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The county-wide Court Rules of Administration adopted by unanimous vote of the Ellis County district and statutory county court judges (signed Oct. 7, 2025; effective Dec. 1, 2025; superseding the Nov. 15, 2022 edition): the complete docket-assignment map for the 40th, 378th, 443rd, and 504th District Courts and County Courts at Law Nos. 1–3 — which court takes civil, family, juvenile, felony, misdemeanor, probate, mental-health, appeal, occupational-license, expunction, and warrant work — plus the bench-exchange, transfer, and recusal mechanics that route Motions to Recuse to the Presiding Judge of the First Administrative Judicial Region, and the rule that all family-law and juvenile cases are filed with the District Clerk.
Texas > Ellis County > the 40th, 378th, 443rd, and 504th District Courts and County Courts at Law Nos. 1–3 (the constitutional County Court and JP courts are not signatories; JP/municipal appeals routing is covered by the CCL sections). Signed Oct. 7, 2025 by Judges Bob Carroll (40th), William Wallace (378th), Grace Pandithurai (443rd), Jim Chapman (CCL 1), Gene Calvert (CCL 2), and Joe Gallo (CCL 3); the 504th's signature block reads "Position Vacant" (Judge Greg Wilhelm took the bench after signing), and Judge Calvert's signature carries a handwritten "#OBJECTION TO II.e" (the 378th associate-judge provision).
[Stamp: ORIGINAL] [File stamp: FILED, OCT 07 2025, COUNTY CLERK, ELLIS COUNTY, TEXAS] [File stamp: FILED FOR RECORD, OCT 07 2025, MELANIE REED, DISTRICT CLERK, ELLIS COUNTY, TEXAS] [Letterhead, with the seal of the County of Ellis, State of Texas:] 40TH DISTRICT COURT 378TH DISTRICT COURT 443RD DISTRICT COURT 504TH DISTRICT COURT ELLIS COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 1 ELLIS COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 2 ELLIS COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 3 ELLIS COUNTY COURTS BUILDING, 109 S. JACKSON, WAXAHACHIE, TX 75165 COURT RULES OF ADMINISTRATION FOR ELLIS COUNTY, TEXAS Effective December 1, 2025 The District Court Judges and the Statutory County Court Judges of Ellis County, Texas have adopted by unanimous vote the following local court rules of administration to become effective December 1, 2025 (“Local Rules”), which shall supersede any previous local rules including the Court Rules of Administration dated November 15, 2022. The District Court Judges and the Statutory County Courts of Ellis County shall always retain and possess the full jurisdiction bestowed upon them by Texas law, notwithstanding the Local Rules. In accordance with the statutes of the State of Texas, where two or more courts have concurrent jurisdiction, by mutual consent the judges of the courts may: (i) exchange cases and benches without the necessity of a transfer order for purposes of providing prompt disposition of cases and accommodation to the parties, bench, and bar; (ii) transfer cases by formal transfer order; and (iii) substitute assignments as allowed by law. These Local Rules have been approved in order to: (i) provide for the assignment, processing, and transfer of all court cases and legal matters subject to the jurisdictional limitations of the District Courts and the Statutory County Courts; (ii) designate primary duties and responsibilities among the Judges for various trial court related matters and certain administrative matters; and (iii) establish the fair and equitable division of caseloads. Accordingly – all cases, legal matters, and certain administrative duties and responsibilities are hereby assigned and docketed, and shall be processed and/or handled as follows: I. 40th DISTRICT COURT a. Civil Lawsuits. All civil cases filed with the Ellis County District Clerk’s Office and not otherwise specifically assigned herein, with such civil matters including civil jury trials, dockets, motions, hearings, rulings, orders, and all other related civil matters; b. Tax Delinquencies. All tax cases involving ad valorem and/or personal property tax delinquencies; c. Asset Seizures. All asset seizures and forfeitures of contraband under Chapter 59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure; d. Judgment Nisi’s. All judgment nisi’s and bail bond collections resulting from felony criminal cases pending in the 443rd District Court and the 504th District Court; e. Bail Bond Board. All civil lawsuits and injunctions involving the Ellis County Bail Bond Board and/or the Board Member(s) of the Ellis County Bail Bond Board acting in such capacity; f. Felony Criminal Cases. Only those cases involving a conflict of interest on the part of both the 443rd District Judge and the 504th District Judge, or where recusal/disqualification would be appropriate. Additionally, at the discretion of the 40th District Court Judge, to request an assignment and occasionally sit for the 443rd District Court and the 504th District Court on felony criminal trials; g. Adult CSCD. Statutorily required responsibilities and duties concerning the adult Community Supervision and Corrections Department of Ellis County, Texas; h. Local Administrative District Court Judge. If serving as the Local Administrative District Court Judge, all administrative duties and statutory responsibilities