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The §74.093 Local Rules of Administration for the District Courts of Collin County (adopted July 7, 2025): TRJA time standards, random assignment with the first-court/same-parties rule and the Notice of Administrative Transfer and Case Transfer policies, continuing-exclusive-jurisdiction precedence, consolidation into the first-filed court, successive weekly terms with 8–5 M–F hours, the two-of-six-ISD inclement-weather closure trigger, settlement weeks under CPRC §155, the §37.003 ad litem/GAL/mediator/guardian lists and §36.004 monthly appointment reporting, and the local administrative district judge's biennial election and duties (with the 417th's judge chairing the Juvenile Board).
Texas > Collin County > all sixteen district courts — the §74.093 rules of administration; companion to the Local Rules of Practice (doc 3015)
[Docusign Envelope ID: C8BA6B52-FC9E-40A8-AE0F-49D68CB3337A, printed at the top of each page] 199th Judicial District, Judge Angela Tucker 219th Judicial District, Judge Jennifer Edgeworth 296th Judicial District, Judge John Roach, Jr. 366th Judicial District, Judge Tom Nowak 380th Judicial District, Judge Benjamin Smith 401st Judicial District, Judge Kim Laseter 416th Judicial District, Judge Andrea Thompson 417th Judicial District, Judge Cynthia Wheless [Seal of the State of Texas] 429th Judicial District, Judge Jill Renfro Willis 468th Judicial District, Judge Lindsey Wynne 469th Judicial District, Judge Piper McCraw 470th Judicial District, Judge Brook Fulks 471st Judicial District, Judge Bryan Gantt 493rd Judicial District, Judge Christine Nowak 494th Judicial District, Judge Kathryn Pruitt LOCAL RULES OF ADMINISTRATION FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS OF COLLIN COUNTY The district judges of Collin County hereby adopt these rules to provide for the efficient management of the district courts and their auxiliary services, the expeditious movement of court caseloads, and the orderly discharge of the district courts’ administrative responsibilities. 1. Authority and Applicability ... 2 2. Time Standards ... 2 3. Docket Management ... 3 3.1. Assignment, Docketing, Transfer, and Hearing of Cases [74.093] ... 3 3.2. Designation of Court Divisions or Branches Responsible for Certain Matters [74.093] ... 4 3.3. Fair and Equitable Division of Caseloads [74.093] ... 4 3.4. Dismissals for Want of Prosecution ... 4 4. Holding Court ... 4 4.1. Terms of Court ... 4 4.2. Holding Court at Least Once a Week in the County [74.093] ... 4 4.3. Calendars ... 4 4.4. Hours of Proceedings ... 4 4.5. Holidays ... 4 4.6. Inclement Weather ... 5 4.7. Pretrial Scheduling Orders [74.094 and Rule 11] ... 5 4.8. Court Reporters and Timely Preparation of Records ... 5 4.9. Emergency and Special Sessions ... 5 4.10. Settlement Weeks ... 5 4.11. Call to Order ... 5 5. Adult and Juvenile Probation Matters ... 6 5.1. Access to Records ... 6 Access to adult and juvenile probation records are governed by Rule 12, Texas Rules of Judicial Administration. Adult and juvenile probation records are not subject to civil subpoena. ... 6 6. Lists Required by Texas Government Code Chapters 36 and 37 ... 6 6.1. Establishment and maintenance of Lists per Section 37.003 ... 6 6.2. Reporting per Chapter 36.004 ... 6 7. Additional Functions ... 6 7.1. Judicial Budget Matters ... 6 7.2. County Auditor Matters ... 6 7.3. County Purchasing Matters ... 6 7.4. Relationship with Other Governmental Bodies, the Public, and News Media ... 7 7.5. Coordinated Response for the Transaction of Essential Judicial Functions in the Event of a Disaster ... 7 8. Local Administrative District Judge ... 7 8.1. Election ... 7 8.2. Duties ... 7 8.3. Other Powers and Duties ... 7 8.4. Juvenile Board ... 7 8.5. Meetings ... 8 8.6. Absence ... 8 8.7. Plans for Judicial Vacation, Sick Leave, Attendance at Educational Programs, and Similar ... 8 9. Procedures for Adoption, Amendment, and Publication of Local Rules ... 8 9.1. By District Judges ... 8 9.2. By Local Administrative District Judge ... 8 9.3. Notice and Publication ... 8 1. Authority and Applicability These rules of administration are promulgated by the judicial district courts in and for Collin County, Texas, pursuant to their inherent power to control and guide the disposition of cases, Sections 24.024 and 74.093, Texas Government Code, and Rules 9(b) and 10, Rules of Judicial Administration, and Rule 8, Amended Rules of Administration and Procedure for the First Administrative Judicial Region. These rules apply to all state district courts with judicial districts composed of Collin County. 2. Time Standards The district judges of Collin County will comply with the time standards for the disposition of cases as set forth in Rule 6.1, Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, and as amended, and the Time Standards for the Disposition of Cases as set forth in Rule 10, Amended Rules of Administration and Procedure for the First Administrative Judicial Region. The district judges of Collin County further will fulfill their duties under Rules 7 and 12, Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, and any subsequent amendments. 