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Audio or video evidence offered at pre-trial or trial must be in admissible form and format when offered (a flash drive is preferred over a DVD); questions of form and format go to the trial judge before the offer and, in jury cases, before jury selection; all objections to redaction of a recording are ruled on before a jury trial begins; every exhibit must be in English or offered with an English translation, and any translation must be disclosed to opposing parties at least 3 days before the offer; admission of non-conforming evidence is in the presiding judge's sole discretion. The judges' September 14, 2022 cover letter paraphrases the order and asks prosecutors to share it with law enforcement.
Applies to cases in the 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts sitting in McMullen County (the courts serve Aransas, Bee, Live Oak, McMullen and San Patricio Counties). Signed by three judges, one of whom (Judge Flanigan, 156th) has left the bench; no judge join. Not registered on TOPICs; posted on the 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts' own website (www.36-156-343districtcourts.org, served on the CIRA platform under www.co.zapata.tx.us/page/districtcourt.*, from which BenchPath's custody copy was fetched). Procedural information only; not legal advice.
MINUTE ORDER RELATING TO ELECTRONIC AUDIO AND/OR VIDEO EVIDENCE. For cases in the 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts: Audio and/or video evidence that a party intends to offer at pre-trial or trial must be in admissible form and format at the time of the offer of said evidence. A flash drive is preferable over a DVD. Questions regarding form and format of said evidence SHALL be made to the trial judge prior to the offer of evidence and MUST be made prior jury selection, if applicable. Additionally, as to not cause unnecessary delay of a trial before a jury, all objections relating to a video/audio recording redaction of shall be ruled on by the presiding judge prior to the commencement of the jury trial. All exhibits shall be in the English language or, if they are not, they shall be offered with an English translation. Any said offer with a translation MUST be disclosed along with the translation to opposing parties at least 3 days prior to the offer of said exhibit with a translation. If the above procedures are not followed the admission of said evidence will be up to the sole discretion of the presiding judge. Dated this the 19th day of August, 2022. Honorable Starr Boldrick Bauer, 36th District Court Judge; Honorable Patrick L. Flanigan, 156th District Court Judge; Honorable Janna K. Whatley, 343rd District Court Judge. COVER LETTER (Janna K. Whatley, District Judge, 343rd Judicial District; Jennifer Surginer, Court Administrator, P.O. Box 700, Sinton, Texas 78387-0700; September 14, 2022). To: Attorneys and Pro Se litigants appearing in the 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts. Re: Minute Order Dated: August 19, 2022 — Flash drive requirement and Spanish Evidence translation required. All, The District Judges of the 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts have signed a Minute Order that relates to the admission of video/audio evidence and evidence originally in Spanish. This Order is attached to this letter. In summary, the Order is paraphrased as follows: 1. Audio/Video evidence is preferred to be offered on Flash drives – as most computers and IT equipment available to our Courts no longer support DVD's nor have a DVD player available; it is the proponents responsibility to ensure a DVD can be played, if not the exhibit may not be allowed in evidence; 2. Objections regarding redaction of audio/video evidence must be ruled on prior to the commencement of a jury trial, otherwise it will be within the discretion of the trial judge whether to allow a trial delay for redactions; 3. All exhibits shall be in English or translated into English. All translations must be disclosed and a copy given to opposing parties at least 3 days prior to the exhibit's anticipated offer. We ask that all prosecutors share this Order with law enforcement to avoid any unnecessary delays. Please contact the District Judges' Office if you have any questions or need some assistance finding a Spanish/English translator, as we have several individuals that have indicated they can assist with translations. This Order will be available on your website (36-156-343districtcourts.org) and at each of the District Clerks' offices. Sincerely, Janna K. Whatley.
MINUTE ORDER RELATING TO ELECTRONIC AUDIO AND/OR VIDEO EVIDENCE. For cases in the 36th, 156th and 343rd District Courts: Audio and/or video evidence that a party intends to offer at pre-trial or trial must be in admissible form and format at the time of the offer of said evidence. A flash drive is preferable over a DVD. Questions regarding form and format of said evidence SHALL be made to the tria
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-08 from BenchPath's own-site custody copy (two image-only pages read through the vision lane and transcribed; the order's own text — "redaction of shall" and "prior jury selection" — is transcribed as written). The same file is posted on three pages of the site (identical sha256). McMullen County edition of a five-county instrument.
1 verbatim requirement on exhibits in BETSY BENSON's division.
4 verbatim requirements on exhibits & evidence.
1 verbatim requirement on exhibits & evidence.