs/default-source/district-courts/documents/lrp.pdf?sfvrsn=bf028790_4