Hays County Courts at Law Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

A party requiring a licensed Court Appointed Interpreter must separately notify the Court Coordinators in writing of the request.

(a) Separate Request to Coordinators. Any party who requires a licensed Court Appointed Interpreter for a court proceeding for either a party or witness shall reflect such need in their notice of setting and separately notify the Court Coordinators in writing of their request.

CRITICAL

If a hearing or trial is canceled, the party who requested the interpreter must notify the Court Coordinators as soon as possible and no later than 30 hours before the scheduled date.

(a) Prompt Notice of Need to Cancel Interpreter. If a hearing or trial is canceled, the party who requested the Court Appointed Interpreter is required to provide notice to the Court Coordinators as soon as possible, but not later than 30 hours prior to the scheduled hearing or trial date.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

A party who e-files a proposed order must email it to the Court Coordinators.

If a party e-files a proposed order, the party must e- file it separately from any motion or other document and email the proposed order to the Court Coordinators in a rich text or Word format.

CRITICAL

An interpreter request must be made to the Court Coordinators at least 10 days before the setting, or, if the setting is less than 10 days away, as soon as practicable after the hearing is set.

(b) Timely Request. A party must make this request to the Court Coordinators not less than ten (10) days prior to the setting, or if less than ten (10) days, as soon as practicable after the hearing is set.

CRITICAL

Parties must promptly notify the Court Coordinators of an agreement to pass a setting; they may not agree to pass a setting in a case retained on the docket after a dismissal-for-want-of-prosecution notice, and failure to notify promptly may result in sanctions against counsel.

(b) Agreements to Pass a Setting. The parties must notify the Court Coordinators of an agreement to pass a setting as soon as possible. However, parties cannot agree to pass a setting for a case that was retained on the Court’s docket following a dismissal for want of prosecution notice. (c) Possible Sanctions. The failure of the parties to promptly notify the Court Coordinators’ office of an agreement to pass a setting may result in the imposition of sanctions against counsel.

CRITICAL

When multiple parties obtained a setting, counsel for the plaintiff, movant, or party seeking affirmative relief must notify the Court Coordinators of the resolution so the setting can be used for other cases.

(c) Party Responsible for Notifying Court Coordinators. If more than one party obtained the setting, then counsel for the plaintiff, movant, or party seeking affirmative relief is responsible for notifying the Court Coordinators of the resolution of a matter, so that the setting may be used for other cases.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

In a contested case, a remote-appearance request must be emailed to the Court Coordinators with notice to all other parties, and any objection must be communicated to the coordinators and all other parties within 24 hours after receipt of the request.

(1) In a contested case, the party must make the request by emailing the Court Coordinators with notice to all other parties. Any party who objects must notify the Court Coordinators and provide notice of the objection to all other parties within twenty-four hours of the party’s receipt of the request.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

When a party files any of the listed post-trial pleadings, the party must email notice directly to the Court Coordinators because the Clerk does not forward those filings to the Judge.

The Clerk of the Court does not forward to the Judge the pleadings and notices that parties file with the Clerk. Therefore, a party must give notice directly to the Court Coordinators through email when a party files one or more of the following post-trial pleadings: (1) Request for Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (TEX. R. CIV. P. 296). (2) Notice of Past Due Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (TEX. R. CIV. P. 296). (3) Any affidavit of indigence filed in connection with an appeal (TEX. R. APP. P. 20.1).

CRITICAL

If a matter is resolved before its scheduled hearing or trial, the party who obtained the setting must immediately notify the Court Coordinators whether the setting is no longer needed or less time is needed to present a settlement for approval.

(a) Notice of Resolution of Matter. If the parties to a matter or issue resolve the matter or issue before a scheduled hearing or trial date, the party that obtained the setting must immediately advise the Court Coordinators that the hearing or trial date is no longer needed or that a shorter time is needed to present a settlement for Court approval.

CRITICAL

All parties must schedule hearing and trial settings through the Court Coordinators, including settings already included in a signed order.

(b) Settings. All parties must schedule all settings for hearings and trials through the Court Coordinators, even those settings included in an order that a Judge has signed.

CRITICAL

If a judge signs a setting order, the party obtaining it must still have the Court Coordinators place the setting on that judge's docket, but need not provide a separate notice of setting.

If a Judge signs an order for a setting, the party obtaining this order for a setting must still have the Court Coordinators place the setting on that Judge’s docket. However, under these circumstances, a separate notice of setting is not required.

CRITICAL

After e-filing the relevant pleading or motion and proposed order, parties must contact the Court Coordinators to bring the request to the Court’s attention; they may not send motions or proposed orders directly to the coordinators unless instructed.

Parties seeking ex parte relief from the Court shall e-file a relevant pleading or motion and a proposed order and then contact the Court Coordinators to request that the pleading or motion for ex parte relief be brought to the attention of the Court. Parties shall not send motions or proposed orders directly to the Court Coordinators unless the Court Coordinators expressly instruct them do so. (b) Timing of Contacting Court Coordinators. Parties shall not contact the Court Coordinators unless the relevant pleading or motion and a proposed order have been e-filed.

