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The plan adopted under Texas Family Code section 54.012 by the 498th District Court, sitting as the Juvenile Court of Kendall County, and the 451st District Court, sitting as the Alternate Juvenile Court, to conduct detention hearings as remote proceedings: it preserves cross-examination, requires an unobstructed camera view of any testifying party or witness consistent with confrontation requirements, and sets rules for presenting and retaining physical evidence during remote detention hearings. Submitted to the Office of Court Administration February 19, 2026.
Texas > Sixth Administrative Judicial Region > Kendall County > the Juvenile Court of Kendall County (498th District Court) and its Alternate (451st District Court) > juvenile detention hearings conducted as remote proceedings. Registered under Kendall County (TOPICs doc 2827).
Kendall County Juvenile Court Remote Detention Hearing Procedures I. Plan Adoption In accordance with Texas Family Code 54.012, the 498th District Court, sitting as the Juvenile Court of Kendall County and the 451st District Court, sitting as the Alternate Juvenile Court of Kendall County, adopts the following plan to conduct detention hearings as remote proceedings. II. Definitions A. Detention hearings have the same meaning, scope, and requirements listed in Section 54.01 of the Texas Family Code. B. Remote Proceeding means a proceeding in which one or more of the participants, including a judge, party, attorney, witness, court reporter, or other individual, attends the proceeding remotely through the use of technology and the Internet, including through teleconferencing or video conferencing. III. Procedures for Detention Hearings Conducted as a Remote Proceeding A. The court may, in its discretion, proceed with remote detention hearings, pursuant to Section 54.01 (a) of the Texas Family Code. Consistent with constitutional requirements, the court may allow or require any party, attorney, witness, or court reporter, and may allow any party or parties, to participate in a detention hearing as a remote proceeding. B. The parties to the detention hearing shall have the opportunity to cross-examine any witnesses called during the hearing. C. The camera of any party or witness who provides testimony must provide an unobstructed view of the party or witness providing testimony. An unobstructed view, for the purposes of this plan, means that the individual can be clearly seen, identified, and heard without any barrier other than a clean camera lens. Consistent with constitutional confrontation requirements, if a party or witness is not on camera, or cannot be clearly seen, the Court will not allow the person to testify or continue to testify unless the witness complies with the requirement of an unobstructed view. D. Presentation and retention of physical evidence during remote proceeding detention hearings will be conducted as follows: a. Any physical evidence offered at a remote proceeding detention hearing must be displayed so that the court, attorneys, parties, and witness can view it simultaneously. b. When digital copies of physical evidence can be prepared, such as audio/video recordings, documents, or images, the digital copies should be emailed to the applicable parties before the hearing if practicable. c. Physical evidence which cannot be rendered in digital form shall be tendered to the court no later than 3 days after the remote proceeding if the party offering the evidence is not present in the court when it is offered. IV. Submission to Office of Court Administration In accordance with Texas Family Code Section 54.012, this was submitted to the Texas Office of Court Administration (OCA) on 19th of February, 2026 by posting on https://www.txcourts.gov/rules-forms/local-rules-forms-and-standing-orders/. __________________________________ [signature] Judge Katherine McDaniel 498th Judicial District Court __________________________________ [signature] Judge Kirsten Cohoon 451st Judicial District Judge Signed on this 18 of February, 2026 [File stamp: FILED 2026 FEB 19 PM 2:46; Susan Jackson, District Clerk, Kendall County, Texas]
Kendall County Juvenile Court Remote Detention Hearing Procedures I. Plan Adoption In accordance with Texas Family Code 54.012, the 498th District Court, sitting as the Juvenile Court of Kendall County and the 451st District Court, sitting as the Alternate Juvenile Court of Kendall County, adopts the following plan to conduct detention hearings as remote proceedings. II. Definitions A. Detention hearings have the same meaning, scope, and requirements listed in Section 54.01 of the Texas Family C
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-12 (AJR-6 Sixth Region build) from BenchPath custody registered/2827.pdf (application/pdf, 71138 bytes, sha256 8efa2e4a157f6371b71932d9f7a32c92f7ba3a4995adfb234bdef84cba898e96; 2 pages) — the TOPICs-registered document. Transcribed in full from the rendered page; signature and file-stamp blocks shown as [signature]. A Texas Family Code 54.012 remote-proceeding plan for juvenile detention hearings. Signed by Judge Katherine McDaniel (498th) and Judge Kirsten Cohoon (451st).