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County Criminal Court No. 8's trial-conduct rules for counsel (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; bring appropriate clothing for in-custody clients; punishment elections and probation applications filed before jury selection only if the jury is to assess punishment; voir dire time announced beforehand; challenges for cause made as they become apparent (State before passing the panel, Defense before concluding), no individual voir dire; witnesses instructed to answer directly, follow the Rule, be present and dressed appropriately; no pointing firearms at anyone in the courtroom; exhibits pre-marked; post-trial juror contact limited to professional conduct with no discussion of matters not in evidence.
Texas > Tarrant County > County Criminal Court No. 8 — trial counsel for the State and the defense.
"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. 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. Jury Selection: Prior to jury selection, the law requires a punishment election and/or application for probation to be filed ONLY if the jury is the selection. The Court is automatically the punishment selection if no election is filed. This Court will announce the time allotted each side for voir dire prior to the commencement of jury selection. … The Court expects a challenge for cause to be made when it is reasonably apparent a challenge is proper. The State should make its challenges before passing the panel to the Defense. The Defense should make its challenges before concluding its voir dire. This Court generally does not permit individual voir dire and expects challenges to be made in the same manner as any other objection, i.e., in front of the panel. … Witnesses: The Court expects each side to instruct their witnesses that when being questioned by opposing counsel they will directly answer the questions asked without elaboration unless opposing counsel asks for elaboration. If the Rule has been invoked, instruct your witnesses accordingly. Have your witnesses in attendance at the court and ready to testify when needed. Have your witnesses dress appropriately for court. Testimony: Do not point firearms, loaded or unloaded, in the direction of jurors, witnesses, or any other persons in the courtroom. If possible, have the court reporter mark exhibits before trial begins or during breaks. Post-Trial Communication With Jurors: … the Court expressly forbids disclosing to the jurors or discussing with the jurors any information relating to the case that was not admitted in [evidence]." (Page last modified May 14, 2015.)
"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. Your Client: If your client is in custody at the time of trial, bring
Reviewer note: Own-site HTML page read in full 2026-09-06 from custody; quoted verbatim; a 2015 page still posted under the court's current menu; court-scoped, no judge join. Composed benchpath-ajr8-tarrant (own-site lane).
1 verbatim requirement on judge preferences.
20 verbatim requirements on judge preferences.