Latest News and Updates

Texas Courts Online

District Clerk Manual

The Office of Court Administration has recently updated the District Clerk Manual, a reference guide covering the duties, responsibilities and procedures of Texas District Clerks. The revised version includes statutory changes made during the 82nd Legislature.   [02/03/12]

Summary of Court Security Incident Reports for FY 2011

The Office of Court Administration has released the Summary of Court Security Incident Reports received from Texas trial courts for FY 2011. Art. 102.017(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, requires the local administrative judge in each county to submit to the Office of Court Administration a written report regarding any security incident involving court security that occurs in or around a building housing a court for which the judge serves as local administrative judge.   [01/31/12]

School Discipline

The Judicial Council Juvenile Justice Committee has an inaugural meeting on Feb. 2, 2102. The Committee is charged to: Assess the impact of school discipline and school-based policing on referrals to the municipal, justice, and juvenile courts and identify judicial policies or initiatives that: work to reduce referrals without having a negative impact on school safety; limit recidivism; and preserve judicial resources for students who are in need of this type of intervention. [Meeting Agenda]   [01/25/12]

Report on Judicial Salaries and Turnover

The Office of Court Administration has released the Report on Judicial Salaries and Turnover for FYs 2010 and 2011. The 79th Texas Legislature charged OCA with producing a biennial report that includes information on: 1) the rate at which state judges resign from office or do not seek re-election, as well as the reason for these actions; 2) whether the compensation of state judges exceeds, is equal to, or is less than the compensation of judges at corresponding levels in the five states in population to Texas; and 3) whether the compensation of state judges exceeds, is equal to, or is less than the average salary of lawyers engaged in the private practice of law.   [01/13/12]

State Jail Diligent Participation

State Jail Diligent Participation: In order to provide an incentive for state jail felons to participate in rehabilitation, in accordance with HB 2649 from the 82nd Legislature, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice will provide a progress report to the sentencing judge, which will include information such as name, date of birth, offense, sentence begin date, current discharge date, and diligent participation days. TDCJ's website has the following page with discussion and a link to further instructions: http://tdcj.state.tx.us/divisions/cid/cid_support_ops_class_HB2649.html   [01/03/12]

Civil Filing Fees

The list of District Clerk Civil Filing Fees – 01/01/12 [pdf] has been updated to detail the filing fees that should be assessed by district clerks beginning January 1, 2012. The schedule of District Court Civil Suits and Actions – 01/01/12 [pdf] that will be effective January 1, 2012 has also been updated.   [10/10/11]

Criminal Convictions Court Cost Chart

The Office of Court Administration has updated its Criminal Convictions Court Cost Charts which detail the proper court costs to be assessed for criminal convictions in district courts, county courts, justice courts, and municipal courts. The charts should be used for offenses committed on or after September 28, 2011.   [09/27/11]

District Clerk Reporting Requirements Chart

The Office of Court Administration has updated the District Clerk Reporting Requirements Chart which details the various reports that must be made by district clerks. The chart is updated with changes made by the 82nd Legislature.   [09/21/11]

Report on the Preservation of Historical Texas State Court Records

The Texas Court Records Preservation Task Force, created by the Supreme Court in 2009, has issued a major report in anticipation of a hearing before the Supreme Court on September 26, 2011, 2:00-5:00, in the courtroom.   [08/30/11]

HB 3475, effective September 1, 2011

Added by HB 3475 during the 82^nd Legislature, Section 29.013(a) of the Government Code requires the secretary of a municipality to notify the Texas Judicial Council of the name of each person who is elected or appointed as mayor, municipal court judge, or clerk of a municipal court within 30 days after the date of the person's election or appointment. The secretary is also required to notify the Texas Judicial Council of the name the mayor, municipal court judge or clerk that vacates such an office.