3. Docket Management 3.1. Assignment, Docketing, Transfer, and Hearing of Cases [74.093] Random Assignment. Each matter shall be randomly assigned to a district court, except as necessary for the efficient administration of justice as determined by the district judges of Collin County pursuant to the Notice of Administrative Transfer Policy and the Collin County District Court Case Transfer Policy. Any standing policy for administrative transfers based on conflicts will be published on the district courts’ website. Substantially-Similar Cases or Parties. When a case is terminated (by nonsuit, final judgment, or otherwise), a subsequent case involving the same parties or the same-subject matter shall be filed in, or transferred to, the court that first had jurisdiction over the parties or subject-matter. This rule applies to all controversies, including divorce, child support, conservatorship, and all matters incident to them, whether sought by original proceedings or by modification, clarification or enforcement of a former decree, contract, order, final judgment, or settlement agreement. If circumstances governed by this rule are disclosed for the first time once a hearing has commenced, the presiding judge may immediately order the suit transferred to the court in which the prior suit was filed. Continuing, Exclusive Jurisdiction. Provisions of the Texas Family Code regarding continuing, exclusive jurisdiction and transfer shall take precedence over these rules. Consolidation. When a motion to consolidate is granted, the consolidated case will be given the number of the first-filed case and assigned to that court. When consolidation is sought for cases pending in different district courts within Collin County, the party(s) must first seek and obtain transfer of the case(s) to the district court where the earliest-filed case is pending, and then the presiding judge of that court will decide the question of consolidation. Presiding for Another. In all cases where a sitting judge signs an order or hears a proceeding on behalf of another court, the case shall remain in the original court. Improper Court. If a case is pending on the docket of a court by any manner other than as prescribed by these rules, the local administrative district judge may transfer the case to the proper court. Continuing Discretion. The district judges of Collin County retain their inherent power to effectuate any other proper administrative transfer in accordance with the fair and efficient administration of justice. 3.2. Designation of Court Divisions or Branches Responsible for Certain Matters [74.093] The district courts of Collin County are general jurisdiction courts unless jurisdiction is expressly limited by statute. 3.3. Fair and Equitable Division of Caseloads [74.093] The local administrative district judge may adjust case-distribution and/or transfer cases between courts as necessary to ensure a fair and equitable division of cases among the district courts pursuant to the Collin County District Court Case Transfer Policy. 3.4. Dismissals for Want of Prosecution The Collin County district courts will comply with both Rule 165a, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Collin County Local Rules of Practice governing dismissals for want of prosecution. 4. Holding Court 4.1. Terms of Court The district courts of Collin County have successive terms and are in session every week of the year. 4.2. Holding Court at Least Once a Week in the County [74.093] At least one Collin County district court will hold court at least once per week in the county, either in person or remotely, unless the local administrative district judge determines that other intervals will result in more efficient court administration. 4.3. Calendars Each district court shall determine its own annual calendar. 4.4. Hours of Proceedings Court proceedings shall normally be conducted between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. 4.5. Holidays The district courts will observe holidays set and published by the Commissioners Court of Collin County. Judges may be assigned in the manner provided by Chapter 74, Texas Government Code and by Rule 8, Texas Rules of Judicial Administration. 4.6. Inclement Weather The district courts will close due to inclement weather if two of more of the following independent school districts announce concurrent closures: Allen, Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Prosper, and Wylie. 4.7. Pretrial Scheduling Orders [74.094 and Rule 11] Any pre-trial scheduling orders and hearings will conform to Rule 166, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 11, Texas Rules of Judicial Administration, and Chapter 74, Texas Government Code. 4.8. Court Reporters and Timely Preparation of Records In the event of an appeal, the court reporter shall prepare the record according to the designation of record notice, shall file the record on appeal in a sealed envelope as in other appeals, and shall provide a copy thereof to the district clerk, who shall place the copy in the sealed file of the cause. On a separate sheet attached to the sealed envelope, the court reporter shall give notice to the clerk of the court of appeals that the envelope contains the record of a proceeding under Chapter 33, Family Code. 4.9. Emergency and Special Sessions Each court may convene at any time in the discretion of the presiding judge for emergency or special sessions, upon reasonable notice to the parties or attorneys of record. 4.10. Settlement Weeks Pursuant to Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. Section 155.001, each year the Courts at a minimum shall observe a Settlement Week during law week and judicial conference week or during any other two weeks as the Local Administrative Judge may designate. Pursuant to Section 155.002, the Local Administrative Judge shall appoint a committee of attorneys and lay persons to effectuate each Settlement Week. The committee shall include the director or a representative from the Collin County Alternative Dispute Resolution Program (CCAP) and may also include a representative of the Collin County Bar Association (CCBA). The Courts agree to cooperate with CCAP to encourage participation and to develop public awareness of Settlement Weeks. 