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 "excerpt": "David Hittner is an American jurist who has served as a United States district judge for the Southern District of Texas since 1986, appointed by President Ronald Reagan.",
 "snippet": "David Hittner is an American jurist who has served as a United States district judge for the Southern District of Texas since 1986, appointed by President Ronald Reagan.",
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 "markdown": "# David Hittner\n\nDavid Hittner (born 1939) is an American jurist who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas since 1986. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and assumed senior status in 2004.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup>\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup> |\n| Appointed by | Ronald Reagan<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup> |\n| Confirmed | June 6, 1986, by voice vote<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup> |\n| Senior status | November 11, 2004<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup> |\n| Born | 1939, Schenectady, New York<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup> |\n| Education | B.S., New York University, 1961; J.D., New York University School of Law, 1964<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup> |\n\n## Early life and education\n\nHittner was born in 1939 in [Schenectady, New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/schenectady-new-york).<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup> He received a [Bachelor of Science](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-science) degree from New York University in 1961 and a [Juris Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/juris-doctor) from New York University School of Law in 1964.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup> He is a member of the Texas and New York bars.<sup>[2](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/david-hittner)</sup>\n\n## Legal career\n\nFollowing law school, Hittner entered the [United States Army](https://www.edgepedia.org/united-states-army), where he served for two years as an infantry captain and paratrooper.<sup>[2](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/david-hittner)</sup> After completing military service, he practiced as a trial attorney in private practice in Houston, Texas, from 1965 to 1978.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup> He then served as judge of the [Harris County, Texas](https://www.edgepedia.org/harris-county-texas), One Hundred and Thirty-Third District Court from 1978 to 1986.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup>\n\n## Federal judicial service\n\nHittner was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on April 22, 1986, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas vacated by George E. Cire.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup> He was confirmed by the Senate on June 6, 1986, by voice vote, and his commission was issued on June 9, 1986.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup> He assumed senior status on November 11, 2004.<sup>[1](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)</sup>\n\n## Professional activities and writings\n\nHittner is the author of a three-volume book on federal civil practice and procedure and has published more than 90 legal articles, including 14 law review articles.<sup>[2](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/david-hittner)</sup> He is a member of the American Law Institute.<sup>[3](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/sdtx-bench-bar-conference-bio-judge-david-hittner)</sup> He has received the Samuel E. Gates Award of the American College of Trial Lawyers, described by the college as its highest national recognition for improvement of the litigation process in the United States, and the Presidents' Award of the State Bar of Texas as Outstanding Lawyer in Texas.<sup>[2](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/david-hittner)</sup>\n\nHis published case procedures manual for cases before his court describes a two-month trial term system, a trailing docket for scheduled terms, and what the manual describes as a restrictive policy on trial continuances, under which a continuance is granted only on the basis of exceptional circumstances.<sup>[4](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/sites/txs/files/Judge_Hittner_Case_Procedures.pdf)</sup>\n\n## References\n\n1. [Hittner, David | Federal Judicial Center](https://www.fjc.gov/history/judges/hittner-david)\n2. [David Hittner | Southern District of Texas](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/david-hittner)\n3. [SDTX Bench Bar Conference Bio - Judge David Hittner](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/sdtx-bench-bar-conference-bio-judge-david-hittner)\n4. [Judge Hittner Case Procedures](https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/sites/txs/files/Judge_Hittner_Case_Procedures.pdf)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Law and justice › Courts and legal practice › Legal biographies › United States judges › US federal judges › Article III judges (district and appellate) › United States district court judges › Surnames H*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n",
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 "credit": "\"David Hittner\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/david-hittner. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.",
 "credit_md": "\"[David Hittner](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-hittner)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/david-hittner](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-hittner). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).",
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 "speakable": "David Hittner is an American jurist who has served as a United States district judge for the Southern District of Texas since 1986, appointed by President Ronald Reagan."
}