Louise Goodwater

JP Precinct 1 — General Rules for In Person Trials

JP Precinct 1's posted trial rules: proceedings are governed by TRCP Part V; any Fannin County justice may sit for any other justice court through a bench-exchange agreement (recusal, absence, or necessity); decorum; brief opening statements; the Rule invoked on request or the court's initiative; evidence requires copies for the court's file, the other side, and yourself (irrelevant evidence excluded); orderly presentation with plaintiff first and objections ruled on; the judge may question or summon witnesses to ensure a correct judgment and speedy disposition; closing statements; judgment announced in open court — with 21 days to appeal civil/small-claims judgments and 5 days for evictions.