David Hittner at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Court
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · Federal
- Judicial service
- June 9, 1986–present
David Hittner
Judge · U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Available research
Loading public docket analytics…
Loading public docket analytics…
Biography
Professional career
- Professional Career: Private practice, Houston, Texas, 1967-1978
- Judge, Harris County Texas One Hundred and Thirty-Third District Court, 1978-1986
- Private practice, Houston, TX, 1967-1978
- U.S. Army captain, 1965-1966
Judicial service
- Judge, District Court, S.D. Texas, 1986-2004
- Professional Career: Judge, Harris County [Texas] One Hundred and Thirty-Third District Court, 1978-1986
Education
- New York University · B.S., 1961
- New York University School of Law · J.D., 1964
Personal record
Born 1939 · Schenectady, NY
Courtroom rules and guidance
Civil Remote Testimony
In federal district-court civil proceedings, testimony is ordinarily taken in open court; remote contemporaneous testimony requires good cause in compelling circumstances and appropriate safeguards.
For good cause in compelling circumstances and with appropriate safeguards, the court may permit testimony in open court by contemporaneous transmission from a different location.Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court ↗
Criminal Recording And Broadcasting
Federal district courts may not permit courtroom photography or broadcasting during criminal judicial proceedings unless a statute or another federal rule provides an exception.
Except as otherwise provided by a statute or these rules, the court must not permit the taking of photographs in the courtroom during judicial proceedings or the broadcasting of judicial proceedings from the courtroom.Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited ↗
Sources
Federal Judicial Center biography
Identity source · HTML · checked July 25, 2026
https://www.fjc.gov/node/1382211CourtListener judicial biographical directory
Identity source · HTML · checked August 2, 2026
https://www.courtlistener.com/person/1471/david-hittner/Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 43(a), Testimony in Open Court
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/forms-rules/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedureFederal Rule of Criminal Procedure 53, Courtroom Photographing and Broadcasting Prohibited
Judge research source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.uscourts.gov/court-records/access-court-proceedings/remote-public-access-proceedings/history-cameras-broadcasting-and-remote-public-access-courts