Belinda Mendez

111th Rules for Lawyers, 111th District Court, Webb County, Judge Monica Z. Notzon presiding (undated; the calendar-call rule addresses cases filed after January 1, 2011) — TOPICs reg. doc 1060 (registered by Webb County 01/12/2023 as "111th Rules for Lawyers").

The 111th District Court's twenty-one rules for counsel: court begins at 9:00 a.m.; one jury week a month for criminal cases; the second Friday of the month is an uncontested docket from 8:00 a.m. to noon on 24 hours' notice; calendar calls for cases filed after January 1, 2011 are on the morning dockets and attendance is excused when an agreed guideline order with trial dates 180–300 days out is submitted by 5 p.m. the day before; certificates of conference, discovery-level classification at the first calendar call, two pre-trial settings (the second on the Thursday before jury selection), criminal arraignment through jury selection dates, Level 1/2/3 trials within 6, 12 and 18 months, divorces heard on the Monday after 61 days from filing, motions on submission, file-marked documents before signature, no resets after a pretrial order without a written continuance, trial notebooks, mandatory mediation in contested cases with parties present at mediation and final pretrial, judgments within thirty days, 24 hours' notice for courtroom electronics, and courtesy copies.

Administrative Order 22-1229-1, First Order on Rules Governing the Procedure for Making a Record of Civil and Criminal Court Proceedings in the County Court-at-Law II of Webb County, Texas by Electronic Recording, adopted and signed December 29, 2022, effective January 1, 2023, Judge Victor Villarreal — TOPICs reg. doc 621 (registered by Webb County 01/01/2023 as "Local Rules").

County Court at Law No. 2 makes its record by electronic audio or audio-visual recording instead of a stenographic record: designated court recorders keep the system running, log every event and exhibit, file exhibits, preserve and restrict access to the original recording, and certify copies; the reporter's record on appeal is the certified recording plus bound exhibits, filed within fifteen days of perfection; each party files with its brief an appendix transcribing the relevant portions (presumed accurate unless objected to), the appellate court may order supplemental appendices, indigent parties get the transcription at county expense, disputes are settled by review or by the trial court, appendix costs are taxed as costs, and all other procedural rules continue to apply.

Administrative Order 22-1229-2, First Order on Rules Governing Court Hearing Participation by Video Conference in the County Court-at-Law II of Webb County, Texas, adopted and signed December 29, 2022, effective January 1, 2023, Judge Victor Villarreal — TOPICs reg. doc 622 (registered by Webb County 01/01/2023 as "Local Rules").

County Court at Law No. 2 allows, but does not require, participation in any hearing by video conference: participants must appear on camera (audio-only appearances are disallowed), counsel must prepare clients and witnesses on the technology or risk waiving their appearances, no one may drive while a case is heard, remote witnesses testify on camera after disclosing who is present and without communicating during testimony, all exhibits are uploaded to Thomson Reuters Case Center before the proceeding, Zoom participants register on Z-connect and log in ten minutes early, the public watches in person or on YouTube, cases are called in-person appearances first, jury trials are in person unless all parties consent in writing, and no one but the court reporter or recorder may record.

Administrative Order 24-0807-01, Local Rules and Continuance Policy, Webb County Court-at-Law II, adopted August 1, 2024, signed and effective August 7, 2024, Judge Victor Villarreal — TOPICs reg. doc 2024 (registered by Webb County 08/07/2024 as "Webb County Court-at-Law II Local Rules and Continuance Policy").

Ten local rules of conduct for County Court at Law No. 2 (read your work critically, cooperate, confer before arguing, work toward final disposition, agreements do not bind the court, virtual appearances are actual appearances, argue to not with the court, closing arguments recite the elements and evidence, requests for relief must be reasonable and supported, court personnel are the court) with a continuance policy: written requests at least 48 hours out, a stated order of preference from agreed written motions down to oral in-court requests, proposed orders with findings, advisories on conflicting settings 48 hours out, continuances generally granted only for lack of service, a first setting or counsel's first appearance (counsel appearing after the second final setting takes the case as is), a fifth dismissal setting after four final settings, complex-case findings under Rule of Judicial Administration 6.1, and jury requests made after pre-trial deemed untimely.

Jury Selection Plan, Webb County, signed July 2, 2025 by District Judges Joe Lopez (49th), Monica Z. Notzon (111th), Beckie Palomo (341st) and David E. Garcia (406th); approved and adopted by the Commissioners Court of Webb County effective July 2, 2025 and recorded July 14, 2025 (County Judge Tano E. Tijerina and Commissioners Gonzalez, Tijerina, Galo and Jaime; attested by County Clerk Margie Ibarra) — posted by Webb County (www.webbcountytx.gov, Jury Duty page) as "Jury Plan".

