Starr County Court at Law Document Filing Requirements

Applies to

Electronic transmission cover sheet

Electronic transmissions must include a cover sheet identifying the sender, case, document nature, total pages including the cover sheet, and any special filing, service, or dispositional instructions.

7. A cover sheet shall accompany such transmissions, identifying the sender, the case in which the pleadings or documents are to be filed, the nature of the pleadings or documents, the number of pages being transmitted including the cover sheet, and any special filing, service or dispositional instructions.

Applies to

Facsimile transmitted court order

The Court must include a cover page with any court order transmitted by facsimile.

10. Court Orders may be electronically transmitted to the Clerk for filing. In this instance, electronically transmitted includes e-mail and facsimile transmission. The Court will include a cover page with any facsimile transmitted Orders.

Applies to

Orders notices citations jury summonses docket entries signs public communications

Orders, notices, citations, jury summonses, docket entries, signs, and public communications about the facility must use “Zarsky Judicial Annex” and its street address and may not refer to it as “the Annex” without qualification.

2.2 The Zarsky Judicial Annex is a facility distinct from the Starr County Annex Building. All county officers, courts,and clerks shall use the full name "Zarsky Judicial Annex,"together with its street address, in every order, notice, citation,jury summons, docket entry, sign, and public communication concerning the facility, and shall not refer to it as "the Annex" without qualification.

Counsel must give each affected court a written statement of readiness for all same-date trials and explain any lack of readiness.

b. Counsel must state in writing to each of the affected Courts whether he or she is ready for trial in all cases set for trial on the same date, and. if not ready in one or more of said cases, why he or she is not ready for trial.

Applies to

Superseding indictment

An amended or additional-count indictment must be filed as a superseding indictment in the same case and cause number, using sequential designations such as S1 and S2.

3. When the grand jury returns an amended indictment or adds counts to the original indictment, the new indictment is a superseding indictment and shall be filed in the same case with the same cause number, except that the designation "S1" shall be added to the case number. If a second superseding indictment is filed, the new indictment shall be given the "S2" designation, and so forth.

Applies to

Readiness certification

Judicial proceedings may commence at the Annex only on the date certified in writing by the County Judge after consultation, with the certification confirming that the specified requirements have been satisfied.

2.5 Commencement of operations. Notwithstanding the effective date of the designation, judicial proceedings shall commence at the Zarsky Judicial Annex on the date certified in writing by the County Judge,following consultation with the Local Administrative District Judge and each affected judge, as the date on which the facility is ready for judicial occupancy. Such certification shall confirm that the requirements of Sections 5,6, and 7 of this Resolution have been satisfied.

Applies to

Jury summons and notices

During the Relocation Period, jury summonses and related notices and instructions must identify the Annex by its full name and address, include directions and parking information in English and Spanish, and not refer to it as “Annex” without qualification.

The Starr County District Clerk shall ensure that every jury summons, juror qualification notice, notice of setting, and juror instruction issued during the Relocation Period identifies the Zarsky Judicial Annex by its full name and street address, together with directions and parking information, in both English and Spanish, and shall not use the word "Annex" without qualification.

Applies to

Fee objection

An appointed attorney must timely file a hearing request under Rule 22.

Appointed Attorneys must timely file a request for a hearing under this Rule.

Applies to

Order for special or preferential trial setting

An order granting a special or preferential trial setting must state specific reasons for the setting.

b. In the Order giving a case a special or preferential trial setting, the Court shall state specific reasons for such setting.

A motion for continuance or notice of conflicting jury-trial settings must identify which case has priority under the Rules.

c. Counsel shall state, whether in a motion for continuance or a notice of conflicting jury trial settings, which case has priority under these Rules.

Applies to

Attorney fee voucher

A fee voucher must cover all services for one client and include an itemized account of time, dates, and services.

The voucher shall include all services provided to a single client regardless of the number of cases disposed. The voucher shall contain a detailed, itemized statement as to time expended, date and service rendered.

Applies to

Court records notices citations and jury summonses

Court records, notices, citations, and jury summonses must identify the facility by its full name and street address.

The Zarsky Judicial Annex is a facility distinct from the Starr County Annex Building, and is to be identified in court records, notices, citations, and jury summonses by its full name and street address.

Applies to

Electronically transmitted pleadings or documents

Senders must maintain or file the originals of electronically transmitted pleadings or documents when required by law.

6. Senders of electronically transmitted pleadings or documents must maintain or file the originals, as may be required by law.

Applies to

Jury summons notice of setting juror qualification notice juror instruction

During the Relocation Period, every jury summons, notice of setting, juror qualification notice, and juror instruction must identify the Annex by its full name and street address and include directions and parking information.

3.2 The District Clerk and the County Clerk are directed to coordinate with the respective Coiuts so that every jury summons, notice of setting,juror qualification notice, and juror instruction issued during the Relocation Period clearly identifies the Zarsky Judicial Annex by that full name and by street address as the location for jury service, together with directions and parking information.

Applies to

Ex parte application

An ex parte application must disclose whether, to the applicant’s knowledge, the opposing party is represented by counsel, and counsel must be allowed to appear if practicable.

All applications for ex parte relief shall state, and it shall be brought to the attention of the Court, whether, within the knowledge of the applicant, the opposing party is represented by counsel, who shall be allowed to appear if practicable.

Applies to

Court record protocol

As needed during the Relocation Period, the District Clerk and County Clerk must establish written protocols governing filing, transport, maintenance, custody, and security of court records.

4.1 The District Clerk and the County Clerk are each directed to establish written protocols for the filing, transport, maintenance, custody, and security of all court records, as the need arises, during the Relocation Period, consistent with Chapter 203 of the Texas Local Govemment Code,applicable records retention schedules, and applicable rules goveming electronic filing and the confidentiality of court records.

Applies to

Returns of service and bonds

The originals of returns of service and bonds must be filed with the District Clerk for placement in the Court file.

8. Returns of service and bonds may not be filed electronically, unless permitted by law or Rules promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas. The originals must be filed with the District Clerk for placement in the Court file.

Applies to

Location notice

The District Clerk must post bilingual location notices at public entrances to both buildings and include notice with citations, notices of setting, and jury summonses issued during the Relocation Period; the Court requests, but does not direct, the County to publish notice online.

The Starr County District Clerk is directed to post notice of the temporary change of location conspicuously at each public entrance to the Starr County Courthouse and at each public entrance to the Zarsky Judicial Annex, and to include notice of the location with all citations, notices of setting, and jury summonses issued during the Relocation Period. Notice shall be given in both English and Spanish. The Court further requests that the County publish notice on its internet website.