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A standing order of the Centex Child Protection Court North and the 474th Judicial District Court establishing that DFPS-case proceedings are conducted in person (effective August 12, 2025) with enumerated categories of individual remote Zoom appearances allowed with or without prior approval.
Applies to the method of hearings in DFPS/CPS cases before the 474th District Court and the Centex Child Protection Court North in McLennan County. Procedural information only; not legal advice.
Second Amended Standing Order — Method of Hearings and Requests for Settings in Cases Filed by DFPS, issued by the Centex Child Protection Court North and the 474th Judicial District Court following updates to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the termination of the emergency-order provisions by the Texas Supreme Court. Effective August 12, 2025, all trials, hearings and proceedings in the Centex Child Protection Court North are conducted in person unless the court has previously granted permission for the entire proceeding to be conducted remotely via Zoom. Individual remote appearances via Zoom during the live proceeding may be granted for good cause, and absent a contrary order are authorized without prior approval for: (1) any current placement for the children who is not a party; (2) any expert witness; (3) any witness residing outside McLennan County; (4) any parent or other respondent party residing outside McLennan and contiguous counties; (5) any attorney, party or witness appearing for an adoption hearing, a hearing to enter an order, or a permanency hearing after final order; and (6) any attorney, party or participant for a hearing in which all matters in controversy have been resolved by a Mediated Settlement Agreement or a Rule 11 agreement.
Second Amended Standing Order — Method of Hearings and Requests for Settings in Cases Filed by DFPS, issued by the Centex Child Protection Court North and the 474th Judicial District Court following updates to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and the termination of the emergency-order provisions by the Texas Supreme Court. Effective August 12, 2025, all trials, hearings and proceedings in the Ce
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-06 from the TOPICs custody scan (text layer read). Bound to the McLennan County 474th District Court (family).
1 verbatim requirement published by Palm Beach Division FC on remote appearance policy.
Judge Hooi does not usually allow hybrid hearings (one side in person, one virtual); if both sides prefer, everyone may appear in person instead; emergencies route through the clerk to a judge-entered handling order.