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Order Amending the Process and Procedure for the Docketing and Transfer of Cases to the Felony Associate Judges (October 18, 2022) — posted on the court's own website — the court-procedure tier (standing procedures, policies, and preferences the court itself publishes), distinct from the TOPICs-registered local-rules tier (TRCP 3a registration applies to local rules). Operative requirements quoted verbatim; the posted document is the controlling text.
Texas > Harris County > District Courts Trying Criminal Cases > Felony Associate Judge dockets
HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURTS TRYING CRIMINAL CASES. ORDER AMENDING THE PROCESS AND PROCEDURE FOR THE DOCKETING AND TRANSFER OF CASES TO THE FELONY ASSOCIATE JUDGES. Pursuant to Rule 9(h)(7) of The Local Rules of the District Courts Trying Criminal Cases in Harris County, Texas, the Criteria for Transfer of Cases to Felony Associate Judges is modified as follows: Removal of the per court capacity limits for referrals to the Felony Associate Judges; Implementation of an initial limit of 25 cases total per Associate Judge Docket per day; Allowance for same day referrals of agreed pleas to the Felony Associate Judges; Courts may request an Associate Judge to preside over voir dire selection, as available. These assignments are based on order of request time in the Jury Request System and availability of courtroom space; The Felony Associate Judges may sign warrants, as available; The Felony Associate Judges may work on and hear 11.07 writs and prepare findings of fact from any hearing(s) held; Courts may request an Associate Judge to preside over a home court's docket if that court is in trial. These assignments are based on availability of an Associate Judge, by order of request time in the Jury Request System, and availability of courtroom space. A rotation trial calendar will be maintained to ensure all courts have the opportunity. Adequate notice must be provided. Each matter transferred shall be designated as transferred with an appropriate docket entry and once forms and coding is created, by an associated JWEB entry. Upon completion of each matter transferred, the Associate Judge coordinator shall transfer the matter back to the home court and designate the return with the appropriate docket entry and once forms and coding is created, by an associated JWEB entry. The Harris County District Court Administrator shall ensure that all Felony Associate Judge dockets are randomly created to ensure equalization to achieve balanced dockets and caseloads. The Harris County District Clerk is further ORDERED to file this Order in the Special Minutes of the Court. This Order Amending the Process and Procedure for the Docketing and Transfer of Cases to the Felony Associate Judges amends and supplants the Order signed April 11, 2022 and entitled Criteria for Transfer of Cases to Felony Associate Judges. This Order is effective on the date of signing. Date signed 10-18-2022. Frank Aguilar, Judge, 228th District Court, Chair, Felony Division Associate Judge Standing Committee; Kelli Johnson, Judge, 178th District Court, Administrative Judge of Harris County District Courts Trying Criminal Cases.
Reviewer note: Own-site content fetched by us 2026-08-23 (Phase 5 page-denominator close; hashed custody). Complete document text quoted verbatim (whitespace-normalized); the posted document is the controlling text. Scan (2 pp) transcribed by vision; footer dates the order October 12, 2022 and the signature line October 18, 2022 (both quoted as posted).
9 verbatim requirements from 4th Circuit Administrative Order 1997-10.
6 verbatim requirements from 4th Circuit Administrative Order 1997-13.