Roy Bean at a glance
- Current role
- Justice of the Peace
- Court
- Ward County Justice Court, Precinct 2 & 3
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Roy Bean
Justice of the Peace · Ward County Justice Court, Precinct 2 & 3
Available research
Biography
Judicial service
- Roy Bean, born Phantly Roy Bean Jr. in Mason County, Kentucky, became one of the most colorful figures of the American Old West. Though widely remembered as a “hanging judge,” he never actually hanged anyone. His rulings were often eccentric, humorous, and shaped as much by frontier necessity as by formal law.
- He operated his courtroom out of his saloon, the Jersey Lilly, in Langtry, Texas.
- Claimed jurisdiction over passing trains because the tracks crossed his precinct.
Personal record
Mason County
Courtroom rules and guidance
Justice Court Remote Appearances
In justice-court civil proceedings, the judge may allow or require electronic participation after considering case, evidence, access, and party factors; written notice must include joining and evidence-submission instructions.
A judge may allow or require a participant to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means.Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.9, Appearances at Court Proceedings ↗
Limited Criminal Remote Appearance
For the specific fine-and-cost hearings governed by Articles 45A.258 and 45A.259, a justice or municipal judge may allow a defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference when an in-person appearance would impose undue hardship.
If the justice or judge determines that requiring a defendant to appear before the justice or judge in person for a hearing under Article 45A.258 or 45A.259 would impose an undue hardship on the defendant, the justice or judge may allow the defendant to appear by telephone or videoconference.Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference ↗
Sources
Texas Office of Court Administration official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
https://card.txcourts.gov/directorysearch.aspxTexas Rule of Civil Procedure 500.9, 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 Code of Criminal Procedure Article 45A.260, Appearance by Telephone or Videoconference
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 26, 2026
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CR/pdf/CR.45A.pdfWard County Justice Court, Precinct 2 & 3 official directory
Identity source · HTML · checked October 11, 2026
https://card.txcourts.gov/DirectorySearch.aspx