Harris County Criminal Courts
RULES OF THE JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURTS OF HARRIS COUNTY DISTRICT COURTS TRYING CRIMINAL CASES (Harris County Criminal Courts)
Adopted by Board of Judges–9/12/96; Approved by Supreme Court–9/13/96 Amended 4/12/07
The rules of the Judicial District Courts of Harris County, District Courts Trying Criminal Cases, as recorded in Volume 1759, Page 537 of the General Minutes of said Courts, read as follows:
Rule 6.10. Grand Jury
Rule 6.11. Filings Return of Indictment
Rule 6.12. Arraignment Initial Appearance
The preliminary initial appearance shall be held in each of the District Courts sitting as a magistrate at 9:00 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Preliminary Initial Appearance Dockets will be conducted by the Presiding Judge on each Saturday, Sunday and official holiday observed by the Court pursuant to procedures adopted by the Board of District Judges Trying Criminal Cases.
The Magistrate shall inform the defendant of the accusation and any affidavits filed therewith, and require the State to establish probable cause for further detention or restraint of the defendant. If the Magistrate does not find that probable cause exists, the Magistrate shall order discharge of the defendant.
If the Magistrate finds probable cause exists, the Magistrate shall inform the defendant of his/her statutory rights as required by Art. 15.17 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure; the Magistrate shall identify the defendant’s counsel and if the defendant is without counsel and is indigent, appoint counsel to represent defendant; and inform the defendant of the defendant’s right to waive indictment as provided in Art. 1.141 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. The Magistrate shall set bail, and if bond has been posted in amount of set bail, order such bond shall continue in effect; if bond in the amount of set bail has not been posted, the Magistrate shall determine whether the defendant is eligible for release on personal recognizance, and commit defendant to custody of the Sheriff subject to defendant’s posting bond in the amount of set bail.
The Magistrate may at that time consider any waiver of statutory rights by the defendant and defendant’s counsel and rule on same or reschedule the case for not to exceed two court days to consider and/or rule on any such waivers.
Should the defendant desire to waive indictment, same may be accomplished at this time.
This hearing will be to determine the attorney of record. The defendant will be formally arraigned, or the defendant may waive formal arraignment. Pleas of guilty will be accepted, or the case will be rescheduled appropriately. The defendant will also have the opportunity to waive the right to a speedy trial at the arraignment setting.
Rule 6.13. Appointment of Counsel
The appointment of counsel for indigent defendants is handled individually in each of the District Courts. The procedure for the appointments should be checked with each District Court Coordinator. The appointments for appeals are made at the time a pauper’s oath has been filed with the District Clerk. (Harris County Criminal Courts)
The Harris County Auditor shall not pay any lawyer for legal services rendered on a case to which the lawyer has been appointed unless, prior to the appointment and the performance of legal services, the lawyer has successfully completed the training program and passed the examination promulgated by the District Courts Trying Criminal Cases and prescribed for the level of case, felony or capital, in which the legal services were rendered.
Rule 6.14. Appearance of
Defendant & Counsel Court Attendance
Defendant and defendant’s attorney must be present during docket call.
Permission for the defendant not to be present must be obtained by the attorney prior to the setting.
Attorney must notify the Judge or Court Coordinator prior to 9:00 a.m. if the attorney anticipates not being present at docket call.
Rule 6.15. Withdrawal or Substitution of Counsel
If, prior to the disposition of a case, an appointed or retained attorney wishes to withdraw pursuant to DR 2-110, Code of Professional Responsibility, Vernon’s Ann. Civ. Stat., Title 14 App., Art. 12, Sec. 8, or for any other reason, the attorney must file a written motion to that effect with the Court. Such motion must be filed at least 15 days prior to a trial setting. If an attorney is retained to replace existing counsel, the attorney must file a motion to substitute counsel, naming both himself and the attorney to be relieved.
A retained attorney of record at the time of trial will be considered the attorney of record in the event of an appeal unless the attorney files a written motion to withdraw when notice of appeal is given.
Rule 6.16. Bond and
Bond Forfeiture
Rule 6.17. Discovery
Rule 6.18. Docket Calls Announcements
Held at 9:00 a.m. unless otherwise directed by the Court.
Attorneys must announce “ready” or “not ready” upon call of trial or motion docket. The Court will not accept an announcement of “hold” by either party. If a case is placed on call, the attorneys must be readily available within one hour after notification from the Court that their case is ready to proceed.
Rule 6.19. Continuance
Resetting Postponement
When a case is to be rescheduled, a reset agreement must be prepared by the attorney seeking the reset and concurred in by opposing counsel. Reset agreement forms may be obtained in the courtroom or Coordinator’s office. Upon completion, the reset agreement must be submitted for approval to the Judge or the Coordinator of the Court in which the case is pending, after which it is filed with the Court Clerk (District Clerk). Future dates must be obtained from the Coordinator or Judge prior to leaving the courtroom.
Off docket resets must be handled in person by the attorney of record. A reset agreement must be prepared by the attorneys and approved by the Judge or Coordinator of the Court where the case is pending.
Rule 6.20. Plea Bargains
Any setting prior to the motion hearings or trial setting shall be for the purpose of pretrial negotiations. Cases should be resolved at the negotiation setting by either an agreement or a plea to the Court without recommendation. Except with permission of the Trial Judge, conferences and negotiations by and between the attorney for the State and the attorney for the defendant while Court is in session will not be permitted.
Rule 6.21. Guilty Plea
Nolo Contendere Open Pleas
Where cases are set for guilty or nolo pleas, all plea papers must be filed prior to the time the case is set for the plea. The assistant district attorney handling the case will prepare the plea papers and submit them to the defense attorney for formal filing with the Court Clerk (District Clerk).
Rule 6.22 . Speedy Trial
Rule 6.23. Motions Pre-Trial Hearlngs Pre-Trial Matters
This setting is for the purpose of hearing all pre-trial motions. All motions must be filed in accordance with the statute, and motions not timely filed may be filed only with permission of the Court. Failure to comply with this rule will result in a trial setting if the case is not otherwise disposed of.
All applications for subpoenas must be filed at least ten days prior to trial. Failure to comply will be cause for the Court to find a failure to exercise due diligence.
Rule 6.24. Settings/Scheduling
Rule 6.25. Order of Trial Preferential Settings Conflicting Engagements
Rule 6.26. Witnesses/Evidence
Rule 6.27. Non-Jury Trials
Rule 6.28. Jury Trials
Rule 6.29. Jury Selection/Voir Dire
Rule 6.30. Probation Applications/ Deferred Adjudications
Rule 6.31. Pre-Sentence Report Court’s Proposed Sentence
Rule 6.32. Judgements/Orders
Rule 6.33. Occupational Driver’s Licenses
The Court in which a defendant has been convicted will maintain continuing jurisdiction for the purpose of Occupational / Restricted Drivers License. Petitioners seeking Occupa-tional / Restricted Drivers License must file a pleading indicating that they have not previously filed for application for the same in any County or District Court of Harris County.
Rule 6.34. Probation Revocations Motions to Adjudicate Habeas Corpus
Where applicant has pending case. (Harris County Criminal Courts)
Application for writ of habeas corpus involving a pending case shall be filed with and heard by the Court in which that case is pending. Either the Judge or Coordinator will set the writ for hearing.
Where applicant does not have pending case.
Application for writ of habeas corpus involving matters not pre-assigned to a court shall be filed with and heard by the Presiding Judge, and in the absence of the Presiding Judge, the Co-Presiding Judge.
Post conviction writs.
Application for writ of habeas corpus following a final conviction is processed in accordance with Art. 11.07, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
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