Loading…
The unanimous Courthouse Policies Order of the District and Statutory County Court judges for the Russell Steindam Courthouse (July 9, 2025): courtroom demeanor for all cases (silence, no signals of approval/disapproval, silenced devices, no immature children, no food/drink/gum, dress code, no signs/banners, no juror contact), the photography-and-recording prohibition (personal cell phones and computers excepted from the device ban but recording of individuals with matters before the courts barred without approval; absolute juror, minor, and court-staff protections; no recording of attorney conferences), the prohibited-weapons regime (no firearms, knives, chemical agents, Tasers, or batons — applying even to off-duty officers on personal business, who secure weapons at the security desk), and sanctions.
Texas > Collin County > the District Courts and Statutory County Courts (county courts at law and probate court) sitting in the Russell Steindam Courthouse — the unanimous courthouse-wide decorum, recording, and security order
COURTROOM DEMEANOR (I): "the atmosphere in the courtroom must be quiet, calm, and deliberative"; persons remain silent — "Talking, shaking of heads, gestures, or any other signals of approval or disapproval of the proceedings are prohibited"; no distractions from devices/books/papers, all electronic devices silenced, no voice calls; "Children not mature enough to maintain proper decorum are not permitted in the courtrooms" absent a presiding-judge exception; "There will be no drinks, snacks, or chewing gum in courtrooms"; appropriate attire is required — "no shorts, tank tops, or flip flops," nor obscene, revealing, derogatory, or outcome-advocating clothing; no signs or banners; any attempt to communicate with or influence a juror before final judgment may be investigated, cited, or punished as criminal contempt. PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDING (II): to protect privacy, one official record, and safety, "recording and photography of individuals with matters before the Courts is prohibited without prior approval"; devices capable of photography or recording (personal cell phones and personal computers excepted) are prohibited inside the courthouse; media requests go to the presiding judicial officer per each court's media policy; "At no time shall a potential juror, juror, or alternate be photographed, recorded, or filmed," with influence/intimidation/harassment of jurors on or off grounds sanctionable; "At no time shall a minor witness or an accompanying minor… be photographed"; court staff (judge, bailiff, deputies, reporter, coordinator) are not recorded without approval; permitted recording is limited to public proceedings, never of attorney-client or counsel conferences. PROHIBITED ITEMS (III): "No firearms, knives, chemical agents (including pepper spray), Tasers, batons, or any other item that could be used as a weapon shall be brought into any courthouse" except as the order provides or as necessary for proceedings; the ban applies to everyone, including parties, attorneys, and law-enforcement officers present "for personal business and not acting in an official agency capacity" (personal business includes a personal legal matter, accompanying a friend or family member, or observing unrelated proceedings); officers appearing in an official capacity whose duties reasonably require a weapon may carry consistent with agency policy; anyone barred from carrying — including off-duty officers on personal business — secures the weapon at the security desk. SANCTIONS (IV): violations are subject to the sanctions the order provides for the due and proper administration of justice.
Reviewer note: Operative provisions composed verbatim from the registered document (text layer, 6 pp); signed by the full district + statutory-county bench (signature block matches the OCA roster); custody sha256 in the registry ledger (doc 2446).
Tenth (10th) Court of Appeals — Standing Order No. 1, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/01/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.
Tenth (10th) Court of Appeals — Standing Order No. 2, as registered in the statewide TOPICs local-rules registry (posted 01/01/2023). The operative requirements are quoted verbatim; the registered document is the controlling text.