associated with such position; i. IDC. When serving as the Local Administrative District Court Judge, handling those administrative responsibilities and duties associated with service on the Indigent Defense Committee of Ellis County, Texas; j. ARB. All civil lawsuits resulting from any trial de novo appeals from the administrative decisions of the Appraisal Review Board; k. Delayed Birth Certificates. Hearings, evidentiary rulings, and court orders pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 192.027, involving the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Bureau of Vital Statistics; l. Sundry Adm. Duties. Sundry/miscellaneous administrative responsibilities and duties including without limitation service on the Board of the Ellis County Women’s Building, appointment of board members to the S.M. Dunlap Library in Italy, Texas, and appointment of board members to the Nicholas P. Sims Library in Waxahachie, Texas¹; m. Audit Department. In conjunction with the other District Court Judges, all statutorily required administrative responsibilities and duties associated with the Ellis County Auditor, the Assistant Ellis County Auditors, and the annual budget of the Ellis County Auditor’s Department; n. Court Reporters. In conjunction with the other District Court Judges, all required statutory duties involving the compensation orders of the official court reporters; and o. Juvenile Board. Statutorily required administrative responsibilities and duties associated with serving as a Board Member on the Ellis County Juvenile Board, along with the other District Court Judges, the Statutory County Court at Law Judges, and the County Judge. ¹ All such duties result from pertinent last wills and testaments, historical precedent, and/or organizational bylaws. II. 378th DISTRICT COURT a. Divorce Cases. All divorce cases including all legal matters relating to child support, conservatorship, possession and access to children, division of assets, community and separate property issues, indebtedness, and protective orders; b. Suits Affecting Parent-Child Relationship. Family law suits affecting the parent-child relationship; c. Adoptions. All adoptions, except those resulting from Child Protective Services cases; d. Name Changes. Name changes for children and adults; e. Associate Judge. Responsible for the appointment and supervision of the Associate Judge, as well as the assignment of all duties, responsibilities, and tasks to this position at the discretion of the 378th District Court Judge; f. Juvenile Cases. Except as otherwise provided for in these Local Rules, all juvenile cases and hearings under the Texas Family Code and other statutes including: (i) detention hearings and cases involving juvenile delinquent conduct; (ii) cases involving determinate sentences; (iii) hearings to certify juveniles as adults; (iv) directive to apprehend matters; and (v) criminal trials involving juveniles who have been certified as adults; g. 72-Hour Waiting Period Exceptions. Family Code Section 2.204 exceptions to the requirement that a marriage ceremony may not take place during the 72-hour period immediately following the issuance of the marriage license (such as good cause waivers of the 72-hour waiting period) shall be handled by the 378th District Court, and all such legal paperwork shall continue to be handled by the Ellis County Clerk²; h. Family Violence PO. All Protective Order cases involving family violence; i. Abortion. Abortion notification cases and emergency proceedings; j. Local Administrative District Court Judge. If serving as the Local Administrative District Court Judge, all administrative duties and statutory responsibilities associated with such position; k. IDC. When serving as the Local Administrative District Court Judge, handling those administrative responsibilities and duties associated with service on the Indigent Defense Committee of Ellis County, Texas; l. Audit Department. In conjunction with the other District Court Judges, all statutorily required administrative responsibilities and duties associated with the Ellis County Auditor, the Assistant Ellis County Auditors, and the annual budget of the Ellis County Auditor’s Department; m. Court Reporters. In conjunction with the other District Court Judges, all required statutory duties involving the compensation orders of the official court reporters; n. Judicial Warrant Officer. Along with the other Judicial Warrant Officers, the review and execution of probable cause affidavits, search warrants, and/or court orders under Chapter 18 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as Chapter 18A (interception of electronic communications)³ and Chapter 18B (installation of tracking devices and access to stored electronic customer data) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, including without limitation so-called cell phone ping-warrants, geo-fencing warrants, and warrants for customer data held by electronic communication service providers – efforts will be undertaken to handle warrants remotely via the internet, cell phone, and/or other electronic devices; o. Juvenile Board. Statutorily required administrative responsibilities and duties associated with serving as a Board Member on the Ellis