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Steven R. Emmert

Republican · TX · Judge, 31st Judicial District Court of Texas

Official website

Steven R. Emmert is the district judge for the 31st Judicial District of Texas, which includes Wheeler County. The court hears felony criminal cases and civil and family matters.

Campaign finance information not available · Gray County District Judge, 31st Judicial District

Campaign finance information not available · Wheeler County District Judge, 31st Judicial District

Track record

Track record — General

General · 1 record

  • Moved the Levi King capital murder trial out of Gray County to Lubbock County on June 11, 2009. Emmert announced the change in open court and set jury selection for June 30. Heavy news coverage in the Panhandle was the reason given for the move.

    June 11, 2009

    Source: abc7amarillo.com · researched September 6, 2026

Track record — Legal Competence

Legal Competence · 4 favorable · 1 unfavorable

  • On September 29, 2020, the Seventh Court of Appeals conditionally granted mandamus in In re Caleb Logan Hart and directed Judge Steven R. Emmert to enter a formal order on the relator's pending motions after finding that the trial court had not ruled within a reasonable time.

    September 29, 2020Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: law.justia.com · researched September 8, 2026

  • Threw out the Yowell family's claim to an oil and gas royalty on a Wheeler County lease, granting summary judgment against them on the ground that their interest broke the rule against perpetuities. The Texas Supreme Court reversed that part of his judgment on May 15, 2020, and sent the case back to decide whether the interest can be fixed under state law.

    May 15, 2020Unfavorable on Legal Competence

    Source: txcourts.gov · researched September 6, 2026

  • Granted summary judgment for Chesapeake Exploration and against XOG Operating in a Wheeler County fight over how much oil and gas acreage reverted to XOG after a lease assignment ran out. The Texas Supreme Court upheld his ruling on April 13, 2018, holding that state field rules, not the operator, set the size of the retained tracts.

    April 13, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: txcourts.gov · researched September 6, 2026

  • Ruled against Hank Skinner on July 16, 2014, after a two-day hearing in Gray County on new DNA test results. Emmert found it was reasonably probable that a jury still convicts Skinner of the 1993 triple murder even with the new test results in hand. The ruling left Skinner on death row.

    July 16, 2014Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: texastribune.org · researched September 6, 2026

  • Denied a request for new DNA testing from Gray County death row inmate Hank Skinner in a short order made public on November 3, 2011. The order gave no reasons. Skinner's execution was set for six days later. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stopped that execution on November 7, 2011.

    November 3, 2011Favorable on Legal Competence

    Source: cbsnews.com · researched September 6, 2026

Races Steven R. Emmert is in:

Profile last researched September 6, 2026.