On October 31, 2022, the Supreme Court of Texas issued the 57th Emergency Order, which is effective immediately and renews the 55th Emergency Order through 2022. The 57th Emergency Order makes no substantive changes to the 55th Emergency Order. Notably, Texas courts are still, subject to constitutional limitations, permitted to conduct virtual proceedings without participants’Continue reading “Texas Supreme Court Issues 57th Emergency Order”
Tag Archives: OCA
Resource Highlight: Cash Bond Refund Form from OCA
Section 13 of S.B. 6, known as the Damon Allen Act, added Section 17.53 to the Code of Criminal Procedure requiring OCA to develop statewide procedures and prescribe forms to be used by a court to facilitate the refund of any cash funds paid toward a monetary bond, with an emphasis on refunding those fundsContinue reading “Resource Highlight: Cash Bond Refund Form from OCA”
S.B. 6 Training Deadline: 90 Days or December 1, 2022?
Any municipal judge or magistrate has certainly heard about or discussed all of the bail-related changes as a result of S.B. 6 passing in August of 2021. TMCEC and other judicial training entities have offered and continue to offer training that satisfies Art. 17.024 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by S.B. 6.Continue reading “S.B. 6 Training Deadline: 90 Days or December 1, 2022?”
E-Filing in Municipal Courts
TMCEC has fielded questions regarding the authority of municipal courts to implement and use electronic filing, or e-filing, systems. In 2017, the Supreme Court of Texas and Court of Criminal Appeals issued an order, Misc. Docket No. 17-9039, requiring certain courts to adopt e-filing procedures. While municipal (and justice) courts are not included as requiringContinue reading “E-Filing in Municipal Courts”
What is the Status of your Court Security Committee?
Last week, TMCEC hosted its annual Court Security Conference here in Austin. More than 80 court professionals from around the state joined together to hear about and discuss court security from many different angles. In a session called The State of Court Security in Texas from Hector Gomez, Texas Office of Court Administration’s (OCA) SecurityContinue reading “What is the Status of your Court Security Committee?”
Supreme Court Issues 38th Emergency Order, Updates Best Practices
Yesterday the Office of Court Administration sent out COVID UPDATE #25 with links to the new 38th Emergency Order as well as the new best practice recommendations for health considerations. If you are a municipal court professional and not on the email list, I have pasted the message below in its entirety. Judges, Clerks, andContinue reading “Supreme Court Issues 38th Emergency Order, Updates Best Practices”
Texas Supreme Court Issues 29th Emergency Order: What Municipal Courts Need to Know
Issued November 11, 2020, the 29th Emergency Order is effective immediately and expires February 1, 2021. The order, signed by Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht (with Justice Blacklock dissenting), extends the 26th Emergency Order with amendments. All Courts All courts may without consent of participants:• Modify or suspend all deadlines and procedures for a statedContinue reading “Texas Supreme Court Issues 29th Emergency Order: What Municipal Courts Need to Know”
Important COVID-19 Resources from OCA
COVID-19 led to significant changes for Texas municipal courts. One excellent resource for information from the Office of Court Administration (OCA) is the Texas Judicial Branch home page at txcourts.gov. On the page, you will find links to all COVID-19 information at the top of the Announcements Box. Included in the Announcements box are linksContinue reading “Important COVID-19 Resources from OCA”
Full Court Press 