Hidalgo County Courts at Law Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICALCivil cases

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The child’s attorney must email all parties and the Court in advance with the basis for any excusal request.

The attorney for the child shall also email all parties and the Court in advance setting out the basis for any excusal request so that the Court may rule promptly.

CRITICALCivil cases

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Email

The Attorney Ad Litem must notify the Court by email at the specified address as soon as possible after filing.

Attorney Ad Litem representing the incarcerated parent shall notify the Court of the filing by email to childprotectioncourt@co.hidalgo.tx.us as soon as possible.

CRITICALCivil cases

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For an absence not covered by an automatic excusal, CPS must email all parties and copy the Court at least 72 hours before the hearing, stating the reason and proposed arrangements.

If a child cannot attend for any reason not listed in subsection A, CPS shall email all parties and copy the Court at least seventy-two (72) hours before the hearing, explaining the basis for the absence and any proposed arrangements.

CRITICALCivil cases

Every felony defendant and defense attorney must keep the District Clerk informed of the defendant’s correct physical and mailing addresses throughout the criminal proceedings.

As a condition of pretrial release, Every felony defendant and defense attorney is responsible to keep the District Clerk apprised of the defendant’s correct physical and mailing address at all times during the pendency of criminal proceedings.

CRITICALCivil cases

During a hearing, counsel must ask court staff to prompt the document in Case Center using its Case Center document number or Bates-stamp number.

During the hearing, counsel shall request court staff to prompt a document on Case Center by referencing the document number assigned by Case Center or the "bates-stamp" number on Case Center:

CRITICALCivil cases

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Email

The Attorney Ad Litem must email the Court the attached form marked Exhibit 1.

1. The Attorney Ad Litem shall email the Court attached form marked as “Exhibit 1” to childprotectioncourt@co.hidalgo.tx.us

CRITICALCivil cases

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Email

The Attorney Ad Litem must email the Court the attached Exhibit 1 form at the specified address.

The Attorney Ad Litem shall email the Court attached form marked as “Exhibit 1” to childprotectioncourt@co.hidalgo.tx.us

CRITICALCivil cases

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Email

The Attorney Ad Litem for the incarcerated parent must notify the Court by email of the filing as soon as possible.

Attorney Ad Litem representing the incarcerated parent shall notify the Court of the filing by email to childprotectioncourt@co.hidalgo.tx.us as soon as possible.

CRITICALCivil cases

An attorney may withdraw from representing a defendant only with the court’s written permission for good cause shown.

No attorney may withdraw from representing a defendant without written permission of the court for good cause shown.

CRITICALCivil cases

An attorney who perceives a conflict precluding continued representation must immediately notify the court and seek permission to withdraw.

Any attorney who perceives that a conflict of interest precludes continued representation of a defendant shall immediately notify the court and seek permission to withdraw.

WARNINGCivil cases

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Email

For the specified placement-based Zoom appearances, the request must be included in the 72-hour CPS email and address caregiver or staff presence, a quiet and private setting, the child being on camera, and the child’s ability to confer with counsel.

A child may appear by Zoom when: a) the child is placed in a medical-needs foster home and in-person attendance is not clinically appropriate; b) the child is placed in a therapeutic foster home located outside the Rio Grande Valley; or c) the child is placed in a Residential Treatment Center (RTC) located outside the Rio Grande Valley. In such instances, the Zoom request shall be included in the 72-hour CPS email, confirm that the caregiver/staff will be present with the child, and ensure a quiet/private setting with the child on camera and able to confer with counsel.