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Counsel for a hearing-impaired criminal defendant raises the disability by written motion or on the record, whereupon the judge appoints a certified American Sign Language interpreter (video or other interpretation services are permitted if they let the defendant, counsel and court communicate fully); counsel must give notice by motion or on the record whenever interpreter services will be needed for any setting, and the court schedules settings for when an interpreter is available; a probation officer must tell the court in writing if a hearing impairment affects compliance with probation, and the court holds a hearing to modify conditions or provide alternatives.
Applies to criminal cases with a hearing-impaired defendant in the 49th, 111th, 341st and 406th District Courts of Webb County; the county's separate policy covers civil proceedings. Not registered on TOPICs; posted by Webb County on its District & County Courts Local Rules page (also posted under "Local Rule/Policy for District Courts on Appointment of Sign Language Interpreters in Criminal Cases Adopted by the Board of Judges"). Procedural information only; not legal advice.
LOCAL RULE/POLICY FOR DISTRICT COURTS ON APPOINTMENT OF SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS IN CRIMINAL CASES. An attorney representing a hearing-impaired criminal defendant shall bring his/her client's disability to the attention of the judge by written motion filed with the court or on the record. When the motion is brought to the attention of the court, the judge shall appoint a certified American Sign Language interpreter to act as the interpreter for the criminal defendant. The court may use any alternative to have an interpreter present in the courtroom that otherwise complies with the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of video interpreters or any other interpretation services when they become available in the future, so long as the interpreter is able to fully and capably communicate with the criminal defendant, the attorney for the criminal defendant and the court. In accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure, the criminal defense attorney shall notify the court by written motion or on the record that interpreter services will be needed for any status conference, hearing, or any other judicial proceeding. Upon such motion, the court shall instruct his or her staff to schedule settings as soon as practicable to a date when the interpreter is available. If a criminal defendant is to be placed on probation, the probation officer for the criminal defendant shall notify the court in writing, or on the record, if the criminal defendant's hearing impairment will in any way affect his or her ability to meet all conditions of probation. The probation officer for the criminal defendant shall also inform the court of any available alternative programs that would allow the criminal defendant to participate in all probation programs. Upon said written notice, the court shall conduct a hearing to identify any disability-related issues preventing compliance with the conditions of probation and to include and/or modify conditions to include alternative means of ensuring compliance. Such alternative means may include, but are not limited to, alternative programs or options, or excusing the criminal defendant from particular terms and conditions of probation. Oscar J. Hale, Jr., 406th District Court Judge, Local Administrative Judge; Jose A. Lopez, 49th District Court Judge; Monica Z. Notzon, 111th District Court Judge; Beckie Palomo, 341st District Court Judge. COUNTY OF WEBB. ATTEST: Margie Ramirez Ibarra, Webb County Clerk. SIGNED on, and EFFECTIVE as of, this 19th day of March, 2014. [Certified a true and correct copy by the Webb County Clerk May 1, 2014.]
LOCAL RULE/POLICY FOR DISTRICT COURTS ON APPOINTMENT OF SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS IN CRIMINAL CASES. An attorney representing a hearing-impaired criminal defendant shall bring his/her client's disability to the attention of the judge by written motion filed with the court or on the record. When the motion is brought to the attention of the court, the judge shall appoint a certified American Sign
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-09-07 from BenchPath's own-site custody copy (three image-only pages read in full through the vision lane). Four signers, one of whom (Judge Hale) has left the 406th, so no judge join. The same file (identical sha256) is posted twice on the county site under two titles.
Division XI: information forms for data processing (Rule 11.2); required action - action taken on all calendared cases and a future date always set (Rule 11.19); and pro tem judges - an attorney named as a plaintiff in a civil or small claims case may not sit as a judge pro-tem during the case or within six months following its resolution, nor one named as a defendant in two or more such cases (Rule 11.22). Rules 11.1, 11.3 to 11.5, 11.7 to 11.18, 11.20 and 11.21 are repealed, and Rule 11.6 (voluntary arbitration; see Local Rule 10.2) was repealed and renumbered.
Duval County's indigent-defense and magistration rules under the Texas Fair Defense Act (S.B. 7): who may be booked into the county jail and on what paper; arrest-case numbering; presentment to a magistrate within 48 hours (art. 15.16); the magistrate's warnings, counsel inquiry, interpreter duty, indigence determination and appointment of counsel within 24 hours of a request; the alternative appointment plan under art. 26.04(g)-(h) with annual applications, seven attorney categories (capital, first and second degree, third degree/state jail/misdemeanor, competency, appeals, post-conviction, extradition), CLE and experience standards, random rotation within each category, written acceptance within 48 hours, first contact by the end of the next working day, replacement and suspension of counsel, fee applications within five days of completing services and the compensation attachment ($500 pleas; $175/$150 hourly; $1,400 per jury-trial day; appellate caps); bail schedules by offense class with a personal bond office (fee $20 or 3%), pre-trial supervision and revocation hearings within two working days; arraignment settings and notice; repeal of conflicting rules.