Honorable Richard T. Bell, Associate Judge 387th District Court
Judge Richard T. Bell graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law in May 1997 and earned a Bachelor of Arts Business Degree from Southwestern University in 1994. After graduation from law school, Judge Bell began concentrating his legal practice to family law, handling cases throughout the State of Texas. He maintained a successful legal practice handling complex property cases and child custody disputes for nearly twenty years. During his years of private practice, Judge Bell was regularly recognized by the State Bar of Texas as a member of the Pro Bono College, an organization devoted to helping individuals that are unable to afford legal services. In 2015, he accepted the position as the Associate Judge for the 387th District Court. Judge Bell is an active member in the legal field as well as the local community. He regularly speaks at continuing legal education courses assisting lawyers to stay abreast of important changes in the law. Judge Bell previously taught legal courses at a local college and will be serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston Law Center. Judge Bell served on the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee for the four years immediately prior to taking the bench. He is a former president of the Fort Bend County Bar Association as well as the Fort Bend County Dispute Resolution Center. In addition to his contributions to the legal field, Judge Bell is an active member of the local community. He regularly sits on the boards of local non-profit organizations, and has held officer positions in many of those organizations. In 2022, he served as the president of the Exchange Club of Sugar Land and for several years he was the treasurer of the Sugar Land Little League. Judge Bell is passionate about serving the needs of others within his community.