A report form is posted on our Required Reporting webpage.   [08/24/11]

82nd Legislative Session

This report briefly summarizes new legislation directly impacting the Texas court system, judges, clerks, and other judicial actors. No attempt is made to cover substantive areas of the law in detail; other entities are expected to provide legislative updates on substantive legal topics.   [08/09/11]

Model Jury Summons and Questionnaire

The Office of Court Administration has updated the model jury summons and questionnaire to reflect changes made by the 82nd Legislature.   [07/29/11]

2011 Texas Judicial System Directory Now Online

The Office of Court Administration has released the 2011 Judicial Directory, which contains listings for all appellate and trial court judges, district and county clerks, district and county attorneys, and other selected court personnel in Texas. This directory is only "published" online and is current as of February 2011.   [02/25/2011]

Trial Courts and Jurisdiction by County

The Office of Court Administration has recently updated Trial Courts and Jurisdiction by County. This document provides information concerning the courts existing in each county and the jurisdiction of each court.   [12/14/2010]

Texas Judicial System Subject-Matter Jurisdiction of the Courts

The Office of Court Administration has recently updated Texas Judicial System Subject-Matter Jurisdiction of the Courts. This document provides a detailed analysis of the complexities of our unique jurisdictional scheme. You can view the document by clicking on the following link: Jurisdiction by Court Type.   [12/14/2010]

2010 Annual Report for the Texas Judiciary Released

The Office of Court Administration and Texas Judicial Council have released the 2010 Annual Report for the Texas Judiciary, which provides synopses and highlights of court activity.  [12/01/2010]

Report on Judicial Salaries and Turnover

The Office of Court Administration has released the Report on Judicial Salaries and Turnover for FYs 2008 and 2009. The 79th Texas Legislature charged OCA with producing a biennial report that includes information on: 1) the rate at which state judges resign from office or do not seek re-election, as well as the reason for these actions; 2) whether the compensation of state judges exceeds, is equal to, or is less than the compensation of judges at corresponding levels in the five states in population to Texas; and 3) whether the compensation of state judges exceeds, is equal to, or is less than the average salary of lawyers engaged in the private practice of law.  [11/29/2010]

District Clerk Manual

The Office of Court Administration has recently updated the District Clerk Manual, a reference guide covering the duties, responsibilities and procedures of Texas District Clerks. The revised version includes statutory changes made during the 2009 state Legislative Session.  [10/2010]

Judicial Compensation Commission

The Judicial Compensation Commission has released its report [pdf] to the Legislature for 2010. The Commission is charged with recommending "the proper salaries to be paid by the state for all justices and judges of the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, the courts of appeals, and the district courts."  [10/08/2010]

Civil Case Information Sheet

The Texas Supreme Court has adopted the final version of Texas Rule of Civil Procedure Rule 78a [pdf] requiring that a case information sheet must accompany the filing of an original petition in a civil case and certain post-judgment petitions and motions under the Texas Family Code. The Supreme Court has also adopted the civil case information sheet [pdf] approved by the Texas Judicial Council to be used pursuant to Rule 78a. See the instructions [pdf] for completing the case information sheet and the supplemental instructions for self-represented (pro se) litigants [pdf]) approved by the Texas Judicial Council. The rule takes effect September 1, 2010.   [09/02/2010]

Legal Information vs Legal Advice Guidelines

The Office of Court Administration, Texas Access to Justice Commission, Texas Access to Justice Foundation, and Texas Legal Services Center have published a manual for clerks and court personnel who work with self-represented litigants. Texas courts are experiencing increasing numbers of self-represented litigants; and courts, clerks, and their personnel are often asked to assist litigants who are filing or defending a lawsuit. The manual - Legal Information vs. Legal Advice: Guidelines and Instructions for Clerks and Court Personnel Who Work with Self-Represented Litigants in Texas State Courts - is intended to help clerks and court personnel understand the difference between legal information and legal advice. It explains why clerks and court personnel must not give advice but should give legal information. It also contains examples of permissible and impermissible ways to answer questions from the public and a list of resources and referral information.  [06/25/2010]

Texas Center for the Judiciary Seeks Executive Director

The Texas Center for the Judiciary has engaged the Amicus Search Group in its recruitment for a new executive director for the Center. The job posting can be found at http://www.amicussearch.com/Posting/ExecutiveDirectorTCJ.pdf.  [03/15/2010]

2010 Judicial Directory Now Available Online

The Office of Court Administration has released the 2010 Judicial Directory, which contains listings for all appellate and trial court judges, district and county clerks, district and county attorneys, and other selected court personnel in Texas. This directory is only "published" online and is current as of February 2010.  [03/01/2010]

2009 Annual Report for the Texas Judiciary Released

The Office of Court Administration and Texas Judicial Council have released the 2009 Annual Report for the Texas Judiciary, which provides synopses and highlights of court activity.  [12/14/09]

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Updated: 03-Feb-2012