The district judges' 2025 jury plan under Government Code Chapter 62, superseding the 2020 emergency plan: names drawn from the voter registration and DPS license/ID lists (plus volunteers), excluding the age, impairment, non-citizen and felony registers; random electronic selection with the District Clerk in charge; mailed qualification questionnaires and pre-qualified jurors summoned electronically for any court on the judges' instructions and serving interchangeably; an SMS privacy notice; jurors may respond by e-mail, phone or in person; supplemental panels; excuses heard by the court or its designee (the District Clerk and court administrators) except in capital cases, with no economic excuse unless the parties agree or the presiding judge finds good cause; one postponement within six months; annual reconstitution of the list (never beyond two years); and remote participation authorized.

Local Rule/Policy for District Courts on Appointment of Sign Language Interpreters in Criminal Cases, District Courts of Webb County, signed and effective March 19, 2014 by Judges Oscar J. Hale, Jr. (406th, Local Administrative Judge), Jose A. Lopez (49th), Monica Z. Notzon (111th) and Beckie Palomo (341st), attested by County Clerk Margie Ramirez Ibarra — posted by Webb County (www.webbcountytx.gov, Local Rules page) as "Local Rule - Sign Language Interpreters in Criminal".

Counsel for a hearing-impaired criminal defendant raises the disability by written motion or on the record, whereupon the judge appoints a certified American Sign Language interpreter (video or other interpretation services are permitted if they let the defendant, counsel and court communicate fully); counsel must give notice by motion or on the record whenever interpreter services will be needed for any setting, and the court schedules settings for when an interpreter is available; a probation officer must tell the court in writing if a hearing impairment affects compliance with probation, and the court holds a hearing to modify conditions or provide alternatives.

Order for Application for and Refusal of Title IV-D Child Support Services, In the District Courts of Webb County, Texas, signed April 6, 2006 by Judges Elma Teresa Salinas Ender (341st, Local Administrative Judge), Manuel R. Flores (49th), Raul Vasquez (111th) and Oscar J. Hale, Jr. (406th), with Presiding Judge David Peeples' certificate of approval dated May 17, 2006 and the attached Proposed Local Rule 4.15 — TOPICs reg. doc 1062 (registered by Webb County 01/12/2023 as "Order for Application for and Refusal of Title IV-D Child Support Services").

Every final order of the Webb County district courts that first orders a party to pay child support is deemed an application for Title IV-D child support services from the Office of the Attorney General under Family Code Chapter 231; an obligee entitled to services may decline them by filing a written Refusal of IV-D Child Support Services with the Attorney General, without prejudice to a later written application.

Resolution of the Administrative Board of District Judges of Webb County, adopted October 7, 2015 in Laredo, signed by Judges Beckie Palomo (341st, Local Administrative Judge), Jose "Joe" Lopez (49th), Monica Z. Notzon (111th) and Oscar J. Hale, Jr. (406th) — TOPICs reg. doc 1063 (registered by Webb County 01/12/2023 as "Resolution").

Petitions for expunction, for an order of non-disclosure and to seal a case are excepted from the requirement that attorneys file civil cases electronically; whether filed pro se or by counsel, they may be filed in person, by hand and on paper.

Standing Discovery Order, 49th District Court of Webb County, Texas, Judge Joe Lopez, Judge Presiding, 49th District Court, Webb and Zapata County (per-case form order; undated) — posted by Webb County (www.webbcountytx.gov, Download Center) as "Criminal Standing Discovery Order - Webb".

The 49th District Court's per-case criminal discovery order for Webb County: fifteen working days before trial the State furnishes its witness list, the defendant's statements and recordings, and permits inspection and copying of seized items, physical evidence, exhibits, demonstrative aids, psychiatric and medical reports, business and government records, warrants and affidavits, lab and scientific results and lineups; discloses deals with cooperating witnesses, the defendant's NCIC/TCIC and county arrest record, Brady material, impeaching convictions and extraneous conduct, and transcribes grand jury testimony; both sides disclose expert witnesses twenty working days before trial; work product and witness statements are excluded until tendered at trial; compliance occurs in the State's presence at defense cost, both sides have a continuing duty to disclose, and further discovery requires a written motion under Art. 28.01.

The Local Rules of the Courts of Webb County Texas (49th, 111th, 341st and 406th Judicial District Courts, Webb County Courts at Law Nos. 1 and 2), adopted September 2010, revisions approved September 25, 2018, effective as revised June 5, 2019; ordered and signed February 2025 by Judges Jose A. Lopez (49th, Local Administrative Judge for District Courts), David E. Garcia (406th), Rebecca Palomo (341st), Hugo Martinez (County Court at Law No. 1, Local Administrative Judge), Monica Notzon (111th) and Victor Villarreal (County Court at Law No. 2); filed with the District Clerk March 5, 2025 (Vol. 1, Pg. 113-161) — TOPICs reg. doc 2346 (registered by Webb County 03/21/2025 as "The Local Rules of the Courts of Webb County Texas").

