Frio County
Fourth Administrative Judicial Region (Region 4) · official region site ✓ · County seat: Pearsall
Rules that apply here (county → region → statewide)
Preview of 25 instruments. All 7 county-scoped rules → search all three layers.
Order Adopting Local Rules for Appointment of Counsel in Criminal Cases and Schedule of Fees for Appointed Counsel (81st and 218th District Courts; Frio County edition; adopted February 19, 2025)
The 81st and 218th District Courts' local rules for appointing counsel in criminal cases and the fee schedule for appointed counsel (adopted February 19, 2025, effective immediately): appointment within three business days of a request; an indigence questionnaire; flat fees by offense class (initial jail visit $75, extradition $250, MTR/MTA $450, state-jail felonies $500, third-degree $600, second-degree $750, first-degree $950; +$200 for additional felonies or a pre-indictment appointment, +$100 for bilingual counsel) with hourly rates for extensive contested work ($75–$150 in court, $75–$100 out of court) and appeals at $60–$120 per hour capped at $4,500; itemized applications in tenth-hour intervals due at the plea or within thirty days of disposition, or compensation is waived; defendant contribution and prepayment accounts; written expert motions; documented billing; representation through disposition or appeal with client contact by the next business day; withdrawal only by motion and substitutes chosen only by the Court. The schedule does not apply to the Atascosa Area Advocates Public Defender's Office.
Standing Order Regarding Transfer Between the 81st and 218th Judicial District Courts (Frio, Karnes, La Salle and Wilson Counties edition; Frio County)
Under Texas Government Code § 24.003, the 81st and 218th District Courts accept transfer of any non-Family Code chapter 155 case from each other's dockets, and any district judge serving the county may hear and determine any proceeding, motion or preliminary matter, render final judgment and issue injunctions returnable to any district court of the county without a formal transfer or bench exchange; judgments are entered in the minutes of the court where the case is pending and a completed matter is transferred to the completing court under § 72.083.
Standing Order Regarding Child(ren), Property, and Conduct of Parties in Divorce and Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (81st and 218th District Courts; Frio, Karnes, La Salle and Wilson Counties edition of December 1, 2023; Frio County edition)
The automatic temporary restraining order in every divorce and SAPCR before the 81st and 218th District Courts (other than DFPS and Attorney General suits): no removing, hiding, disparaging or disturbing the child, no overnight dating guests during possession in an original divorce, no harassment, violence, mail diversion or (from this December 2023 edition) tracking or following of the other party, and in a divorce no dissipation of property, records, insurance or accounts beyond the specifically authorized business, living and legal expenses; served with the petition, effective on filing as a 14-day TRO that becomes a temporary injunction unless contested, subordinate to protective orders, bond waived.
Standing Order Regarding Release on Bail of Defendant Charged With Felony Offense Committed While on Bail for Felony Offense (81st and 218th District Courts; Frio County; April 21, 2023)
Under Code of Criminal Procedure art. 17.027, a defendant charged with a felony committed while on bail for a felony in the same county may be released only by the court where the prior case is pending or a court it designates in writing; the 81st and 218th District Courts designate that a defendant on bail for, or charged with, murder may be magistrated and have bail set only by a district or county-court-at-law judge of that county, and any other art. 17.027 defendant may be magistrated and have bail set by a district, county-court-at-law, justice of the peace or municipal judge of that county.
Bench Exchange Agreement of the Justices of the Peace of Frio County (Gov't Code § 27.054; standing order of January 1, 2023)
Frio County's four justices of the peace agree, as a standing order that renews every five days until rescinded, to exchange benches whenever convenient — covering magistration at the county jail, persons charged with crimes or brought before a justice, capias pro fine arrests under Code of Criminal Procedure art. 45.045, holding court for another justice on request, and inquest duties.
Local Rules of Practice of the 81st and 218th Judicial District Courts (Atascosa, Frio, Karnes, La Salle and Wilson Counties; effective January 1, 2023; Frio County edition)
The local rules of the 81st and 218th District Courts as they sit in Frio County: courtroom conduct and decorum (Texas Lawyer's Creed incorporated; attire; security screening; no devices without approval; no recording), continuances (consent or notice; motion set through the Court Administrator's website), priority of conflicting settings, interpreters, withdrawal of counsel, remote hearings on request, ex parte applications, pretrial and trial settings through the Court Administrator, mandatory ADR before any trial of four or more hours, entry of orders, criminal arraignment and duties of appointed counsel, temporary family-law hearings (one hour; required financial documents), adoptions review, the divorce checklist, and the authority, citation and construction rules.
Local Rules for All Justice Courts in Frio County (discovery control plan, mediation, pre-trial and docket-call rules; March 1, 2021)
The four Frio County justice courts' civil rules under TRCP 500–510: pre-trial discovery only by written motion approved by the court; requests for admissions may not be embedded in a petition and must be approved before service, and deemed admissions cannot be used without strict proof of service; the jury fee is due with the request; pre-trial conferences on the listed issues (none that would delay an eviction trial); every paid jury case is ordered to mediation or ADR before a trial date is set, at the parties' cost; joinder, representation, discovery limits, subpoenas and summary judgments under the justice-court rules; docket calls at 9:00 a.m. with dismissal for failure to appear; the judge may develop the case.