County Juvenile Board, along with the other District Court Judges, the Statutory County Court at Law Judges, and the County Judge; and p. Veterans Treatment Court. Handling responsibilities associated with this pretrial diversion specialty court including the selection of qualifying individuals and criminal offenses, supervision over bond conditions, monitoring behavioral health treatment, and any related expunctions. ² The Ellis County Clerk is advised that pursuant to the statute, the 72-hour waivers can be handled by a District Court Judge, a County Court at Law Judge, or by the County Judge if need be. ³ Except for those interception orders required to be signed by a Judge from the panel selected by the Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. III. 443rd DISTRICT COURT a. Felony Criminal Cases. Approximately one-half or fifty-percent of all felony criminal cases including criminal jury trials, dockets, motions, pleas, probation revocations, and other case dispositions; ➢ Subject to final approval in the same manner as these Local Rules – the Judges of the 443rd and 504th District Courts shall jointly agree upon and specify in writing to the Ellis County District Clerk how to divide up and equalize all pending and future-filed felony criminal cases to be assigned and heard by the 443rd and 504th District Courts, taking into consideration: (i) the existence of multiple indictments pending against a particular defendant, (ii) future-filed indictments against the same defendant, (iii) the presence of co-defendants alleged to be involved in the same criminal episode, (iv) whether a defendant has a probation revocation pending, (v) future-filed probation revocations, (vi) the familiarity of either Judge with the particular facts of a given case, (vii) whether prior procedural or substantive legal matters of a material nature have been ruled upon by the Judge, (viii) minimizing the ability of non-judicial personnel from determining which court will preside over particular felony criminal cases, (ix) minimizing the opportunity for forum shopping; (x) the existence of judicial recusal or disqualification issues, and (xi) any other factors determined to be relevant in the sole discretion of the Judges. b. Felony Writs. Approximately one-half or fifty-percent of all felony writs and pre-indictment motions; c. Judicial Warrant Officer. The 443rd District Court Judge and the 504th District Court Judge shall serve as the primary Judges for the review and execution of probable cause affidavits, search warrants, and/or court orders under Chapter 18 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as Chapter 18A (interception of electronic communications)⁴ and Chapter 18B (installation of tracking devices and access to stored electronic customer data) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, including without limitation so-called cell phone ping-warrants, geo-fencing warrants, and warrants for customer data held by electronic communication service providers – efforts will be undertaken to handle warrants remotely via the internet, cell phone, and/or other electronic devices; d. Grand Jury. Grand jury organization and supervision for the term beginning in January of each year, and the term beginning in July of each year, including any special grand juries and/or hold-over grand juries; e. Adult CSCD. Statutorily required responsibilities and duties concerning the adult Community Supervision and Corrections Department of Ellis County, Texas; f. Indigent Defense Plan. Administrative responsibilities and duties associated with the local District Court Indigent Defense Plan required by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and the Texas Indigent Defense Commission; g. IDC. Administrative responsibilities and duties associated with service on the Indigent Defense Committee of Ellis County, Texas; h. Expunctions and Non-Disclosures. Handling all expunctions and non-disclosures where jurisdiction is mandatory in the 443rd District Court, as well as those Chapter 55A (Code of Criminal Procedure) expunctions relating to criminal offenses handled in County Court at Law No. 2 and other miscellaneous expunctions; i. ODL’s. Petitions for an occupational driver’s license relating only to those suspensions originating or resulting from a felony criminal offense pending (or previously pending) in the 443rd District Court; j. Local Administrative District Court Judge. If serving as the Local Administrative District Court Judge, all administrative duties and statutory responsibilities associated with such position; k. Audit Department. In conjunction with the other District Court Judges, all statutorily required administrative responsibilities and duties associated with the Ellis County Auditor, the Assistant Ellis County Auditors, and the annual budget of the Ellis County Auditor’s Department; l. Court Reporters. In conjunction with the other District Court Judges, all required statutory duties involving the compensation orders of the official court reporters; m. Bail Bond Board. Administrative responsibilities and duties associated with serving as a Board Member of the Ellis County Bail Bond Board; and n. Juvenile Board. Statutorily required administrative responsibilities