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JUDGE FRITZ FAULKNER
SAN JACINTO COUNTY COURT


JUDGE'S STAFF:

TRACY GALLOWAY, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
tgalloway@san-jac.us

CHERI WALKER, COURT COORDINATOR
cwalker@san-jac.us  

FIRST EMERGENCY ORDER REGARDING THE COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER, SUPREME COURT OF TEXAS, EXPIRES MAY 8,2020

COUNTY COURT DOCKETS

JANUARY 10, 2023 AM PROBATE DOCKET - VIA ZOOM
JANUARY 10, 2023 PM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON
JANUARY 17, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
JANUARY 17, 2023 PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
JANUARY 19, 2023 AM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON
JANUARY 31, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
JANUARY 31, 2023 PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
FEBRUARY 07, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
FEBRUARY 07, 2023 PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
FEBRUARY 14, 2023 PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
FEBRUARY 28, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON

FEBRUARY 28, 2023 PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
MARCH 14, 2023 AM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON
MARCH 14, 2023 PM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON
MARCH 21, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
MARCH 28, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
MARCH 28, 2023 PM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
APRIL 4, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
APRIL 4, 2023 PM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
APRIL 11, 2023 AM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON
APRIL 11, 2023 PM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON
APRIL 18, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
APRIL 18, 2023 PM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
APRIL 25, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
APRIL 25, 2023 PM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
MAY 2, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
MAY 2, 2023 PM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
MAY 9, 2023 AM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON
MAY 9, 2023 PM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON
MAY 16, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
MAY 16, 2023 PM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
MAY 23, 2023 AM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON
MAY 23, 2023 PM PROBATE COURT - PERSON
MAY 30, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
MAY 30, 2023 PM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
JUNE 6, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
JUNE 6, 2023 PM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
JUNE 13, 2023 AM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON
JUNE 13, 2023 PM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON
JUNE 20, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
JUNE 20, 2023 PM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
JUNE 27, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
JUNE 27, 2023, PM CRIMIMAL COURT - IN PERSON
JULY 11, 1023 AM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON
JULY 11, 2023 PM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON
JULY 18, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
AUGUST 1, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
AUGUST 1, 2023 PM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON
AUGUST 15, 2023 AM COMBINED CRIMINAL & PROBATE COURT -IN PERSON
AUGUST 15, 2023 PM COMBINED CRIMINAL & PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON
AUGUST 29, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
AUGUST 29, 2023 PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
SEPTEMBER 05, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 AM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON
SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 PM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON
SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
OCTOBER 03, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
OCTOBER 03, 2023 PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - INI PERSON
OCTOBER 10, 2023 - AM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON
OCTOBER 10, 2023 - PM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON
OCTOBER 17, 2023 - AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
OCTOBER 17, 2023 - PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
OCTOBER 31, 2023 - AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
OCTOBER 31, 2023 - PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
NOVEMBER 7, 2023 - AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
NOVEMBER 7, 2023 - PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
NOVEMBER 14, 2023 AM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON
NOVEMBER 14, 2023 PM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON
NOVEMBER 21, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
NOVEMBER 28, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
DECEMBER 5, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
DECEMBER 5, 2023 PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
DECEMBER 12, 2023 AM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON
DECEMBER 12, 2023 PM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON
DECEMBER 14, 2023 - JURY TRIALS
DECEMBER 19, 2023 AM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON
DECEMBER 19, 2023 PM CRIMINAL DOCKET - IN PERSON

2024

JANUARY 9, 2024 AM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON
JANUARY 9, 2024 PM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON
JANUARY 23, 2024 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON

JANUARY 30, 2023 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON

FEBRUARY 06, 2024 AM & PM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON

FEBRUARY 13, 2024 AM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON

FEBRUARY 13, 2024 PM PROBATE DOCKET - IN PERSON

MARCH 05, 2024 AM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON

MARCH 05, 2024 PM CRIMINAL COURT - IN PERSON

MARCH 12, 2024 AM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON

MARCH 12, 2024 PM PROBATE COURT - IN PERSON

JURY TRIALS

JURY TRIAL DOCKET FOR MARCH 14, 2024 9 AM


View County Court Dockets here to see if your case is set on a future docket


Generally, the Court will hear your case as soon as the law allows.

Cases must be filed by the Criminal District Attorney's Office before they will be placed on the court docket.

If you bonded out of jail with a bail bonding company, keep in touch with your bail bondsman and they will let you know when your case has been placed on a docket.

If you bonded out of jail with a PR or Cash bond, you will receive notice in the mail when your case has been placed on the court docket.  However, you can check in with either our office or the County Clerk's Office for information on when you will go to court.

The County Court only hears misdemeanor cases (Class A or Class B). Class C cases are heard by the Justice of the Peace in which ever precinct you received your ticket in. Felony cases are heard by the District Courts (258th or 411th).

The San Jacinto County Court is a Constitutional County Court and also hears Probate and Guardianship cases, as well as Justice Court appeals and Civil cases not exceeding a ten thousand dollar jurisdiction.

 

Please do not attempt to discuss your case or issue with the Judge outside of the courtroom; he cannot discuss matters that are pending or that may come before him in court.

