Ector County, TX
All 24 county-scoped rules
Every published instrument scoped to Ector County, newest effective date first. 2 region-wide and 1,248 statewide instruments also apply here — search all three layers together. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Published rules, newest effective date first
Showing 1–24 of 24
Ector County Courts at Law Pre-Trial Docket Call Procedures (from February 2023)
Notice of the Ector County Courts at Law to criminal defense attorneys: from February 2023 pre-trial announcements are made in person (e-mailed announcements are no longer accepted), and plea conferences held right after each pre-trial docket call address the cases on the following pre-trial docket.
Designations to Set Bail Under Code of Criminal Procedure Article 17.027 - 244th, 70th, 358th and 161st District Courts of Ector County (January 5, 2023)
Four designations dated January 5, 2023, one by the judge of each of the 244th, 70th, 358th and 161st District Courts, naming the judges and magistrates authorized under Code of Criminal Procedure article 17.027 to set bail on a new felony charged against a person already on bail for a felony pending before the designating court. Each designation is checked as valid for any such new felony, and none attaches a bail schedule.
Ector County Justice Court Precinct Two Local Rule - Notice of Non-Recording of Court Proceedings and Staff Communication (effective January 5, 2023)
Local rule of the Ector County Justice Court, Precinct Two, effective January 5, 2023, in English and Spanish: recording, taping or photographing by any means is prohibited for any party participating in a court proceeding, remotely or in person, and for any party communicating with court staff at any time; a violation may be held in contempt of court.
Ector County Court at Law No. 2 Standing Order Regarding All Civil Cases - Alternative Dispute Resolution Before Trial (January 14, 2020)
Standing order for civil cases pending in or later filed in Ector County Court at Law No. 2: no civil case is set for final trial on the merits until the parties have scheduled and conducted an alternative dispute resolution procedure under Civil Practice and Remedies Code chapter 154. When the procedure is mediation, all counsel, parties and representatives with settlement authority attend in person, participate in good faith, agree on a date and time (failing agreement, the mediator sets it), and comply with chapter 154 confidentiality; failure to comply may result in contempt, sanctions, or both.
Ector County Board of Judges Order - CLE and Indigent Defense Reporting (signed October 5, 2018)
Order for attorneys approved by the Ector County Board of Judges to receive felony or misdemeanor indigent appointments: comply with the continuing legal education requirements of Texas Administrative Code chapter 174 and file annual verification with the Local Administrative Judge for the district courts; and report annually to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, under Code of Criminal Procedure article 26.04(j)(4), the percentage of practice devoted to indigent cases (October 1 through September 30).
Ector County District Courts' Order to Seal Mental Health Evaluations in Felony Cases (signed June 13, 2018)
Order of the district courts of Ector County: the District Clerk seals and keeps confidential all written reports, assessments and mental health evaluations filed in felony cases in which competency, sanity or another mental health condition is at issue; subject to Code of Criminal Procedure chapters 46B and 46C, they are not unsealed or disclosed without an order of a district court; violations may be punished as contempt.
Ector County District Courts Administrative Order to Seal Unredacted Records Filed Under Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 141 (signed February 15, 2018)
Administrative order for structured settlement transfer filings under Civil Practice and Remedies Code chapter 141: the Ector County District Clerk seals all unredacted applications, pleadings, orders and exhibits on receipt; petitioners who file redacted applications simultaneously file unredacted paper copies with the District Clerk; sealed documents stay sealed until the presiding judge or the Local Administrative Judge orders otherwise.
Ector County Transfer Order - All Domestic Relations and Family Law Cases to the 446th District Court (signed February 6, 2018)
Transfer order of the Local Administrative Judge under Government Code section 74.092(a)(1): the Ector County District Clerk transfers all pending domestic relations and family law cases to the 446th District Court, and all such cases filed afterwards are assigned to that court.
358th District Court Amended Order - Plea Agreement Deadline (signed March 21, 2017)
Amended order of the 358th District Court: in criminal cases, the court must be notified of any negotiated plea agreement by 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before jury selection begins; later agreements are not accepted absent extraordinary circumstances, and no plea hearing is set until a signed waiver of jury trial is received.
Ector County District Courts' Order on Shackling Felony Defendants in Custody (signed July 25, 2016)
Order of the district courts of Ector County: unless a district judge orders otherwise, persons charged with a felony and in law-enforcement custody are shackled with leg, wrist and belly restraints before entering any district courtroom.
358th District Court Order - Alternative Dispute Resolution Before a Final Trial Setting (signed March 18, 2016)
Order of the 358th District Court for civil cases: no case is set for final trial until the parties have scheduled and concluded an ADR procedure under Civil Practice and Remedies Code chapter 154; for mediation, parties with settlement authority attend in person with counsel, participate in good faith, attend on the date the mediator sets if they cannot agree, and observe chapter 154 confidentiality; non-compliance may result in contempt, sanctions, or both.
