Refugio County, TX
All 12 county-scoped rules
Every published instrument scoped to Refugio 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 1–12 of 12
Standing Order Regarding Cell Phones, Electronic Devices and Electronic Recording Devices (District Courts of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties; Refugio County edition)
Cell phones and electronic devices may be brought into district courtrooms subject to courthouse security policies but must be turned off inside any courtroom; photographing, recording, posting, broadcasting or televising any person, object, document or proceeding in a courtroom (in person, on Zoom or YouTube, or by any other means) is prohibited unless the Court authorizes it, on pain of removal, temporary forfeiture of the device, and fines up to $500 or up to six months' jail for contempt; the device-use restrictions do not apply to attorneys and their staff, but the recording prohibition does.
Standing Order Regarding Use of Artificial Intelligence (District Courts of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Refugio and Victoria Counties; Refugio County edition)
Every self-represented litigant and attorney who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research, drafting or analysis in a case before the district courts of the six counties must, before using AI-generated information in a submission or proceeding, sign and file the attached certification (Exhibit A) that all AI-created or AI-contributed language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis were verified as accurate by a human being through traditional non-AI legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for any failure to comply.
Standing Order Regarding Public Access to DFPS Court Records (24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts; Refugio County)
Public access to pleadings, orders and documents filed in suits brought by the Department of Family and Protective Services under Chapters 261, 262 and 264 of the Texas Family Code is restricted; the District Clerks of the six counties may release them only to DFPS, the parties, their attorneys, the attorney ad litem and the guardian ad litem unless the Court specifically permits access for good cause shown.
Refugio County Local Rules of Practice (Constitutional County Court; adopted March 6, 2024, effective May 1, 2024)
The local rules of the County Court of Refugio County: courtroom conduct and decorum (Texas Lawyer's Creed incorporated; dress, devices, recording prohibited), case assignment and court locations, continuances (consent or a hearing; client certification on the second motion, client signature on later ones; vacation/CLE designations 60 days ahead), withdrawal of counsel (10 days' certified-mail notice; none within 30 days of trial), settings (10 days' notice; civil jury requests by the docket call two months before trial; criminal jury settings with announcements; 30 minutes early; summary judgment by submission only), conflicts in settings, ad litem appointments under Government Code chapter 37, probate procedures, orders sent to the judge, and the administrative rules on authority, citation, severability, construction, application and calendars.
Joint Standing Order Exempting Tax Suits from Mandatory Disclosures under Rule 194 (24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts; Refugio County)
Parties in tax lawsuits filed under Texas Tax Code Chapters 31-34 in the 24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts are exempt from the mandatory initial-disclosure requirements of Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 194, but must still timely respond to party-initiated discovery requests.
Standing Order Requiring a Parent Education and Stabilization Course in Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship (District Courts of Refugio County)
In every suit affecting the parent-child relationship (original or modification) filed on or after September 1, 2003, the parties must complete a Parent Education and Stabilization Course meeting Texas Family Code § 105.009 and file proof before the final hearing, with six enumerated exceptions; contested SAPCR issues are heard only on written request for the Contested SAPCR Docket, set on 45 days' notice.
Standing Order Referring Title IV-D Matters to the Associate Judge for Title IV-D Cases (24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts; Refugio County)
Every aspect of a Title 5 or Chapter 45 Texas Family Code case, including ancillary matters, in which the Title IV-D agency is the moving party is referred to the Associate Judge for Title IV-D Cases appointed to serve the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region.
Local Rules of Procedure and Rules of Decorum for the Justice of the Peace Courts of Refugio County (effective January 1, 2015)
The Refugio County justice courts' local rules under Government Code § 27.061: jurisdiction and precinct organization (Precinct One serves Precincts 1, 1A, 4, 4A and 4B; Precinct Two serves 2, 2A, 2B, 3 and 3A), visiting judges and electronic jury selection; civil cases — filing where a defendant resides (evictions where the premises are), mediation referrals with a 10-day objection window, jury demands 14 days before trial with the fee, continuances heard by the Thursday before trial, an uncontested docket, pre-trial motions heard at the pre-trial hearing (three days before a non-jury trial), telephone appearances at the judge's discretion, dismissal for want of prosecution (120 days without answer or service; 12 months unset with no activity in 180 days) with motions to retain 10 working days before the dismissal date, drafts of orders approved as to form, withdrawal of counsel, holidays, and Rule 103 service authorizations; criminal cases — filing in the precinct of the offense, settings by the clerks (one continuance per party), pretrial motions served on the County Attorney 21 days ahead, standard fines, no appointed counsel in fine-only cases, withdrawal and substitution; rules of decorum (opening, recess, courtroom conduct, attorneys, broadcast media); and transfers and bench exchanges between the two precincts.
Order Amending Local Rules for the 24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts — Rules 1.14 and 1.15, Requests for Settings (Refugio County edition; signed December 31, 2014)
Local Rules 1.14 and 1.15 of the 24th, 135th, 267th and 377th District Courts are amended so that every request for a motion hearing, non-jury trial or jury trial goes to the Court Coordinator by e-mail or in writing with a copy to all counsel and a certification that the requesting attorney conferred with every party and that the date is agreed — or, if not agreed, that a good-faith effort to agree failed, in which case the Court sets a telephonic or in-chambers docket control conference to fix the date; the rules bind self-represented litigants directly. Effective immediately on signing, December 31, 2014.
Standing Order on Summary-Judgment Setting Notices: 15-Minute Argument Limit per Side (District Courts of Refugio County)
By standing order of the Local Administrative Judge, every setting notice (or order setting hearing) on a motion for summary judgment must state that argument on the motion is limited to 15 minutes per side.
Rules of Court of the 24th, 135th and 267th District Courts (Refugio County edition; promulgated June 11, 1990, Rules 1.14 and 1.15 as amended December 31, 2014)
The local rules of the district courts serving Refugio County (24th, 135th and 267th Judicial Districts, promulgated jointly with the 377th of Victoria County under Rule 3a): case assignment and bench exchange, settings (as amended in 2014 to require conferral and certification of agreed or non-agreed dates through the Court Coordinator), preferential settings, docket calls, dismissal and suspense dockets, pre-trial and scheduling conferences and sanctions for non-compliance, discovery, settlements, conflicting engagements, witnesses and exhibits, voir dire, jury charges and motions in limine, family-law preparation requirements, default and liquidated claims, a 1990 appointed-counsel fee schedule, jury management, attorney vacations, lead counsel, withdrawal, courtroom decorum and local administration.
Refugio County Court — Rules of the Court (dress code, addressing the Court, conduct and prohibited conduct)
Courtroom rules of the Refugio County Court whenever it is in session: a minimum dress code (no offensive, alcohol- or drug-themed clothing, hats, low-slung pants, shorts, short skirts, sunglasses, revealing tops, visible undergarments or flip-flops; suits or business attire for attorneys), no children unless seated and quiet, address the judge as "Your Honor" and staff as sir or ma'am, no cell phones unless off (ringing devices are confiscated), rise for the judge, no communication with prosecutors or staff during proceedings, no food, gum or drinks, no feet on furniture, no profanity or noise, no recording devices, radios, computers or cameras without prior approval, and no tobacco — violations may mean removal or contempt.