4.11. Call to Order Each daily session of a district court shall be brought to order by the court officer, and all in attendance shall rise upon the entry and exit of the judge and jury. 5. Adult and Juvenile Probation Matters 5.1. Access to Records Access to adult and juvenile probation records are governed by Rule 12, Texas Rules of Judicial Administration. Adult and juvenile probation records are not subject to civil subpoena. 6. Lists Required by Texas Government Code Chapters 36 and 37 6.1. Establishment and maintenance of Lists per Section 37.003 Each district court shall establish and maintain the following lists: (1) a list of all attorneys who are qualified to serve as an attorney ad litem and who are registered with the court; (2) a list of all attorneys and other persons who are qualified to serve as a guardian ad litem and who are registered with the court; (3) a list of all persons who are registered with the court to serve as a mediator; and (4) a list of all attorneys and private professional guardians who are qualified to serve as a guardian as defined by Section 1002.012, Estates Code, and who are registered with the court. The local administrative district judge, at the request of one or more of the courts the judge serves, shall establish and maintain the lists required above for those courts. 6.2. Reporting per Chapter 36.004 The clerk of each court shall prepare a report on court appointments for an attorney ad litem, guardian ad litem, guardian, mediator, or competency evaluator for a case before the court in the preceding month. For a court that does not make an appointment in the preceding month, the clerk of the court must file a report indicating that no appointment was made by the court in that month. The report on court appointments must include all the information listed in Section 36.004, Government Code. 7. Additional Functions 7.1. Judicial Budget Matters The district courts shall submit budgets to the commissioners court in a timely fashion for all departments within their jurisdiction. 7.2. County Auditor Matters The district judges shall serve on the public auditor board. 7.3. County Purchasing Matters The district judges shall elect, by majority vote, three district judges to serve on the county purchasing board. 7.4. Relationship with Other Governmental Bodies, the Public, and News Media The district courts will make reasonable efforts to inform other governmental bodies and the public, including through the news media, of any emergency changes impacting the hearing of cases or the transacting of court business, including changes due to security concerns, severe weather, utility failures, public health emergencies, or other similar events. 7.5. Coordinated Response for the Transaction of Essential Judicial Functions in the Event of a Disaster The district courts will comply with emergency orders promulgated by the Supreme Court of Texas, taking into consideration any additional guidance published by the Office of Court Administration, in the event of a disaster declaration applicable to all or part of Collin County. To the extent practicable, the district courts will make reasonable efforts to achieve uniformity in the handling of like matters during times of emergency. 8. Local Administrative District Judge 8.1. Election The district judges shall elect, by majority vote, a local administrative district judge. The election shall be held at a meeting of the district judges in December of each odd-numbered year for a two-year term to begin on January 1 of the following year. The local administrative district judge shall not be elected on the basis of rotation or seniority, but may be reelected to any number of successive terms. 8.2. Duties The local administrative judge shall have the duties and responsibilities prescribed in Section 74.092, Texas Government Code, Rule 9, Rules of Judicial Administration, and Rule 7, Amended Rules of Administration and Procedure for the First Administrative Judicial Region. 8.3. Other Powers and Duties The local administrative district judge shall be ex officio the presiding judge of any auxiliary or other courts in which an assigned or visiting judge hears matters for a district court. The local administrative district judge shall also be ex officio the chair of any meetings concerning the county auditor, the chair of any meetings concerning the Community Supervision and Corrections Department, and the direct supervisor of court administration staff. 8.4. Juvenile Board The presiding judge of the 417th Judicial District Court shall be the Chair of the Juvenile Board, which shall be governed by its own rules. 8.5. Meetings The local administrative judge shall call for regular meetings of the district judges. Meetings will normally be held at noon on the first Wednesday of each month, but may be rescheduled if a majority of judges are unable to attend. 8.6. Absence In the event of the absence of the local administrative district judge, the local administrative district judge may designate another district judge to attend to any matters requiring the authority of that office. Otherwise, the district judge who last held the office may exercise that authority. 