The joint local rules of Webb County's four district courts and two county courts at law: time standards, dead weeks and 24-month calendars, the local administrative judge and the clerks' monthly reports; civil filing by random central assignment, the clerks' electronic-transmission procedure, transfers and bench exchange and signature of orders when the presiding judge is unavailable, walk-in uncontested matters on 24 hours' notice, trial settings only by pre-trial guideline order, jury fee 30 days out, announcements, dead weeks, intra-county conflict priorities, preferential settings, no agreed resets without court approval and no continuance after the Thursday before jury selection, dismissal and suspense dockets, certificates of conference in prescribed forms with sanctions, fiats with three proposed dates, motion days, ex parte certificates, attorney authority at conferences, discovery cut-off 30 days before trial, severances, continuances, default and summary judgments, complex-case designation, certificates of progress, joint final pre-trial reports, exhibits and deposition designations, settlements, central jury selection, charges at 8:15 a.m., orders within 14 days; family time standards, the December 2009 standing order, disposition proposals, financial disclosure, child-support and IV-D provisions, standard possession, inventories 30 days before trial, ad litem rotation, mediation; criminal pre-filing documents, the indigent-defense plan, random assignment and re-indictments, the criminal magistrate's powers, arraignment, docket management, pre-trial motion requirements and conference certificates, appearances, bonds, discovery orders, continuances three working days before jury selection, conflicts; central jury management; judicial vacation; attorney appearance, decorum, withdrawal and four weeks' vacation; and adoption, amendment and publication.

The Standards and Procedures for the Appointment of Counsel in Felony and Misdemeanor Criminal Cases for Indigent Defendants, Webb County Board of Judges, revisions effective November 2, 2015 (approved November 10, 2015), ordered and signed February 2025 by Judges Jose A. Lopez (49th, Local District Court Administrative Judge), David E. Garcia (406th), Rebecca Palomo (341st), Hugo Martinez (County Court at Law No. 1, Local Administrative Judge), Monica Notzon (111th) and Victor Villarreal (County Court at Law No. 2); filed with the District Clerk March 5, 2025 (Vol. 1, Pg. 99-112) — TOPICs reg. doc 2345 (registered by Webb County 03/21/2025 as "Standards and Procedures for the Appointment of Counsel in Felony and Misdemeanor Criminal Cases for Indigent Defendants").

Webb County's Fair Defense Act plan, incorporated into the local rules of the district courts and county courts at law: magistration within 48 hours (felony) or 24 hours (misdemeanor) with counsel requests transmitted within 24 hours; the required Article 15.17 advisories; an appointing judge or designee who determines indigence (125% of the federal poverty guidelines, $2,500/$5,000 asset limits, benefit eligibility, custody, or substantial hardship; bail and relatives' resources not considered) and appoints counsel by the end of the next working day; the Public Defender takes 75% of felony and misdemeanor appointments with the rest rotating from Pre-Trial Services' wheel of the next five names; term of appointment through final disposition; annual applications by October 1 with six hours of criminal CLE, murder and capital lists with added qualifications, removal procedures before the board of judges, replacement of counsel, contact visits at the jail, the fee schedule and vouchers within 90 days with excess-fee findings and appeals to the regional presiding judge.

Webb County Juvenile Indigent Defense Plan, revisions effective November 2, 2015, approved by unanimous vote of the Juvenile Board of Judges of Webb County November 10, 2015, signed by Judge Hugo Martinez, Juvenile Board Chair (County Court at Law No. 1) — TOPICs reg. doc 1059 (registered by Webb County 01/12/2023 as "Webb County Juvenile Indigent Defense Plan").

Webb County's plan for counsel in juvenile cases: detention hearings by the second working day with the Public Defender appointed for detention hearings (private counsel for co-respondents), counsel within a reasonable time before the first detention hearing and, for children not detained, by the fifth working day after service of the petition, motion to modify or transfer hearing; attorney qualifications (Webb County office, State Bar standing, six hours of juvenile CLE a year or board certification, annual practice-time statements), qualification levels for CINS, TYC-eligible delinquency, determinate-sentencing and certification cases and appeals; rotation from Pre-Trial Services' alphabetical wheel with the Public Defender capped at 75% of appointments; removal grounds and procedures before the Juvenile Board; indigence at 125% of the poverty guidelines with liquid assets under $15,000 or special circumstances; the sworn questionnaire; fee schedules for juvenile misdemeanor/felony and MTMD/certification hearings; and attorney-fee vouchers with 45-day payment, 90-day submission and $100 of investigative expense without prior approval.