and duties associated with serving as a Board Member on the Ellis County Juvenile Board, along with the other District Court Judges, the Statutory County Court at Law Judges, and the County Judge. ⁴ Except for those interception orders required to be signed by a Judge from the panel selected by the Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. IV. 504th DISTRICT COURT a. Felony Criminal Cases. Approximately one-half or fifty-percent of all felony criminal cases including criminal jury trials, dockets, motions, pleas, probation revocations, and other case dispositions; ➢ Subject to final approval in the same manner as these Local Rules – the Judges of the 443rd and 504th District Courts shall jointly agree upon and specify in writing to the Ellis County District Clerk how to divide up and equalize all pending and future-filed felony criminal cases to be assigned and heard by the 443rd and 504th District Courts, taking into consideration: (i) the existence of multiple indictments pending against a particular defendant, (ii) future-filed indictments against the same defendant, (iii) the presence of co-defendants alleged to be involved in the same criminal episode, (iv) whether a defendant has a probation revocation pending, (v) future-filed probation revocations, (vi) the familiarity of either Judge with the particular facts of a given case, (vii) whether prior procedural or substantive legal matters of a material nature have been ruled upon by the Judge, (viii) minimizing the ability of non-judicial personnel from determining which court will preside over particular felony criminal cases, (ix) minimizing the opportunity for forum shopping; (x) the existence of judicial recusal or disqualification issues, and (xi) any other factors determined to be relevant in the sole discretion of the Judges. b. Felony Writs. Approximately one-half or fifty-percent of all felony writs and pre-indictment motions; c. Judicial Warrant Officer. The 504th District Court Judge and the 443rd District Court Judge shall serve as the primary Judges for the review and execution of probable cause affidavits, search warrants, and/or court orders under Chapter 18 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as Chapter 18A (interception of electronic communications)⁵ and Chapter 18B (installation of tracking devices and access to stored electronic customer data) of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, including without limitation so-called cell phone ping-warrants, geo-fencing warrants, and warrants for customer data held by electronic communication service providers – efforts will be undertaken to handle warrants remotely via the internet, cell phone, and/or other electronic devices; d. Grand Jury. Grand jury organization and supervision for the term beginning in January of each year, and the term beginning in July of each year, including any special grand juries and/or hold-over grand juries; e. Adult CSCD. Statutorily required responsibilities and duties concerning the adult Community Supervision and Corrections Department of Ellis County, Texas; f. Indigent Defense Plan. Administrative responsibilities and duties associated with the local District Court Indigent Defense Plan required by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and the Texas Indigent Defense Commission; g. IDC. Administrative responsibilities and duties associated with service on the Indigent Defense Committee of Ellis County, Texas; h. Expunctions and Non-Disclosures. Handling all expunctions and non-disclosures where jurisdiction is mandatory in the 504th District Court, as well as those Chapter 55A (Code of Criminal Procedure) expunctions relating to criminal offenses handled in County Court at Law No. 3 and other miscellaneous expunctions; i. ODL’s. Petitions for an occupational driver’s license relating only to those suspensions originating or resulting from a felony criminal offense pending (or previously pending) in the 504th District Court; j. Local Administrative District Court Judge. If serving as the Local Administrative District Court Judge, all administrative duties and statutory responsibilities associated with such position; k. Audit Department. In conjunction with the other District Court Judges, all statutorily required administrative responsibilities and duties associated with the Ellis County Auditor, the Assistant Ellis County Auditors, and the annual budget of the Ellis County Auditor’s Department; l. Court Reporters. In conjunction with the other District Court Judges, all required statutory duties involving the compensation orders of the official court reporters; m. Bail Bond Board. Administrative responsibilities and duties associated with serving as a Board Member of the Ellis County Bail Bond Board; and n. Juvenile Board. Statutorily required administrative responsibilities and duties associated with serving as a Board Member on the Ellis County Juvenile Board, along with the other District Court Judges, the Statutory County Court at Law Judges, and the County Judge. ⁵ Except for those interception orders required to be signed by a Judge from the panel selected by the Presiding Judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. V. ELLIS COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 