8.7. Plans for Judicial Vacation, Sick Leave, Attendance at Educational Programs, and Similar Each district judge shall notify the local administrative district judge of planned absences exceeding ten court business days, and provide a copy of any order of assignment for any visiting judge assigned to administer the court's docket during the planned absence. If any district judge is unable to hold court for ten consecutive court business days, the local administrative district judge may request assignment of a visiting judge to administer that court’s docket until the return of the sitting district judge. 9. Procedures for Adoption, Amendment, and Publication of Local Rules 9.1. By District Judges Local Rules of Administration may be adopted or amended by a majority vote of all judges of the district courts. 9.2. By Local Administrative District Judge The local administrative district judge may promulgate Local Rules of Administration if the district judges do not act by majority vote upon the expiration of no less than thirty (30) days following the provision of written notice to the district judges of his or her intent to act. 9.3. Notice and Publication The Rules of Administration for the district courts of Collin County, and any amendments thereto, shall be published and made available to the Bar and the public. APPROVED FOR THE DISTRICT COURTS OF COLLIN COUNTY AND SIGNED ON JUNE 4, 2025. [signature] HON. ANGELA TUCKER, 199TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. JENNIFER EDGEWORTH, 219TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. JOHN R. ROACH, JR., 296TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. TOM NOWAK, 366TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. BENJAMIN SMITH, 380TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. KIM LASETER, 401ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. ANDREA THOMPSON, 416TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. CYNTHIA WHELESS, 417TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. JILL RENFRO WILLIS, 429TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. LINDSEY WYNNE, 468TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. PIPER MCCRAW, 469TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. BROOK FULKS, 470TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. BRYAN GANTT, 471ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. CHRISTINE NOWAK, 493RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT [signature] HON. KATHRYN L. PRUITT, 494TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
[Docusign Envelope ID: C8BA6B52-FC9E-40A8-AE0F-49D68CB3337A, printed at the top of each page] 199th Judicial District, Judge Angela Tucker 219th Judicial District, Judge Jennifer Edgeworth 296th Judicial District, Judge John Roach, Jr. 366th Judicial District, Judge Tom Nowak 380th Judicial District, Judge Benjamin Smith 401st Judicial District, Judge Kim Laseter 416th Judicial District, Judge And
Reviewer note: Operative provisions composed verbatim from the registered document (text layer; DocuSign-executed); the own-site copy (district-courts/documents/lra.pdf) is the same instrument; the named companion policies (Notice of Administrative Transfer Policy = doc 2332, Case Transfer Policy) are composed/recorded separately; custody sha256 in the registry ledger (doc 2441). [TRANSCRIBED BY EYE 2026-09-21 (corpus-0920 P12): every page of the registered file (sha256 c17bee111e86..., 9 page(s), digital layer that failed the machine checks; text taken from the layer and corrected word by word from the page) read against the rendered file; verbatim, source typos kept, stamps/signatures bracketed; the earlier abstract replaced by the full instrument; confidence high. benchpath-tx-corpus0920-p12-2026-09-21]
Division XI: information forms for data processing (Rule 11.2); required action - action taken on all calendared cases and a future date always set (Rule 11.19); and pro tem judges - an attorney named as a plaintiff in a civil or small claims case may not sit as a judge pro-tem during the case or within six months following its resolution, nor one named as a defendant in two or more such cases (Rule 11.22). Rules 11.1, 11.3 to 11.5, 11.7 to 11.18, 11.20 and 11.21 are repealed, and Rule 11.6 (voluntary arbitration; see Local Rule 10.2) was repealed and renumbered.
Duval County's indigent-defense and magistration rules under the Texas Fair Defense Act (S.B. 7): who may be booked into the county jail and on what paper; arrest-case numbering; presentment to a magistrate within 48 hours (art. 15.16); the magistrate's warnings, counsel inquiry, interpreter duty, indigence determination and appointment of counsel within 24 hours of a request; the alternative appointment plan under art. 26.04(g)-(h) with annual applications, seven attorney categories (capital, first and second degree, third degree/state jail/misdemeanor, competency, appeals, post-conviction, extradition), CLE and experience standards, random rotation within each category, written acceptance within 48 hours, first contact by the end of the next working day, replacement and suspension of counsel, fee applications within five days of completing services and the compensation attachment ($500 pleas; $175/$150 hourly; $1,400 per jury-trial day; appellate caps); bail schedules by offense class with a personal bond office (fee $20 or 3%), pre-trial supervision and revocation hearings within two working days; arraignment settings and notice; repeal of conflicting rules.