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The Orange County standing order establishing the confidentiality of court records in suits brought by the Department of Family and Protective Services, restricting public access to child-welfare case records consistent with the Family Code and CAPTA.
Texas > Orange County > courts hearing DFPS cases.
[File stamp: FILED, ANNE REED, DISTRICT CLERK, ORANGE COUNTY, TEXAS, 8/6/2025 10:00 AM, with the clerk's signature] IN THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW ORANGE COUNTY, TEXAS STANDING ORDER ESTABLISHING CONFIDENTIALITY OF DFPS COURT RECORDS On the 5th day of August, 2025, the Court considered the following and issues findings and orders related to pleadings, orders, and documents filed in a suit 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 the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) requires that states preserve the confidentiality of all child abuse and neglect reports and records to protect the rights of the child and the child's parents or guardians. 42 U.S.C.A. 5106a(b)(2)(B)(viii). The Court finds that CAPTA provides for the use of discretion in allowing 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). The Court finds that the plain language of Texas Family Code 261.201 deems DFPS records of abuse or neglect to be confidential and not subject to public release absent a court order following an in-camera inspection and a finding of necessity. The Court finds that the affidavits, court reports, and other documents contain sensitive information regarding children who have been or may have been abused or neglected by parties responsible for their care. The Court finds that these affidavits, court reports, and other documents contain sensitive information regarding family members, specifically regarding the parents of the children who may be alleged perpetrators of abuse or neglect. The Court finds that because of the sensitive information contained within these affidavits, court reports, and other documents, it is necessary to restrict access to these pleadings, orders, and documents. The Court finds that restricting access to these affidavits, court reports, and other documents would protect the privacy rights of both children and other family members, including the parents of the children. The Court further finds that it has authority to control access to court file records. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that access to affidavits, court reports, and other documents filed in a suit brought by DFPS pursuant to Chapters 261, 262, and 264 of the Texas Family Code are CONFIDENTIAL and shall be maintained by the District Clerk of Orange County as such. The Clerk of the Court shall allow access to these pleadings, orders, and documents to the court, an associate judge, DFPS employees, employees of a Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) acting as an authorized agent of DFPS, a party, a party's attorney, any attorney ad litem or guardian ad litem for the child, and the Office of the Attorney General. Any other person or entity requesting access to a confidential case file subject to this standing order may submit a request to the Court using the form attached as Exhibit "A". Nothing in this standing order prohibits the use of electronic filing as mandated by TRCP 21(f). The Clerk is directed to: a. Submit a copy of this order to the Office of Court Administration's Local Rules, Forms and Standing Orders website. SIGNED this 5th day of August, 2025. [signature] JUDGE PRESIDING [Running footer: Page 1 of 2 / Page 2 of 2] [Attached: Exhibit A] IN THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW ORANGE COUNTY, TEXAS REQUEST FOR ACCESS TO CONFIDENTIAL DFPS COURT RECORDS 1. CAUSE NUMBER: ______________________ 2. NAME OF REQUESTOR AND AGENCY NAME AS APPLICABLE: ______________________ 3. ADDRESS OF REQEUSTOR: ______________________ 4. EMAIL ADDRESS OF REQUESTOR: ______________________ 5. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF REQUESTOR: ______________________ 6. REASON FOR REQUEST: ______________________ SIGNATURE OF REQUESTOR: ______________________ DATE SIGNED: ______________________ COURT REVIEW OF REQUEST APPROVED: ______ DENIED: ______ SIGNATURE OF COURT: ______________________ DATE SIGNED: ______________________ Exhibit A
[File stamp: FILED, ANNE REED, DISTRICT CLERK, ORANGE COUNTY, TEXAS, 8/6/2025 10:00 AM, with the clerk's signature] IN THE COUNTY COURT AT LAW ORANGE COUNTY, TEXAS STANDING ORDER ESTABLISHING CONFIDENTIALITY OF DFPS COURT RECORDS On the 5th day of August, 2025, the Court considered the following and issues findings and orders related to pleadings, orders, and documents filed in a suit brought by t
Reviewer note: AJR-2 East cohort (Angelina/Orange/Liberty/Chambers/Jasper/Newton). Source instrument read via text/vision lane; classified RULE under the records-vs-rules doctrine. Composed benchpath-ajr2-east. Applicability 2026-09-09 (fix program 2026-09-09, Phase 5, audit M7): specific -> universal — the row binds every court in its state/circuit/county scope and names no court, judge or division. [TRANSCRIBED BY EYE 2026-09-21 (corpus-0920 P12): every page of the registered file (sha256 388540fe2a4c..., 3 page(s), partly scanned file; native pages taken from the text layer, scanned pages typed from the render) read against the rendered file; verbatim, source typos kept, stamps/signatures bracketed; the earlier abstract replaced by the full instrument; confidence high. benchpath-tx-corpus0920-p12-2026-09-21]
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.