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The instructions given to every defendant with appointed counsel in the 443rd's felony cases (at appointment or first announcement, per the court's rules): repayment exposure for appointed-counsel costs (including as a community-supervision condition); how appointment notice flows; the duty to contact the Indigent Defense Coordinator after posting bond; substitution requiring a motion signed by both attorneys before appointed counsel is released; the allocation of decisions (plea, jury waiver, testifying belong to the defendant; motions must be filed by counsel — no pro se filings while represented); scope and confidentiality limits; and the rule that dissatisfaction alone does not entitle a defendant to new counsel.
Texas > Ellis County > 443rd District Court — felony defendants with court-appointed counsel; provided "at the time of appointment or on first announcement, whichever is first" under the court's Instructions, Rules, and Procedures. The document's signature block reads "JUDGE PRESIDING, 443RD DISTRICT COURT" without a printed name.
"The taxpayers of Ellis County are required to pay for services of the attorney appointed to represent you and you may be required to pay Ellis County back for that expense. In the event you receive a suspended sentence and are placed on community supervision, you may be required to pay those expenses back as a condition of supervision." The appointed attorney is notified the day of appointment by email through the automated system; a copy of the appointment order is forwarded to the detention facility. "If you post bond after you have requested an appointment of an attorney, it is your responsibility to contact the Indigent Defense Coordinator at (972) 825-5385 for the name, address and phone number of the attorney appointed to represent you." Hiring chosen counsel after requesting appointment may require repayment. "Your court-appointed attorney will not be released until the Court has received a motion for substitution signed by both attorneys." The defendant decides (1) the plea, (2) whether to waive a jury trial, and (3) whether to testify; "You do not have a legal right to file legal motions or documents in the case. All motions, oral or written, must be prepared and filed by your attorney to be considered by the Court." Appointed counsel represents only the defendant, only on the appointed matter, and cannot discuss privileged information with family members. "The attorney appointed by the Court will not be relieved just because you are dissatisfied. You are not entitled to appointment of different counsel as long as present appointed counsel is providing legally effective representation. The judge is the sole person to make that determination."
Reviewer note: Text-layer document transcribed with key provisions verbatim (sha256 ac5a470d…, 90,715 B), posted in the county's COURT POLICIES vein as "443RD ACCUSED INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPOINTED ATTORNEY." Composed benchpath-ajr1-p6.
G-2026-045-SC required anyone using generative AI to disclose it on the face of the filing and add a scripted certification, on pain of striking, denial of relief or monetary penalties. Rule 2.515(d)(2) and AOSC26-12 preempted it on June 15, 2026, so it could not be enforced — and by August 16, 2026 the Seventh Circuit had removed the order from its published register (no rescission instrument appears there). BenchPath holds the hashed capture as the historical record.
3 verbatim requirements on divisional requirements in ANDREW L. SIEGEL's division.