Harris County Courts at Law Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

The hearing officer must immediately email the judge and coordinator of the court where the defendant is set about the release and pending appearance.

The hearing officer who orders the defendant’s release shall immediately notify, by e-mail, the judge and the coordinator of the court in which the defendant is set, notifying them of the defendant’s release and pending appearance in that court.

CRITICAL

Bonding agencies must obtain the future setting date from the court coordinator before presenting reinstatement orders and costs.

All bonding agencies shall be required to obtain the future setting date from the court coordinator prior to presenting orders of reinstatement and costs.

CRITICAL

Bonding agencies must obtain the future setting date from the court coordinator before presenting reinstatement orders and costs; future settings are seven days after the reinstatement order.

All bonding agencies shall be required to obtain the future setting date from the court coordinator prior to presenting orders of reinstatement and costs. All future settings shall be seven days from the date of the reinstatement order.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email to chambers

The hearing officer must immediately email the judge and court coordinator about the defendant’s release and pending appearance.

The hearing officer who orders the defendant’s release shall immediately notify, by e-mail, the judge and the coordinator of the court in which the defendant is set, notifying them of the defendant’s release and pending appearance in that court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Counsel must promptly report a conflicting engagement to a court upon learning it might prevent counsel from being available for trial.

It is the duty of counsel to report promptly to a court immediately upon learning of a conflicting engagement that might preclude that counsel’s availability for trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

Lead counsel must immediately notify the probate court when available after a conflicting prior trial engagement.

The lead counsel shall notify the probate court immediately of his or her availability.

CRITICAL

If an appeal bond has not been filed within forty-eight hours after notice of appeal, a report must be sent to the court.

When a defendant has given notice of appeal and an appeal bond has not been filed in the papers of the cause within forty-eight hours, a report shall be sent to the court apprising the court that an appeal bond has not been filed.

CRITICAL

When filing the withdrawal motion, the original attorney of record must request a hearing date from the court coordinator.

At the time the motion to withdraw is filed, the original attorney of record shall also request a hearing date from the court coordinator who shall set the motion on the court’s docket within seven (7) calendar days of presentment.

CRITICAL

Appellate counsel must request a hearing date from the court coordinator for the motion to substitute counsel.

The appellate counsel shall also request a hearing date from the court coordinator who shall set the motion to substitute counsel on the court’s docket within seven (7) calendar days of presentment.

CRITICAL

When filing a motion to withdraw, the original attorney of record must request a hearing date from the court coordinator.

At the time the motion to withdraw is filed, the original attorney of record shall also request a hearing date from the court coordinator who shall set the motion on the court’s docket within seven (7) calendar days of presentment.

CRITICAL

When partial funds are remitted, the sheriff or designated deputy must notify the judge with jurisdiction within 72 hours and provide the specified case and payment information.

The Sheriff of Harris County, Texas is directed to accept either the full amount or a partial amount of any fine, court costs or fees lawfully adjudged against a defendant. The sheriff or his designated deputy shall notify the judge of the court with jurisdiction over the defendant within 72 hours that partial funds were remitted, and shall include the (1) case number; (2) name of the defendant; (3) amount remitted; (4) date remitted; and (5) amount outstanding, as reflected in the records of the sheriff.

CRITICAL

Appellate counsel must request a hearing date from the court coordinator for the motion to substitute counsel.

The appellate counsel shall also request a hearing date from the court coordinator who shall set the motion to substitute counsel on the court’s docket within seven (7) calendar days of presentment.

CRITICAL

Bonding agencies must obtain the future setting date from the court coordinator before presenting reinstatement orders and costs, and the setting must be seven days after the reinstatement order.

All bonding agencies shall be required to obtain the future setting date from the court coordinator prior to presenting orders of reinstatement and costs. All future settings shall be seven days from the date of the reinstatement order.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

The hearing officer must immediately email the assigned court’s judge and coordinator about the defendant’s release and pending appearance.

The hearing officer who orders the defendant’s release shall immediately notify, by e-mail, the judge and the coordinator of the court in which the defendant is set, notifying them of the defendant’s release and pending appearance in that court.

WARNINGCivil cases

4.4 Lead Counsel. This rule operates only where lead counsel, as defined by T.R.C.P. 8, is affected unless the court expands coverage to other counsel. 4.5 Reporting of Conflicting Engagements. It is the duty of counsel to report promptly to a court immediately upon learning of a conflicting engagement that might preclude that counsel’s availability for trial.

4.4 Lead Counsel. This rule operates only where lead counsel, as defined by T.R.C.P. 8, is affected unless the court expands coverage to other counsel. 4.5 Reporting of Conflicting Engagements. It is the duty of counsel to report promptly to a court immediately upon learning of a conflicting engagement that might preclude that counsel’s availability for trial.

WARNING

When filing the withdrawal motion, original counsel must request a hearing date from the court coordinator, who must docket the motion within seven calendar days of presentment.

At the time the motion to withdraw is filed, the original attorney of record shall also request a hearing date from the court coordinator who shall set the motion on the court’s docket within seven (7) calendar days of presentment.