Ector County District Courts' Order Designating the 446th District Court for Family Law Matters (signed July 7, 2015)
Order of the district courts of Ector County on the creation of the 446th District Court (jurisdiction effective September 1, 2015): the 446th exercises jurisdiction of and gives preference to family law matters, and also hears civil or criminal matters assigned or transferred to it by the other district courts.
161st Judicial District Court Dress Code
Dress code of the 161st District Court of Ector County: requirements for tops, bottoms, shoes and headwear and general prohibitions; a person in violation may be removed from the courtroom, which may result in an arrest warrant for failure to appear (criminal) or a default judgment (civil).
244th District Court Dress Code (Judge Lori Ruiz-Crutcher)
Dress code of the 244th District Court: no sleeveless shirts, shorts or excessively baggy pants; shirt tails tucked in; no sunglasses, hats or flip-flops; no clothing with distracting pictures or words; counsel instruct clients and witnesses; court personnel give final approval of dress.
244th District Court Orders for Discovery and Inspection of Evidence
Discovery orders of the 244th District Court in criminal cases: on timely request the State produces what Code of Criminal Procedure article 39.14 and Evidence Rules 702, 703 and 705 make discoverable; it provides witness and suspect information and exculpatory evidence reflected in its file and supplements continuously; pretrial motions are due by the docket's motion deadline; interpreter needs are raised in writing by that deadline; defense counsel ensures compliance with the court's dress code; and settings are posted on the county website.
358th Judicial District Court Dress Code
Dress code of the 358th District Court of Ector County: requirements for tops, bottoms, shoes and headwear and general prohibitions; a person in violation may be removed from the courtroom, which may result in an arrest warrant for failure to appear (criminal) or a default judgment (civil).
446th District Court Pro Se Uncontested Docket Instructions
Instructions of the 446th District Court for self-represented parties on the uncontested divorce docket: court staff cannot give legal advice; comply with the dress code and electronics policy; parenting course certificates are required in divorces with children; bring complete, signed paper copies of the proposed orders.
446th Judicial District Court Dress Code and Electronic Device Policy (with the Spanish versions)
Dress code and electronic device policy of the 446th District Court of Ector County: suggested and prohibited attire (final approval by court personnel; non-compliance may lead to an arrest warrant for failure to appear or a default judgment); no audio or video recording; phones, smart watches, laptops and tablets powered off or left in the car. The court also posts Spanish versions of the dress code and the device policy.
Ector County Courts at Law Policy Change on Motions for Continuance
Notice of the Ector County Courts at Law on motions for continuance: the heading must state which numbered continuance it is (the county clerk rejects unnumbered ones); each must give a clear reason or it is denied; and, except in verifiable emergencies, each must be e-filed before the docket call it concerns, or it is denied and the case treated as a non-appearance.
Ector County Justice Court Youth Diversion Plan
Youth diversion plan of the Ector County justice courts under Code of Criminal Procedure chapter 45, subchapter E: advisements for intermediate diversion; eligibility; contested charges; the written diversion agreement and its contents; the $50 administrative fee and its waiver; determination of success; the non-adversarial hearing and the orders the court may enter; statistics; and automatic expunction at 18.
Ector County Order on Transfer of Contested Probate Cases from the County Court to the County Courts at Law
Order for probate cases filed in the Ector County Court that become contested: cases with odd cause numbers are transferred to the County Court at Law and cases with even cause numbers to the County Court at Law #2.
Ector County Pro Se Policy - Probate
Probate pro se policy in Ector County: a personal representative must be represented by a licensed attorney; a pro se applicant may probate a will as a muniment of title only when the listed conditions are met (including sole beneficiary and no unsecured debts); filing with the County Clerk's probate department, citation and the return date, setting a hearing, and the documents to present.
Remote Detention Hearing Procedures for Ector County Juvenile Court (County Court at Law; submitted to OCA November 6, 2023)
Plan adopted by the County Court at Law of Ector County under Family Code section 54.012 for conducting juvenile detention hearings as remote proceedings: the court may allow or require remote participation; parties may cross-examine witnesses; a testifying witness must be on camera with an unobstructed view; exhibits are displayed to all participants, digital copies are emailed to the official court reporter and counsel beforehand when practicable, and physical evidence is tendered within 3 days.
The County Courts at Law of Ector County Dress Code
Dress code of the Ector County Courts at Law for all persons entering the courtroom in civil and criminal matters: required attire for men and women and prohibited clothing; removal or refused admittance may result in a warrant for failure to appear (criminal) or a default judgment (civil); court personnel decide what attire is appropriate.