Webb County Local Rules of the District Courts and County Courts at Law Concerning the Electronic Filing of Court Documents, adopted August 31, 2005 by the four district judges and two county court at law judges of Webb County and approved (temporarily, pending further orders) by the Supreme Court of Texas in Misc. Docket No. 05-9198, December 7, 2005 — TOPICs reg. doc 1061 (registered by Webb County 01/12/2023 as "Webb County Local Rules of the District Courts and County Courts aw Law concerning the Electronic Filing of Court Documents").

The 2005 e-filing rules of the Webb County district courts and county courts at law, approved by the Supreme Court under Rule 3a: optional electronic filing and service of non-juvenile civil documents with the district clerk through an electronic filing service provider and TexasOnline (a court may order it for good cause), exclusions for citations, returns, bonds, subpoenas, in camera, sealed and restricted documents, sworn and multi-signature documents filed as scanned images, digital signatures, convenience fees, filing deemed at transmission to the provider (Sunday commencements deemed Monday, tardy receipt within ten days honored), clerk acceptance within one business day, unaltered deadlines, one document per transmission, e-mail addresses on filings, electronic service by agreement or order with three days added, certification of service, electronic orders, free public viewing, and disputes decided by the assigned court.

Webb County Sign Language Interpreter Policy and Procedures for Hearing Impaired Individuals in Civil Judicial Proceedings, signed and effective June 4, 2014 by Judges Oscar J. Hale, Jr. (406th, Local Administrative Judge), Jose A. Lopez (49th), Monica Z. Notzon (111th) and Beckie Palomo (341st), attested by County Clerk Margie Ramirez Ibarra — posted by Webb County (www.webbcountytx.gov, Local Rules page).

In civil proceedings in every Webb County court a hearing-impaired party or witness (or counsel) requests a sign-language interpreter or other auxiliary aid as early as possible by written motion or on the record, and the judge must then provide one; the court gives primary consideration to the person's choice of aid unless an equally effective alternative exists or the choice would fundamentally alter the proceeding or impose an undue burden; the clerk or a designated court employee secures certified or otherwise qualified interpreters (live or video remote interpreting, the latter to be highly considered for hearings though not always appropriate for jury trials) and keeps a roster; and payment comes from the district or county courts' judicial general accounts of the county budget.

Webb County Standing Orders — Children, Property, and Conduct of the Parties, effective August 22, 2018, signed by Judges Jose A. Lopez (49th, Local District Court Administrative Judge), Rebecca Palomo (341st), Monica Notzon (111th), David E. Garcia (406th), Hugo Martinez (County Court at Law No. 1, Local Administrative Judge) and Victor Villarreal (County Court at Law No. 2); filed with the Webb County District Clerk March 5, 2025 (Vol. 1, Pg. 94-98) — TOPICs reg. doc 2347 (registered by Webb County 03/21/2025 as "Webb County Standing Orders").

The mutual standing order attached to every divorce and suit affecting the parent-child relationship filed in Webb County: no removing, disrupting, hiding or disturbing the children; no abusive, threatening or harassing communications or mail diversion; in a divorce, no dissipation, concealment, encumbrance, debt, withdrawals, retirement borrowing, forged endorsements, credit-card cancellations, taking the other's vehicle, changing tax withholding or cutting utilities, no destruction or falsification of records including electronic data, and no insurance changes, with express authorization for ordinary business, attorney's fees, living expenses and authorized withdrawals; the parties bring pay stubs, two years of W-2s and tax returns to the initial hearing; the order is served with the petition, operates as a fourteen-day temporary restraining order and then as a temporary injunction until final order unless contested, yields to protective orders, encourages mediation and does not bar motions for additional relief.

What to Do and How to Behave in Court, Webb County Self-Represented Litigants – Family Law page (www.webbcountytx.gov), posted as "How to Conduct Yourself in Family Court" (undated).

The county's courtroom-conduct sheet for self-represented family-law litigants: clean, modest clothing (no shorts, t-shirts, work-out clothes, sandals, sunglasses or hats), phones and tablets off, no food, drink or gum, speak clearly and verbally (no nodding), never interrupt, address the judge as Your Honor and others as Mr., Mrs. or Ms., and do not bring children to court.

Procedures for Attorney Fee Appeals in the Fourth Administrative Judicial Region, paragraphs (1)–(8), signed January 17, 2017 by Presiding Judge David Peeples (Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 26.05(c)); posted on the region page https://www.txcourts.gov/4ajr/ (media/1436965).

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.

First (1st) Court of Appeals, 2. Transfers of Cases Between First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals from Multi-District Litigation (TOPICs reg. doc. 1354)

2. Transfers of Cases Between First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals from Multi-District Litigation, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 05/08/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.

Fourteenth (14th) Court of Appeals, 2. Transfers of Cases Between First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals from Multi-District Litigation (TOPICs reg. doc. 1355)

2. Transfers of Cases Between First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals from Multi-District Litigation, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 05/08/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.