WARNING

Before hiring a substitute during an approved reporter absence, the Office of County Court Management must be contacted to check for an available reporter, unless the absent reporter has arranged coverage with another reporter.

During the approved absence of a court reporter, the Office of County Court Management shall be contacted to determine whether a reporter from another county criminal court at law is available before a substitute is hired, unless the court’s reporter has made prior arrangements for coverage with another court reporter.

WARNING

Appellate counsel must request a hearing date from the court coordinator, who must docket the substitution motion within seven calendar days of presentment.

The appellate counsel shall also request a hearing date from the court coordinator who shall set the motion to substitute counsel on the court’s docket within seven (7) calendar days of presentment.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Parties must check with their specific Court for information about the time and location of essential matters that are rescheduled or held at alternate locations.

Parties must check with their specific Court for more information on time and location.

WARNING

Bonding agencies must obtain the future setting date from the court coordinator before presenting reinstatement and cost orders.

All bonding agencies shall be required to obtain the future setting date from the court coordinator prior to presenting orders of reinstatement and costs.

WARNING

Contact the individual court for new court dates, further instructions, or questions.

Please contact the individual court for new court dates, further instructions, and/or questions.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Future dates must be obtained from the Coordinator or Judge prior to leaving the courtroom.

Future dates must be obtained from the Coordinator or Judge prior to leaving the courtroom.

WARNING

During an approved court reporter absence, the Office of County Court Management must be contacted about reporter availability before hiring a substitute, unless the reporter has arranged coverage with another reporter.

During the approved absence of a court reporter, the Office of County Court Management shall be contacted to determine whether a reporter from another county criminal court at law is available before a substitute is hired, unless the court’s reporter has made prior arrangements for coverage with another court reporter.

WARNING

The sheriff or designated deputy must notify the judge within 72 hours of a partial payment and include the case number, defendant’s name, amount and date remitted, and outstanding amount.

The sheriff or his designated deputy shall notify the judge of the court with jurisdiction over the defendant within 72 hours that partial funds were remitted, and shall include the (1) case number; (2) name of the defendant; (3) amount remitted; (4) date remitted; and (5) amount outstanding, as reflected in the records of the sheriff.

WARNING

During a reporter’s approved absence, the Office of County Court Management must be contacted about available coverage before a substitute is hired, unless prior coverage arrangements have been made.

During the approved absence of a court reporter, the Office of County Court Management shall be contacted to determine whether a reporter from another county criminal court at law is available before a substitute is hired, unless the court’s reporter has made prior arrangements for coverage with another court reporter.

INFOCriminal cases

During inclement weather emergencies or public concern, litigants are encouraged to contact individual courts to ask whether telephone or video conferencing is available as an alternative to in-person hearings.

During times of inclement weather emergencies or public concern, all litigants are encouraged to: (a) submit contested motions on a submission docket where available; or (b) contact individual courts to determine if telephone or video conferencing is an available alternative to in-person hearings.

INFOCriminal cases

Contact the assigned court for guidance about a specific case.

Contact the assigned court for guidance in a specific case.

INFO

Contact the individual court for new court dates, further instructions, or questions.

Please contact the individual court for new court dates, further instructions, and/or questions.

INFO

When evidence suggests that a defendant may be a juvenile, the sheriff and/or district attorney are requested to inform the court of the case style.

In any case wherein proof is offered that a defendant may be a juvenile, the sheriff and/or the district attorney are requested to make the court in which the cause is pending aware of the style of the case in which the defendant is suspected to be a juvenile.

INFO

Contact the individual court for new court dates, further instructions, or questions.

Please contact the individual court for new court dates, further instructions, and/or questions.

INFOCriminal cases

Contact the home court with questions about whether a matter is essential.

Any questions regarding whether a matter is essential, please contact the home court.

INFOCivil cases

When a contested matter has no applicable responsive or triggering pleading identified, parties may request a trial-setting or scheduling conference from the proper court personnel.

In those instances where a matter is contested, but the court has not identified an applicable responsive or triggering pleading, parties may request a trial setting or scheduling conference from the proper personnel of the court in which the matter is pending and serving notice of the date and time of such trial setting or scheduling conference upon all parties or their lead counsel.

INFOCivil cases

A filing party, lead counsel, or the court may set a non-trial matter by requesting a hearing from the proper personnel of the court where the matter is pending.

All uncontested and contested matters (with the exception of trials) may be set by the filing party, lead counsel, or the court, by requesting a hearing from the proper personnel of the court in which the matter is pending

INFOCriminal cases

Contact

Phone to clerk

Phone

713-755-6392

For information about a particular day of jury service, visit the district clerk’s website or call the listed number.

If you have received a jury summons, please go to https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/ or call 713-755-6392 for information regarding your particular day of service.

INFOCivil cases

A party, lead counsel, or the court may set a trial by requesting a docket setting or scheduling conference from the proper personnel of the court where the matter is pending.

All trials may be set by any party, lead counsel, or the court, by requesting a docket setting or scheduling conference from the proper personnel of the court in which the matter is pending

INFO

Contact the individual court for new court dates, further instructions, or questions.

Please contact the individual court for new court dates, further instructions, and/or questions.