If you need an attorney but cannot afford one, you may ask the Judge to appoint one for you when you appear in court on your case.

Use your common sense and good manners in the courtroom. Please dress and act appropriately.

Representing Yourself

 

 In any Court proceeding a person may represent himself or herself, unless the Court specifically requires you to have an attorney.  People who represent themselves in court are called “pro se” or “self-represented” litigants. You have a right to represent yourself. However, a pro se may not represent others. Under Texas law, only a licensed attorney may represent the interests of third party individuals, or entities, including guardianship wards and probate estates.  See In re: Guetersloh, 326 sS.W.3d 737 (Tex. App.-Amarillo, 2010) and Steele v. McDonald, 202 S.W.3d 926 (Tex. App.-Waco, 2006), and the authorities cited in those opinions. Therefore, individuals applying for letters testamentary and letters of administration of the person or estate must be represented by a licensed attorney. The only time a pro se applicant may proceed in court is when truly representing only himself or herself.  You need not be a lawyer to serve as an executor, administrator or guardian, however, the executor, administrator or guardian must be represented by a lawyer. As an Executor, Administrator or Guardian you don’t represent only yourself, you represent the interests of beneficiaries, creditors and a Ward’s person and, or, estate. This responsibility to act for the benefit of another is known as a fiduciary relationship. It gives rise to certain legal obligations and responsibilities that require legal expertise. The attorney you hire represents you in your capacity as executor, administrator or guardian and assists you in representing those for whom you are responsible. . Although the Clerk may accept documents for e-filing, the Court will take no action on the documents unless there is an attorney of record in the case.

If you are a criminal defendant and cannot afford an attorney, you may request the court appoint an attorney to represent you. If you do not qualify for a court appointed attorney, or are involved in a civil case you may find help through these resources: texaslawhelp.org a website for low-income Texans with free information and family law, protective order, and other self-help legal forms; Texas Lawyers for Texas Veterans a new State Bar of Texas project helping low-income military veterans with legal issues; Lone Star Legal Aid which serves the Houston area and East Texas; Texas Legal a statewide, nonprofit legal benefit plan founded by the State Bar of Texas and the Texas State Legislature as an effort to better meet the legal needs of Texans. All of these agencies may be accessed through the internet by simply typing the name in the search bar.

 It is not the court’s duty to represent you nor instruct you on evidence, rules, or how to present and prove your case. If you are unprepared, unaware, or not knowledgeable as to presenting your case, you may lose your case.  Every effort will be made to accommodate pro se litigants (those representing themselves), however, the law is complex and the Court, the Court’s staff and the Clerk and Clerk’s staff cannot give you advice concerning legal matters, the Court may merely rule on matters that have been properly brought before the Court.  Many legal actions have consequences that are not immediately obvious, and what may appear to be simple today may impact you far in the future.

If you are representing yourself, you will be required to file statutorily sufficient pleadings and to provide the Court written orders that are consistent with the rulings of the Court.  Suggested forms are not provided by the Court but many resources are available including the public library and Texas Law Help (texaslawhelp.org).  Texas Law Help is a project of the Texas Access to Justice Commission and the Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation, in partnership with participating legal aid organizations.

The Court discourages pro se litigation in probate and guardianship matters, you should seek legal counsel. 

HOW TO GET DOCUMENTS TO COURT: All documents and pleadings must be e-filed or filed with the County Clerk’s Office, and, any applicable fees paid at that time. All original wills must be filed with 3 days of e-filing in accordance with Rule 21, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

NEED MORE HELP? TRY THESE TWO RESOURCES

TEXASLAWHELP.ORG

FREE LEGAL INFORMATION AND COURT FORMS FOR SIMPLE CIVIL LEGAL PROBLEMS

LONE STAR LEGAL AID

Lone Star Legal Aid will have an attorney available at the Courthouse on the following dates. There is no charge for this service. If you have questions about your case or need legal advice, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM:

LONE STAR LEGAL AID 2020 SCHEDULE FOR SAN JACINTO COUNTY



COURTROOM DRESS CODE

Appropriate attire is mandatory for any appearance in Court. Please follow the dress code listed below:

1.     Dress pants or nice jeans

2.     Shirt or blouse with collar

3.     Suit or sport coat

4.     Dress

5.     Tie, optional

Clothing NOT appropriate for court:

1.     Jeans with holes or tears

2.     Shorts (of any kind)

3.     Sweat pants

4.     Yoga pants

5.     T-shirts or sleeveless shirts

6.     Saggy, baggy pants

7.     Hoodies

8.     Flip flops

9.     Hats or caps

10.   Shirts with offensive writings, markings or symbols  


COURTROOM GENERAL RULES

1.     No photography or video recording

2.     No audio recording

3.     No unattended children

4.     No food or drink in courtroom

5.     All persons subject to search

6.     No weapons of any kind

7.     Rise when Judge enters courtroom,

        remain standing until bailiff announces "Be Seated", and

        rise when Judge exits courtroom

8.     Address the Court as "Judge" or "Your Honor"

9.     Do not approach the bench without Judge's permission

10.   Do not put your hands in your pockets while at the bench

11.   Appropriate attire is required. Please see dress code listed above.