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Walker County, TX

All 12 county-scoped rules

Every published instrument scoped to Walker 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 OrdersWalker County

Walker County Attorney Vacation Letter Directive (Region Rule 11)

A directive (effective January 1, 2026) applying the Second Administrative Judicial Region’s Rule 11 on attorney vacations consistently in the 12th and 278th District Courts across Walker, Madison, Grimes and Leon Counties (Walker County edition). An attorney (lead counsel) may designate up to four vacation weeks per year: summer designations (June–August) must be filed with the district clerk by May 15 and protect even against earlier-signed settings; non-summer designations must be filed by February 1, may not run more than two consecutive weeks, and do not protect against earlier-signed settings. The court confirms by letter whether the dates are protected.

High confidence· verified September 21, 2026Attorney Vacation Letter Directive (Region Rule 11) for the 12th & 278th Judicial District Courts — Walker County edition (TOPICs reg. doc 2877)
Standing OrdersWalker County

Walker County Fee Guidelines for Appointed Counsel in Criminal and Juvenile Cases

The Walker County fee guidelines for court-appointed counsel in criminal and juvenile cases (effective March 7, 2025; CCP art. 26.05, Family Code § 51.10). They set fixed rates by case type (felony first/second degree, third degree/state jail, misdemeanor and juvenile pleas/dismissals), a bilingual stipend, trial/hearing preparation and appearance hourly rates and caps, and appeal rates, with hourly billing available only on prior court approval per the indigent-defense plan.

High confidence· verified September 21, 2026Fee Guidelines for Appointed Counsel in Criminal and Juvenile Cases for the 12th & 278th Judicial District Courts — Walker County edition (TOPICs reg. doc 2702)
Standing OrdersWalker County

Walker County Standing Order Regarding Mediation

The 12th District Court’s standing order requiring mediation (Walker County edition; effective October 23, 2024) before any evidentiary oral hearing, and for final trial no more than 90 days before trial. Each party must confer to schedule mediation and complete it before the court date, or move to compel at least 45 days before trial; mediation is excused for enumerated matters (discovery motions, summary judgment, defaults, nonsuits, service motions, new-trial motions and TROs), and each attorney may be present with the client throughout.

High confidence· verified September 21, 2026Standing Order Regarding Mediation for the 12th & 278th Judicial District Courts — Walker County edition (TOPICs reg. doc 2706)
Standing OrdersWalker County · Judge John Gaines

Walker County Court at Law General Order Regarding Remote Detention Hearings

The Walker County Court at Law’s general order adopting a plan (Family Code § 54.012) to conduct juvenile detention hearings (Family Code § 54.01) as remote proceedings at the court’s discretion. It preserves cross-examination and confrontation, requires an unobstructed camera view of any testifying party or witness, and directs that physical and digital evidence be displayed for simultaneous viewing, emailed to the court (wccl@co.walker.tx.us) and counsel, and formatted consistent with the Walker County general order regarding evidence.

High confidence· verified September 21, 2026Walker County Court at Law General Order Regarding Remote Detention Hearings (Fam. Code § 54.012) (TOPICs reg. doc 1685)
Standing OrdersWalker County

Walker County General Order Regarding Evidence

The Walker County general order governing the introduction of audio, video and other electronic-media exhibits in all proceedings: exhibits must be in an appellate-court-acceptable format (an enumerated list of media types), files may not exceed 2 GB (segmented and labeled if larger), only the offered segments may be included, oversized exhibits must be accompanied by 8.5"×11" copies for the record, and text documents must be submitted as text-searchable, unencrypted PDF (scanned exhibits OCR’d).

High confidence· verified September 21, 2026General Order Regarding Evidence for the 12th & 278th Judicial District Courts — Walker County edition (TOPICs reg. doc 2703)
Local RulesWalker County

Walker County Local Rules of the District Courts

The local rules of the Walker County district courts (12th and 278th Judicial Districts, which share concurrent jurisdiction with the County Court at Law up to $325,000): local administrative district judge and board of judges, general rules of practice (time standards, decorum, self-represented litigants, filings, attorney appearances and vacations, settings), and the civil, family and criminal case tracks (ad litem appointments, docket control, mediation, discovery, dismissal and submission dockets, jury charge, voir dire, restraining orders and parent education).

