Tex. R. Civ. P. 510.17 (2026)

(a) Participant Method of Appearance. A judge may allow or require a non-party participant to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means. A judge may allow—but must not require—a party to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means if the parties agree.

(b) Judge Method of Appearance; Location. A judge may appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means. However, if appearing electronically, a judge must conduct the court proceeding from the judge’s office or courtroom at times prescribed by the commissioner’s court, as provided by statute.

(c) Factors. In determining whether to allow or require electronic participation, the judge should consider factors such as:

(1) case type;

(2) the number of parties and witnesses;

(3) the type of evidence to be submitted, if any;

(4) technological restrictions such as lack of access to or proficiency in necessary technology;

(5) travel restrictions such as lack of transportation, distance, or inability to take off work;

(6) whether a method of appearance is best suited to provide necessary language access services for a person with limited English proficiency or accommodations for a person with a disability;

(7) any previous abuse of a method of appearance; and

(8) any agreement or objection by the parties.

(d) Notice. If the judge allows or requires a participant to appear electronically, the judge must provide reasonable written notice of the electronic participation and include the notice in the papers of the case. The notice must contain the information needed for participants to participate in the proceeding, including instructions for joining the proceeding electronically, the court’s designated contact information, and instructions for submitting evidence to be considered in the proceeding.

(e) Open Courts. If the judge conducts a court proceeding at the judge’s office in which all other participants appear electronically, then the judge must:

(1) provide reasonable notice to the public of how to observe the court proceeding; and

(2) provide the public the opportunity to observe the court proceeding, unless the judge has determined that the proceeding must be closed to protect an overriding interest, considered all less-restrictive alternatives to closure, and made findings in a written order adequate to support closure.