Loading…
Standing order of the 394th District Court limiting public access to documents filed in suits brought by the Department of Family and Protective Services and stating who may inspect them and how.
Texas > Sixth Administrative Judicial Region > Hudspeth County > 394th District Court.
[Letterhead: seal of the Judicial Branch of Texas; 394th Judicial District Court, The Honorable Roy Ferguson, Judge Presiding] IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF HUDSPETH COUNTY, TEXAS STANDING ORDER REGARDING PUBLIC ACCESS TO DFPS COURT RECORDS This Order limits public access to all documents filed in suits brought by the Department of Family and Protective Services, (hereinafter referred to as "DFPS") pursuant to Chapters 261, 262, and 264 of the Texas Family Code. The Court finds that: 1. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) requires that states preserve the confidentiality of all reports and records of child abuse and neglect, in order to protect the rights of the child and the child’s parents or guardians. 42 U.S.C.A. 5106a(b)(2)(B)(viii). 2. CAPTA provides for the use of discretion regarding public access to court proceedings involving child and abuse cases, provided that the State, “at a minimum, ensure(s) the safety and well-being of the child, parent, and families.” 42 U.S.C.A. 5106a(b)(2). 3. Reports of alleged or suspected child abuse and neglect, the identity of any person who makes such report, and documents used or developed in an investigation of such reports (which includes pleadings, orders, reports, DFPS records, and other documents filed in DFPS cases) are confidential and not subject to public inspection or release absent a court order issued after a hearing and an in-camera inspection of the records by the Court. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 261.201. 4. Documents filed in DFPS cases contain sensitive information regarding children who have been or may have been abused or neglected and their family members who may be alleged perpetrators of abuse or neglect. 5. Because of the sensitive information contained within these documents, it is necessary to restrict public access to court records in DFPS cases. 6. Restricting public access to these pleadings, orders, and documents protects the privacy rights of children, parents, and other family members. 7. This Court has the authority to control access to these court records. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that: 1. Public access to pleadings, orders, and documents filed in suits brought by DFPS pursuant to Chapters 261, 262, and 264 of the Texas Family Code is restricted. 2. The District Clerk shall maintain, preserve, and protect court records in these cases. 3. The District Clerk shall prohibit and prevent access to court records in these cases to anyone other than DFPS, the parties, their attorneys, the child’s attorney ad litem, and the guardian ad litem, unless specifically authorized and so ordered by this Court. SIGNED this 13th [typed in the blank] day of May [typed in the blank], 2024. [signature] HON. ROY B. FERGUSON, LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT JUDGE DIRECTIVE TO DISTRICT CLERK The Clerk is directed to immediately: a. File a copy of this order in the administrative records of each district court with jurisdiction over child welfare cases in the County; b. Post a copy of this order in the office of the District Clerk and ensure that each employee of the Clerk’s office has reviewed it; c. Provide a copy of this order to each attorney ad litem for children or parents; and d. Send a copy of this order to the appropriate CASA agency for this Court. SIGNED this 13th [typed in the blank] day of May [typed in the blank], 2024. [signature] HON. ROY B. FERGUSON, LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT JUDGE
[Letterhead: seal of the Judicial Branch of Texas; 394th Judicial District Court, The Honorable Roy Ferguson, Judge Presiding] IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF HUDSPETH COUNTY, TEXAS STANDING ORDER REGARDING PUBLIC ACCESS TO DFPS COURT RECORDS This Order limits public access to all documents filed in suits brought by the Department of Family and Protective Services, (hereinafter referred to as "DFPS'') pu
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-21 (corpus-0920 P9b, registry lane) from the registered file (TOPICs 1919, sha256 c143205630ed..., 2 pages; registered 05/13/2024) - digital text layer reflowed page-aware, cross-checked against a second extractor (0 substantive difference(s)), owner-corpus candidate sentences 100% (2/2) matched, no debris. NOT yet read page by page against the render: confidence medium with an open re-verification task; flip to high when a reviewer has read every page against the PDF. [benchpath-tx-corpus0920-p9b-2026-09-21] [BY-EYE CHECK 2026-09-21 (corpus-0920 P11, registry lane): every page of the registered file (TOPICs 1919, sha256 c143205630ed..., 2 page(s)) read against the rendered PDF; file-stamp, caption and signature-block defects of the text layer corrected from the render; confidence lifted to high. benchpath-tx-corpus0920-p11-2026-09-21]
Standing order of the 109th Judicial District Court for every pending or later-filed case in Andrews, Winkler and Crane Counties: any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in a case must, before using AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, sign and submit the court's certification form stating that all language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative AI were verified as accurate by a human through traditional (non-AI) legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for their or their co-counsel's failure to comply. Effective immediately; in effect until rescinded or replaced.
Standing order of the 109th Judicial District Court for every pending or later-filed case in Andrews, Winkler and Crane Counties: any attorney or self-represented litigant who uses any form of artificial intelligence for legal research or drafting in a case must, before using AI-generated information in a court submission or proceeding, sign and submit the court's certification form stating that all language, quotations, sources, citations, arguments and legal analysis created or contributed to by generative AI were verified as accurate by a human through traditional (non-AI) legal sources, and acknowledging responsibility and potential sanctions for their or their co-counsel's failure to comply. Effective immediately; in effect until rescinded or replaced.