Wichita County Courts at Law Chambers Communication Rules

CRITICAL

The Criminal District Attorney and defense counsel must coordinate plea scheduling with the Court Coordinator.

The Criminal District Attorney and counsel for the defendant shall coordinate the scheduling of pleas with the Court Coordinator

CRITICAL

Ex-parte communications with the Court are prohibited, including electronic communications.

All ex-parte communications with the Court by attorneys, pro se parties, and any other persons are prohibited. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, electronic communications.

CRITICAL

All parties must notify the Court Coordinator as soon as practical of settlements and cancellations of trials or settings.

All parties shall be responsible for notifying the Court Coordinator as soon as practical of settlement and/or cancellations of trials and/or settings.

CRITICAL

Contact

Email

Emails responding to an inquiry from the Judge must be copied to all attorneys of record and any pro se parties.

Emails sent to the Judge’s email address in response to an inquiry by the Judge shall be copied to all attorneys of record as well as any pro se parties.

CRITICAL

The District Attorney and defense counsel must coordinate plea scheduling with the Court Administrator.

The District Attorney and counsel for the defendant shall coordinate the scheduling of pleas with the Court Administrator,

CRITICAL

The stated conditions for seeking ex parte relief include that opposing counsel has been notified and does not wish to be heard, or that diligent notice efforts failed and circumstances prevent further efforts.

1. to the best of counsel’s knowledge, the party against whom the relief is sought is not represented by counsel; or 2. if the party against whom the relief is sought is represented by counsel, that (i) such counsel has been notified of the application and does not wish to be heard by the Court thereon; or (ii) counsel presenting the application has diligently attempted to notify opposing counsel, has been unable to do so, and the circumstances do not permit additional efforts to give such notice.

CRITICAL

The Criminal District Attorney and defense counsel must coordinate plea scheduling with the Court Coordinator.

The Criminal District Attorney and counsel for the defendant shall coordinate the scheduling of pleas with the Court Coordinator, and as required by a specific judge, shall complete a plea information form promulgated by the courts.

CRITICAL

Regular non-jury matters must be scheduled with the Court Coordinator.

All matters to be heard on regular non-jury days shall be set with the Court’s Coordinator.

CRITICAL

An attorney with conflicting trial settings must immediately notify the courts concerned upon learning of the conflict; failure to do so can result in sanctions.

Whenever an attorney has two or more cases on trial dockets for trial at the same time, it shall be the duty of the attorney to bring the matter to the attention of the courts concerned immediately upon learning of the conflicting settings. Failure to timely notify the conflicting courts can result in sanctions allowed by the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure or the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

CRITICAL

Anyone seeking information from the Court must direct the inquiry to the Court Coordinator.

Any person seeking information from the Court regarding any matter whatsoever shall direct such inquiry to the Court Coordinator for the Court.

CRITICAL

An attorney with simultaneous trial settings must notify the courts concerned immediately upon learning of the conflict.

Whenever an attorney has two or more cases on trial dockets for trial at the same time, it shall be the duty of the attorney to bring the matter to the attention of the courts concerned immediately upon learning of the conflicting settings.

WARNING

The Judge may require all communications to be sent by first class or certified mail and may refuse communications sent by other means.

The Judge may, at any time, require all communications to be by first class mail or certified mail and may refuse to accept any communication made by any other means.

WARNING

Contact

Email

Unsolicited emails sent to the Judge may be deleted without being opened.

Unsolicited emails, sent to the Judge’s email address, may be deleted without being opened.

WARNING

Written docket-call announcements may be sent to the Court Administrator and Coordinator if received by 4:00 p.m. on the preceding Tuesday.

Written announcements for docket call may be made to the Court Administrator and Coordinator provided the written announcements are received at or before 4:00 p.m. on the Tuesday immediately preceding the docket call.

INFO

Counsel handling mental health and probate cases should contact the respective Court Coordinators for case-specific guidelines.

Counsel handling these cases should contact the Court Coordinators of the respective courts for specific guidelines applicable to those cases.

INFO

Misdemeanor docket-call announcements may be made to the Court Coordinator in writing, by fax, or by email.

Written announcements for misdemeanor docket call may be made to the Court Coordinator in writing or by fax or email.