1 a. Probate Cases. All probate cases, hearings, will contests, and proceedings, except for those limited prove-up matters specifically referred to County Court at Law No. 2; b. Guardianships. Guardianships over persons and/or estates including the annual review of all guardianship reports; c. Mental Health. Mental health cases and related hearings/proceedings; d. Civil Lawsuits. All civil cases filed with the Ellis County Clerk’s Office and not otherwise specifically assigned herein, with such civil matters including civil jury trials, dockets, motions, hearings, and all other related civil matters; and further noting that the Ellis County Court at Law No. 1 has concurrent jurisdiction with the district courts in civil cases regardless of the amount in controversy; e. Condemnation Cases. Condemnation cases and pre-suit appointment of special commissioner panels; f. CPS. Child Protective Services cases, including all resulting adoptions; g. APS. Adult Protective Services Cases; h. Civil Appeals. Civil Appeals from the Justice of the Peace Courts and the Municipal Courts; i. Local Administrative County Court at Law Judge. If serving as the Local Administrative County Court at Law Judge, all administrative duties and statutory responsibilities associated with such position; j. Juvenile Cases (Limited). During instances of scheduling conflicts – serving as the primary back-up Judge to the Presiding Judge of the 378th District Court and the Associate Judge of the 378th District Court for juvenile detention hearings and agreed dispositions, along with County Court at Law No. 2 and County Court at Law No. 3; and k. Juvenile Board. Statutorily required administrative responsibilities and duties associated with serving as a Board Member on the Ellis County Juvenile Board, along with the other District Court Judges, the Statutory County Court at Law Judges, and the County Judge. VI. ELLIS COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 2 a. Misdemeanor Criminal Cases. Approximately one-half or fifty-percent of all misdemeanor criminal cases including criminal jury trials, dockets, motions, pleas, and other case dispositions; b. Misdemeanor Writs. Approximately one-half or fifty-percent of all misdemeanor writs and related motions; c. Criminal Appeals. Approximately one-half or fifty-percent of all criminal appeals from the Justice of the Peace Courts and the Municipal Courts; d. Adult CSCD. Statutorily required responsibilities and duties concerning the adult Community Supervision and Corrections Department of Ellis County, Texas; e. Indigent Defense Plan. Administrative responsibilities and duties associated with the local County Courts at Law Indigent Defense Plan required by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and the Texas Indigent Defense Commission; f. IDC. Administrative responsibilities and duties associated with service on the Indigent Defense Committee of Ellis County, Texas; g. Petitions and Other. Petitions for Non-Disclosure of Criminal History Information, Interlock Petitions, Judgment Nisi’s, Motions to Go-Off Bond, and Motions to Reinstate Bond; h. ODL’s. Petitions for an occupational driver’s license relating only to those suspensions originating or resulting from a misdemeanor criminal offense, with even numbered cases being handled by County Court at Law No. 2; i. Judicial Warrant Officer. Along with the other Judicial Warrant Officers, review and execution of all probable cause affidavits and search warrants presented by law enforcement pursuant to Chapter 18 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (except those reserved by law for the District Courts), including without limitation traditional drug or contraband warrants, evidentiary search warrants, warrants for business and medical records, so-called cell phone dumps, etc., with back-up responsibilities on juvenile directives to apprehend; j. Local Administrative County Court at Law Judge. If serving as the Local Administrative County Court at Law Judge, all administrative duties and statutory responsibilities associated with such position; k. Probate Prove-ups (Limited). In cases of conflict of interest or where recusal/disqualification would be appropriate – serving as the back-up Judge to County Court at Law No. 1 for probate proceeding prove-up matters only; l. Mental Health (Limited). Serving as back-up Judge only for emergency removals when County Court at Law No. 1 is unavailable; m. Bail Bond Board. Administrative responsibilities and duties associated with serving as a Board Member of the Ellis County Bail Bond Board; n. Juvenile Cases (Limited). During instances of scheduling conflicts – serving as a back-up Judge to the Presiding Judge of the 378th District Court and the Associate Judge of the 378th District Court, and County Court at Law No. 1 for juvenile detention hearings and agreed dispositions, along with County Court at Law No. 3; and o. Juvenile Board. Statutorily required administrative responsibilities and duties associated with serving as a Board Member on the Ellis County Juvenile Board, along with the other District Court Judges, the Statutory County Court at Law Judges, and the County Judge. VII. ELLIS COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 