Court Settings

INITIAL APPEARNANCE
IA dockets are held in Trial Room D on the 7th floor. The purpose of the IA docket is to ensure that each defendant has an attorney on all pending cases. In many circumstances, once an Attorney files a letter of representation with the Court, the case will generally be taken off of the IA docket and proceed to the next setting designation with a new court date. On some occasions, a defendant will be presented with a set of bond conditions that will remain in place while the case is pending.

EVIDENCE EXCHANGE

The State of Texas is to have opened up any and all discovery to the Defense Attorney on or before the EE setting AND must provide its case offer. Because this setting is for the Attorneys to correspond, Defendants are not required to appear! Of course, Defendants should please follow the advice of their Attorney and appear if their Attorney directs them to. If there are outstanding bond conditions that need to be addressed, Defendants will be required to appear.  The Court will send correspondence to the Attorney, the Defendant, and the bondsman as to whether a Defendant’s appearance is specifically required.

CONSULTATION

This is an opportunity for the State of Texas and the Defense Attorney to further discuss any evidentiary issues and the case offer. Attorneys are welcome to work their cases out through plea agreements or Memo agreements at this setting. Defendants are required to appear at Consultation settings.

STATUS

This is another opportunity for the State of Texas and the Defense Attorney to further discuss any evidentiary issues and the case offer, similar to the current Announcement settings in CCC9. Attorneys are welcome to work their cases out through plea agreements or Memo agreements at this setting. Defendants are required to appear at Status settings.

DISPOSITION

This is the final date prior to Trial Docket. The State of Texas must have presented its best and final offer to the Defense Attorney. If the case is not disposed of on or by this setting, the case will be set for trial. Defendants are required to appear at Disposition settings.

TRIAL

Set for Mondays and Wednesdays.  Evidence will begin immediately after the jury selection process has concluded.  In-custody Defendants take priority over Defendants who have been released on bond; for the latter, the oldest case will, generally, be given priority.   Because the Court does not routinely schedule multiple cases for trial, both sides should be anticipate being called for trial on the date which the case is set.