Fourth Administrative Judicial Region of Texas — Procedures for Attorney Fee Appeals (signed January 17, 2017; effective for decisions on or after January 20, 2017)
The Fourth Region's presiding-judge procedures for court-appointed attorneys' fee appeals under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 26.05, applying to the district and county courts of the region's twenty-two counties: an appeal lies from a trial court's attorney-fee decision or from its failure to decide within the 60-day period of article 26.05(c); the appeal packet (the written documentation sent to the trial court, a copy of the court's decision with the written findings and reasons article 26.05 requires, and a motion or letter explaining why the decision should be modified) must be sent to both the Presiding Judge and the trial court within fourteen days after the attorney receives notice of the decision, by e-mail with PDF attachments or by hard copy to the region's office at the Bexar County Courthouse; the trial court may modify its findings or decision in writing within five days of receiving the packet, sending the modification to the Presiding Judge and the attorney; and the Presiding Judge "determine[s] the appropriate amount of payment" under article 26.05(c) and notifies the attorney and the trial court. Signed January 17, 2017 by Presiding Judge David Peeples; effective for decisions made on or after January 20, 2017.
Fourth Administrative Judicial Region of Texas — Rules of the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region (adopted March 8, 1993)
The thirteen region-wide rules of the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region (the 22-county South Texas region), adopted by the Council of Presiding Judges at Austin on March 8, 1993: time standards for disposition (criminal trial within 180 days of indictment, civil jury 18 months and non-jury 12 months from appearance, contested family cases 6 months and uncontested 3 months, juvenile detention hearings the next business day with adjudication within 10 or 30 days and disposition within 15), complex-case allowance, continuances only as the rules permit and one agreed pass; monthly OCA reports to the regional presiding judge; county boards of judges must adopt uniform local rules for civil, family/juvenile and criminal cases, a jury plan, a judicial-absence plan and a rule for regular judges' meetings; local rules must follow the region's numbering and take effect only on approval by the presiding judge and the Supreme Court; conflicting-engagement priorities (criminal, statutory preference, preferential settings, earliest setting, earliest filing, multi-judge counties yield to rural counties); four weeks' attorney vacation on 90 days' written notice; pretrial motions three days before docket call and certified requests for settings; and courtroom decorum.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.9 — Attorneys Not Admitted to Practice Before this Court
N.D. Tex. LR 83.9 — Attorneys Not Admitted to Practice Before this Court: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.8 — Loss of Membership and Discipline of Attorneys
N.D. Tex. LR 83.8 — Loss of Membership and Discipline of Attorneys: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.7 — Admission of Attorneys
N.D. Tex. LR 83.7 — Admission of Attorneys: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.6 — Applications to Proceed In Forma Pauperis
N.D. Tex. LR 83.6 — Applications to Proceed In Forma Pauperis: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.4.1 — Compliance with Standards of Litigation Conduct
N.D. Tex. LR 83.4.1 — Compliance with Standards of Litigation Conduct: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.4 — Conduct of Attorneys at Trial or Hearing
N.D. Tex. LR 83.4 — Conduct of Attorneys at Trial or Hearing: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.3 — Assignment of Cases
N.D. Tex. LR 83.3 — Assignment of Cases: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.2 — Miscellaneous and Special Orders
N.D. Tex. LR 83.2 — Miscellaneous and Special Orders: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.18 — Photographs, Broadcasting, Recording, and Television Forbidden
N.D. Tex. LR 83.18 — Photographs, Broadcasting, Recording, and Television Forbidden: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.17 — Weapons Forbidden
N.D. Tex. LR 83.17 — Weapons Forbidden: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.16 — Dress and Conduct
N.D. Tex. LR 83.16 — Dress and Conduct: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.14 — Parties Proceeding Pro Se
N.D. Tex. LR 83.14 — Parties Proceeding Pro Se: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.13 — Change of Contact Information or Name
N.D. Tex. LR 83.13 — Change of Contact Information or Name: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.12 — Withdrawal or Substitution of Attorney
N.D. Tex. LR 83.12 — Withdrawal or Substitution of Attorney: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.11 — Exemption from Admission to Practice, and from Requirement of Local Counsel, for Attorneys Appearing on Behalf of the United States Justice Department or the Attorney General of the State of Texas
N.D. Tex. LR 83.11 — Exemption from Admission to Practice, and from Requirement of Local Counsel, for Attorneys Appearing on Behalf of the United States Justice Department or the Attorney General of the State of Texas: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.
N.D. Tex. LR 83.10 — Requirement of Local Counsel
N.D. Tex. LR 83.10 — Requirement of Local Counsel: the court's own rule, verbatim from LOCAL CIVIL RULES OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS (Effective September 1, 2026), official PDF, sha-custodied. Court-level requirement: applies in every case before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas alongside the federal rules and any judge-specific procedures.