Northern District of Texas (NDTX): Court, Judges, and Divisions
If you are facing federal charges in North Texas, it helps to understand the court you are in. The federal system is very different from prosecution at the state level, and the Northern District of Texas has its own judges, divisions, and local practices. This page is a reference guide to the court itself.
The Northern District of Texas covers 100 of Texas’s 254 counties and more than 96,000 square miles, making it the largest land-area district in the country aside from those that span an entire state. It includes Dallas, Fort Worth, Amarillo, Lubbock, Abilene, San Angelo, and Wichita Falls. The chief judge is Reed O’Connor, and the clerk of court is Karen Mitchell. Appeals from this court go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
If you are charged with a federal crime here, see our Texas federal criminal defense lawyer page for how these cases work, or speak directly with our former federal prosecutors. Call (817) 203-2220 for a free, confidential consultation. We answer 24/7.
Northern District of Texas Judges
Below is the current bench for the Northern District of Texas. Judges and assignments change over time; the court maintains the authoritative roster on its official judges page.
Jueces de distrito
- Reed O’Connor (Chief District Judge)
- Sam A. Lindsay
- Ed Kinkeade
- Karen Gren Scholer
- Matthew J. Kacsmaryk
- Mark T. Pittman
- James Wesley Hendrix
- Brantley Starr
- Ada Brown
Senior District Judges
- A. Joe Fish
- Sidney A. Fitzwater
- Sam R. Cummings
- Terry R. Means
- David C. Godbey
- Jane J. Boyle
For magistrate judge assignments by division, see the court’s judge hearing schedules.
U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas
The United States Attorney’s Office prosecutes all federal criminal cases in the district. Ryan R. Raybould was confirmed as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas in 2025. The office oversees roughly 220 attorneys and staff across the district’s division offices and handles every federal criminal prosecution and civil matter involving the United States government in the region.
Court Divisions and Locations
The Northern District is organized into seven divisions. Each division’s current address, phone number, and assigned judges are maintained on the court’s official location pages, linked below.
Dallas Division
United States District Court
1100 Commerce Street, Room 1452
Dallas, TX 75242
Telephone: 214-753-2200
Dallas Division details
Fort Worth Division
United States District Court
501 West 10th Street, Room 310
Fort Worth, TX 76102-3673
Telephone: 817-850-6600
Fort Worth Division details
Abilene Division
United States District Court
341 Pine Street, Room 2008
Abilene, TX 79601
Telephone: 325-677-6311
Abilene Division details
Amarillo Division
United States District Court
205 S.E. 5th Avenue, Room 133
Amarillo, TX 79101-1559
Telephone: 806-468-3800
Amarillo Division details
Lubbock Division
United States District Court
1205 Texas Avenue, Room 209
Lubbock, TX 79401-4091
Telephone: 806-472-1900
Lubbock Division details
San Angelo Division
United States District Court
33 E. Twohig Avenue, Room 202
San Angelo, TX 76903-6451
San Angelo Division details
Wichita Falls Division
United States District Court
1000 Lamar Street, Room 203
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Telephone: 940-767-1902
Wichita Falls Division details
Where Inmates Are Housed in the Northern District of Texas
FCI Fort Worth
3150 Horton Road
Fort Worth, Texas 76119
Teléfono: 817-534-8400
FCI Seagoville
2114 North Highway 175
Seagoville, Texas 75159
Teléfono: 972-287-2911
FMC Carswell (Federal Medical Center)
Naval Air Station, J Street, Building 300
Fort Worth, TX 76127
Phone: 817-782-4000
U.S. Marshals Service — Northern District of Texas
- Abilene: 325-672-2147
- Amarillo: 806-324-2350
- Dallas: 214-767-0836
- Fort Worth: 817-978-3161
- Lubbock: 806-472-7655
- San Angelo: 325-658-4056
- Wichita Falls: 940-723-8662
How Federal Jurisdiction Works
An offense becomes federal when it violates federal law, occurs on federal property such as a military base, or involves activity affecting interstate commerce. As a practical matter, federal prosecutors tend to focus on criminal enterprises more than isolated individuals.
What Statute of Limitations Applies to Federal Cases?
Most federal offenses must be charged within five years of the alleged offense. However, federal offenses punishable by death and certain federal sex offenses have no statute of limitations.
When Should I Hire a Federal Criminal Defense Attorney?
If you receive a subpoena or target letter, or a federal agent shows up at your door, you have limited time to involve a defense attorney who can explore avoiding arrest and begin building your defense. If your first notice is the arrest itself, a detention hearing usually takes place within about 72 hours. Even if counsel is appointed, it is not too late to retain an attorney of your choosing.
Why Experience in This District Matters
Experience in federal court is one of the most important factors in mounting an effective defense. Federal sentencing is famously harsh, but neither guilt nor a severe sentence is a foregone conclusion. An experienced federal defense attorney can explain your options, the realistic outcomes of trial, and — even in cases that do not go to trial — work to secure release during the case and a minimal sentence.
Our attorneys include former federal prosecutors, and we have obtained favorable results across a wide range of federal cases, including dismissals after indictment. For the specific charges we defend and how federal cases proceed in Texas, see our Texas federal criminal defense lawyer page. If your case is in the Fort Worth Division, see our Fort Worth federal criminal defense lawyer page.
Mapa del Distrito Norte de Texas
Talk to a Federal Defense Lawyer
While most of our federal cases are in the Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas, we defend individuals and businesses across the country. If you are facing federal charges or are the subject of a federal investigation in the Northern District of Texas, call Varghese Summersett at (817) 203-2220 for a free, confidential consultation. We answer 24/7.