High confidence· verified September 23, 2026Local Rules of the District Courts for the 12th & 278th Judicial District Courts — Walker County edition (TOPICs reg. doc 2721)
Standing OrdersWalker County

Walker County Standing Discovery Order in Criminal Cases

The 12th/278th District Courts’ standing discovery order in criminal cases (Walker County edition). Under the court’s inherent authority, the State is ordered to disclose and furnish a defined set of materials in all criminal matters — anticipated witness lists (with experts), defendant statements under CCP art. 38.22, notice of extraneous offenses under Rule 404(b), inspection of seized items and physical/forensic evidence, promises of leniency to accomplices, witness convictions, warrants and lab analyses, and all Brady material.

High confidence· verified September 21, 2026Standing Discovery Order in Criminal Cases for the 12th & 278th Judicial District Courts — Walker County edition (TOPICs reg. doc 2704)
Standing OrdersWalker County

Walker County Standing Order for Discovery Disclosure and Protection (Criminal History and HIPAA)

The district courts’ standing order (Walker County edition) implementing CCP art. 39.14 for felony cases: it authorizes the District Attorney to disclose to defense counsel the criminal-history record information of the defendant and potential witnesses (Gov’t Code 411.084(2)(D)) and protected health information in the State’s file, and orders defense counsel receiving that information to comply with Chapter 411, HIPAA, the Texas Medical Privacy Act and art. 39.14 on its use and dissemination.

High confidence· verified September 21, 2026Standing Order for Discovery Disclosure and Protection (Criminal History and HIPAA) for the 12th & 278th Judicial District Courts — Walker County edition (TOPICs reg. doc 2705)
Standing OrdersWalker County

Walker County Standing Order in Limine for Civil Jury Trials

The 12th/278th District Courts’ standing order in limine for civil jury trials (Walker County edition). Counsel may not raise before the jury — without a prior ruling — liability insurance, jurors’ insurance-industry ties, a defendant’s ability to pay a judgment, collateral-source payments, when/how counsel was retained, attorney’s fees, taxation of awards, offers of independent medical exams, prior criminal history, or substance use, and must instruct clients and non-adverse witnesses to comply.

High confidence· verified September 21, 2026Standing Order in Limine for Civil Jury Trials for the 12th & 278th Judicial District Courts — Walker County edition (TOPICs reg. doc 2698)
Standing OrdersWalker County

Walker County Standing Order in Limine for Criminal Jury Trials

The 12th/278th District Courts’ standing order in limine for criminal jury trials (Walker County edition). Without first approaching the bench and obtaining a ruling, no attorney may mention before the jury or venire any of the enumerated matters — facts of the case in voir dire, probation applications, punishment range, commitment questions, argument during voir dire/opening, the defendant’s right to remain silent, enhancement paragraphs, ex parte statements, hearsay medical opinions, or undisclosed exhibits — and each attorney must instruct clients and non-adverse witnesses accordingly. Violations may draw contempt or a State Bar referral.

High confidence· verified September 21, 2026Standing Order in Limine for Criminal Jury Trials for the 12th & 278th Judicial District Courts — Walker County edition (TOPICs reg. doc 2697)
Standing OrdersWalker County

Walker County Standing Restraining Order Regarding Children, Property and Conduct of the Parties

The Walker County standing restraining order regarding children, property and conduct, self-executing in every divorce and SAPCR filed in Walker County and binding on the parties, their agents/attorneys and anyone acting in concert with actual notice, enforceable by contempt (fine and/or imprisonment). It bars disruption of the children (no removal from Texas, no school withdrawal, no hiding, no disparagement), preserves property, and restrains harassing or threatening conduct while the case is pending.

High confidence· verified September 21, 2026Standing Restraining Order Regarding Children, Property and Conduct of the Parties for the 12th & 278th Judicial District Courts — Walker County edition (TOPICs reg. doc 2699)
Standing OrdersWalker County

Walker County Standing Trial Preparation Order

The 12th/278th District Courts’ standing trial preparation order (Walker County edition; TRCP 166). At least five working days before the pretrial hearing the parties must furnish opposing counsel and self-represented parties, and bring to the hearing, a party/counsel list, a trial witness list, a draft jury charge (or findings and conclusions for a bench trial), an exhibit list with pre-marked copies complying with the county general order regarding evidence, deposition designations, motions in limine, and trial-logistics information.

High confidence· verified September 21, 2026Standing Trial Preparation Order for the 12th & 278th Judicial District Courts — Walker County edition (TOPICs reg. doc 2700)