CRITICAL

A request for a party or attorney to appear remotely must be made to the Court Coordinators at least 72 hours in advance.

Parties may request that a party or attorney be allowed to participate in a hearing remotely. The party’s request for a remote appearance must be made at least 72 hours in advance by contacting the Court Coordinators:

CRITICAL

Contact

Phone

An attorney assigned to courts on the same date must call each affected judge’s attention to the conflict as soon as it is known or reasonably anticipated.

When an attorney is assigned to two courts for the same date, it is the duty of the attorney to call each affected judge’s attention to the conflicting settings as soon as they are known to the attorney or reasonably may be anticipated.

CRITICAL

Counsel must notify the Court Coordinators immediately after learning that a trial setting conflicts with properly designated vacation time.

If the Court sets a case for trial on a date that conflicts with counsel’s properly designated vacation, counsel must notify the Court Coordinators immediately after learning of the conflicting setting.

WARNING

At the conclusion of this hearing, the parties may reset the Case for a Plea & Sentencing Hearing, unless the Court gives its express written approval for a Pretrial Hearing No. 4. Either such hearing shall be by agreement and with notice to the Court Coordinators.

At the conclusion of this hearing, the parties may reset the Case for a Plea & Sentencing Hearing, unless the Court gives its express written approval for a Pretrial Hearing No. 4. Either such hearing shall be by agreement and with notice to the Court Coordinators.

WARNING

People requesting copies must obtain them from the County Clerk’s Office, not the County Courts at Law office.

The office of the County Courts at Law of Hays County, Texas does not provide copies of any documents. All persons requesting copies of any documents must obtain those copies from the County Clerk’s Office.

WARNING

Counsel who makes a jury announcement without appearing in person waives any objection to ex parte scheduling contacts between the Judge and the parties who are present.

If counsel for a party makes their jury announcement by means other than being present, counsel waives any objection to ex parte contacts between the Judge and the other parties who are present as to purely scheduling matters.

WARNING

By agreement, the parties may request the continuance of a trial setting by filing an agreed motion for continuance with the Clerk of the Court and advising the Court Coordinators in writing of the agreed continuance.

By agreement, the parties may request the continuance of a trial setting by filing an agreed motion for continuance with the Clerk of the Court and advising the Court Coordinators in writing of the agreed continuance.

WARNING

A person wishing to record, broadcast, or photograph any person, object, or proceeding in a physical or virtual courtroom must seek permission with the bailiff in charge of the Court or the Court Coordinators, who will convey the request to the Judge. The requestor should be prepared to provide the following information: (A) The case style and cause number; (B) The date and time when the proceeding is to begin; (C) The name of the requesting individual or entity; (D) The type of recording, broadcasting, or photographing; and (E) The type and extent of equipment to be used.

A person wishing to record, broadcast, or photograph any person, object, or proceeding in a physical or virtual courtroom must seek permission with the bailiff in charge of the Court or the Court Coordinators, who will convey the request to the Judge. The requestor should be prepared to provide the following information: (A) The case style and cause number; (B) The date and time when the proceeding is to begin; (C) The name of the requesting individual or entity; (D) The type of recording, broadcasting, or photographing; and (E) The type and extent of equipment to be used.

WARNINGCriminal cases

Unless a specific court order provides otherwise, mental health records are available to the Criminal District Attorney's Office and assigned defense attorney, and the Clerk's office must provide copies upon request.

In all cases resolved within the jurisdiction of the Hays County Courts at Law and unless otherwise noted by a specific order of the Court, confidential Mental Health records shall be available to the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's Office and assigned Defense Attorney. For record and administrative purposes, the Clerk's office shall provide copies of Mental Health records to the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's Office and assigned Defense Attorney upon request.

INFO

Contact

Email to chambers

A prevailing party may email an approved-as-to-form proposed order or judgment to the Judge’s Court Coordinators for signature.

(3) A prevailing party may submit an order or judgment that has been approved as to form to the Court for signature by e-mailing the proposed order or judgment, in an editable format, to the Court Coordinators for the Judge.

INFO

If counsel receives notice concerning a previously dismissed or concluded case, counsel may contact the Court Coordinators with documentation of the prior dismissal to have the matter removed from the DWOP Docket.

If counsel receives a notice of dismissal of a previously dismissed or concluded case, they may contact the Court Coordinators with documentation of the prior dismissal, and the Court Coordinators will remove the matter from the DWOP Docket.

INFO

Contact

Email

After complying with the specified Rule 9.01 requirements, a party may email the Court Coordinators to obtain a hearing date or trial setting; their email addresses are on the Courts’ website.

To obtain a hearing date or a trial setting after complying with Rule 9.01(a) and (c)(1), (2), (5) & (6), a party may email or call the Court Coordinators for the respective Court in which the Case is pending. The Court Coordinators’ email addresses and telephone number can be found on the Courts’ website.

INFO

A remote-appearance request in an uncontested case does not have to be in writing.

(2) In an uncontested case, the request does not need to be in writing.