371st District Court (Tarrant County) — Rules of Conduct for… — TX · BenchPath

371st District Court (Tarrant County) — Rules of Conduct for Counsel While in Trial (objections, language, in-custody clothing, cause challenges developed in voir dire, bench conferences)

High confidence· verified September 6, 2026Judge Preferences371st District Court — Rules of Conduct for Counsel While in Trial (page last modified May 14, 2015), Tarrant County court web page

Summary

The 371st District Court's trial-conduct rules as posted on its court page (page last modified May 14, 2015): be on time, brief legal objections, stand to object, no responding to objections without leave, no talking over others, no racist, sexist, obscene or profane language except when quoting the facts; bring appropriate clothing for in-custody clients to the bailiff before trial; any basis for a challenge for cause must be completely developed during voir dire of the panel; witnesses present, ready and dressed appropriately; no bench conferences except in extraordinary circumstances; no pointing firearms at anyone in the courtroom; ask permission to approach a witness or the court reporter.

Applies to

Texas > Tarrant County > 371st District Court (felony) — trial counsel for the State and the defense. The page dates from 2015 and predates the current judge (Ryan Warner Hill per OCA); it remains the court's posted trial-conduct page.

Requirement

"General — Be on time for court. Make brief objections on legal grounds. Stand to object or to address the Court. Do not respond to opposing counsel's objection, unless you first ask leave of the Court to do so or the Court asks you to do so. Do not talk at the same time that opposing counsel, a witness, or the Court is talking. Do not use racist, sexist, obscene, or profane language in court unless eliciting or quoting from facts in the case. Your Client — If your client is in custody at the time of trial, bring appropriate clothes for him to wear to the courtroom, and give them to the bailiff before the trial. Voir Dire — Any basis form for cause must be completely developed during voir dire of the panel. Testimony — Have your witnesses in attendance at the court and ready to testify when needed. Have your witnesses dress appropriately for court. Do not request a bench conference except under extraordinary circumstances. Do not point firearms, loaded or unloaded, in the direction of jurors, witnesses, or any other persons in the courtroom. Ask permission to approach a witness on the stand. Ask permission to approach the court reporter to use an exhibit." (Page last modified May 14, 2015.)

Source of truth

"General — Be on time for court. Make brief objections on legal grounds. Stand to object or to address the Court. Do not respond to opposing counsel's objection, unless you first ask leave of the Court to do so or the Court asks you to do so. Do not talk at the same time that opposing counsel, a witness, or the Court is talking. Do not use racist, sexist, obscene, or profane language in court unle

Official source: Tarrant County Criminal District (Felony) Courts — tarrantcountytx.gov (county site tree)
Source health: Healthy · checked October 6, 2026
Effective date: —
Last verified: September 6, 2026benchpath-tx-ajr8-tarrant-ownsite-2026-09-06

Reviewer note: Own-site HTML page read in full 2026-09-06 from custody; quoted verbatim ('basis form for cause' as printed). Court-scoped, no judge join (2015 page; the companion 'Court Rules and Procedures' page names a predecessor judge and is recorded as stale). Composed benchpath-ajr8-tarrant (own-site lane).