3 a. Misdemeanor Criminal Cases. Approximately one-half or fifty-percent of all misdemeanor criminal cases including criminal jury trials, dockets, motions, pleas, and other case dispositions; b. Misdemeanor Writs. Approximately one-half or fifty-percent of all misdemeanor writs and related motions; c. Criminal Appeals. Approximately one-half or fifty-percent of all criminal appeals from the Justice of the Peace Courts and the Municipal Courts; d. Adult CSCD. Statutorily required responsibilities and duties concerning the adult Community Supervision and Corrections Department of Ellis County, Texas; e. Indigent Defense Plan. Administrative responsibilities and duties associated with the local County Courts at Law Indigent Defense Plan required by the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure and the Texas Indigent Defense Commission; f. IDC. Administrative responsibilities and duties associated with service on the Indigent Defense Committee of Ellis County, Texas; g. Petitions and Other. Petitions for Non-Disclosure of Criminal History Information, Interlock Petitions, Judgment Nisi’s, Motions to Go-Off Bond, and Motions to Reinstate Bond; h. ODL’s. Petitions for an occupational driver’s license relating only to those suspensions originating or resulting from a misdemeanor criminal offense, with odd numbered cases being handled by County Court at Law No. 3; i. Judicial Warrant Officer. Along with the other Judicial Warrant Officers, review and execution of all probable cause affidavits and search warrants presented by law enforcement pursuant to Chapter 18 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure (except those reserved by law for the District Courts), including without limitation traditional drug or contraband warrants, evidentiary search warrants, warrants for business and medical records, so-called cell phone dumps, etc., with back-up responsibilities on juvenile directives to apprehend; j. Local Administrative County Court at Law Judge. If serving as the Local Administrative County Court at Law Judge, all administrative duties and statutory responsibilities associated with such position; k. Juvenile Cases (Limited). During instances of scheduling conflicts – serving as a back-up Judge to the Presiding Judge of the 378th District Court and the Associate Judge of the 378th District Court, and County Court at Law No. 1 for juvenile detention hearings and agreed dispositions, along with County Court at Law No. 2; and l. Juvenile Board. Statutorily required administrative responsibilities and duties associated with serving as a Board Member on the Ellis County Juvenile Board, along with the other District Court Judges, the Statutory County Court at Law Judges, and the County Judge. All family law cases and juvenile cases shall continue to be filed with the Ellis County District Clerk’s Office. In accordance with the standing orders of the First Administrative Judicial Region, where two or more courts have concurrent jurisdiction, the court in which a case is filed may transfer the case to another court within the county and district with the consent of the receiving court when the judge of the transferring court voluntarily recuses and no Motion to Recuse has been filed. In cases where a Motion to Recuse has been filed, the case shall be forwarded to the Presiding Judge of the First Administrative Judicial Region for action. Signed on October 7, 2025. 40th District Court: [signature] Judge Bob Carroll 378th District Court: [signature] Judge William Wallace 443rd District Court: [signature] Judge Grace Pandithurai 504th District Court: [blank signature line] Position Vacant Ellis County Court at Law No. 1: [signature] Judge Jim Chapman Ellis County Court at Law No. 2: [signature] Judge Gene Calvert [handwritten beneath the name: *OBJECTION TO II,e] Ellis County Court at Law No. 3: [signature] Judge Joe Gallo [Each page carries a page number, 1 through 13.]
[Stamp: ORIGINAL] [File stamp: FILED, OCT 07 2025, COUNTY CLERK, ELLIS COUNTY, TEXAS] [File stamp: FILED FOR RECORD, OCT 07 2025, MELANIE REED, DISTRICT CLERK, ELLIS COUNTY, TEXAS] [Letterhead, with the seal of the County of Ellis, State of Texas:] 40TH DISTRICT COURT 378TH DISTRICT COURT 443RD DISTRICT COURT 504TH DISTRICT COURT ELLIS COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 1 ELLIS COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 2 ELLI
Reviewer note: Image-only scan read page-by-page through the vision lane (13 pages); operative provisions quoted verbatim from the rendered pages. Dual custody: the registered TOPICs instrument (sha256 ed25e5117d7c…, 1,351,938 B) and the county's own posting at elliscountytx.gov DocumentCenter/View/3849 (sha256 differs — separate scan of the same signed instrument, anchor "Local Rules Effective December 1, 2025" on the live 40th District Court page). Supersedes TOPICs doc 478 (the Nov. 15, 2022 edition, held as a superseded-edition record) which itself superseded a Jan. 1, 2021 edition. Composed benchpath-ajr1-p6. [TRANSCRIBED BY EYE 2026-09-21 (corpus-0920 P12): every page of the registered file (sha256 ed25e5117d7c..., 13 page(s), image-only scan; the OCR layer used as a typing base 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.