Quicklinks
Texas Counties Deliver – learn how county government serves you
                 
Helpful Information for Attorneys
    • Effective as of April 12, 2021

      Attention: Defendants and Attorneys representing Defendants

      San Patricio County Court at Law to Resume In-Person Non-Jury Hearings effective as of April 12, 2021.

      In response to the Texas Supreme Court’s Thirty-Sixth Emergency Order Regarding the Covid-19 State of Disaster, issued March 5, 2021, The San Patricio County Court at Law will resume in-person non-jury matters.  Non-jury in-person appearances will be allowed on a limited basis in accordance with the approved in-person court proceeding schedule for San Patricio County beginning April 12, 2021.  As provided by the Texas Supreme Court’s 36th Emergency Order, minimum standard health protocols for court proceedings, including masking and social distancing, will continue to be required.

      The following policies and procedures will be in place until further order of this Court:

      San Patricio County Court At Law Revised Infectious Disease Protocol as of 3/26/21; and

      Minimum Standard Health Protocols In-Person Hearings

      ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

      Effective as of February 1, 2020

      Attention: Defendants and Attorneys representing Defendants

      San Patricio County Court at Laws revised operating procedures:

      Arraignments Court Dates to be conducted by Video Conference

      Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Arraignment Docket will be conducted via Lifesize Video Conference.  Information on how to access the Lifesize Video Conference system can be found here.

      Attorney information:

      Attorneys representing Defendants should efile a notice of appearance of counsel and provide a curtesy copy to the court.  If you and your client wish to be excused from making an appearance, then you also need to efile a waiver of arraignment 72 hours prior to the Arraignment Court Date. If you file, the proper documents timely then the Defendant and Attorney are excused from making an appearance via Lifesize Video Conference and a copy of the Pre-Trial court date will be mailed to you at the address provided in your notice of appearance of counsel. If you are a Court appointed attorney who received the appointment prior to the Arraignment date, then your do not need to make an appearance and a copy of the Defendant's Pre-Trial court date will be mailed to you.

      Attorney forms: (such forms are not required, only available for your assistance)

      Notice of Appearance of Counsel

      Waiver of Arraignment

      _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

      Effective as of February 1, 2020

      Attention: Defendants and Attorneys representing Defendants

      San Patricio County Court at Laws revised operating procedures:

      Bond Returnable court dates to be conducted by Video Conference

      All persons arrested for Class A or Class B misdemeanor criminal offenses filed in the San Patricio County Court at Law will receive a Misdemeanor Bond Returnable Date upon being released from the San Patricio County Jail.  This Bond Returnable “Court Date” will be conducted by Lifesize Video Conference only and not in person. If you are unsure what your Bond Returnable Court Date is, please see the San Patricio County Court at Law Misdemeanor Bond Returnable Court Date Guide.

      On your Bond Returnable date, you are required to check online at the San Patricio County website to see if your case has been filed.  The dockets will be posted on both the San Patricio County Clerk’s website (http://www.co.san-patricio.tx.us/page/sanpatricio.County.Clerk) and the San Patricio County Court at Law’s website (http://www.sanpatricioccal.org).  The dockets will be organized by your Bond Returnable Date.  If your case has been filed by the San Patricio County Attorney, then you will be assigned an Arraignment Court Date.  You can find your Court date by looking at the San Patricio County Court at Law’s Misdemeanor Arraignment Court Date Information.

       

    Press the enter key or spacebar to expand or collapse the accordion

    • Effective as of February 1, 2020

      Attention: Defendants and Attorneys representing Defendants

      San Patricio County Court at Laws revised operating procedures:

      Pre-Trial Court Dates to be conducted by Video Conference

      Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Pre-Trial Docket will be conducted via Lifesize Video Conference.  Information on how to access the Lifesize Video Conference system can be found here.

      Attorney Information:

      Please be advised until further notice all Criminal Pre-Trial hearings in San Patricio County Court at Law will be conducted by Lifesize Video Conferencing only.  Attorneys must confer with the State before the day of the Pre-Trial hearing.  There will be no time to accommodate settlement negotiations which have customarily occurred after docket call in the past.  The new procedures will be that attorneys will be expected to go forward on the merits of their cases as soon as the court is ready to proceed.  Announcements of “conferring” will not be allowed.

      Attorneys must obtain a copy of any plea paperwork from the county attorney’s office prior to their court date and review such with your client.  For cases set for pre-trial, the announcement of “pass to announcement” will no longer be acceptable.  Attorneys must be prepared to give an accurate summary of the status of their case and a concise statement as to the relief requested.  At the time of the Pre-Trial hearing, the Court will inquire as to the following:

      - have you requested and received discovery in regards to case;

      - have you filed any evidentiary motions that require a hearing; and

      - if you are not pleading the case on the day of your scheduled Pre-Trial, what are you requesting the matter be set for, and set for: subsequent Pre-Trial, Bench Trial, Jury Trial, or a Plea Date. 

      If you are unable to make the scheduled court date, please fill out and e-file 72 hours prior to your court date the attached form “Pre-Trial announcement in lieu of appearance”.  If you fail to submit such form, then both you and your client’s appearance will be required via Lifesize and failure to appear will result in a warrant being issued for your client’s arrest.

       

      Attorney forms: (such forms are not required, only available for your assistance)

    Press the enter key or spacebar to expand or collapse the accordion

    • Effective as of February 1, 2020

      Attention: Defendants and Attorneys representing Defendants

      San Patricio County Court at Laws revised operating procedures:

      Announcement Court Dates to be conducted by Video Conference

      Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Announcement Docket will be conducted via Lifesize Video Conference.  Information on how to access the Lifesize Video Conference system can be found here.

      Attorneys must confer with the State before the day of the Announcement hearing.  There will be no time to accommodate settlement negotiations which have customarily occurred after docket call in the past.  The new procedures will be that attorneys will be expected to go forward on the merits of their cases as soon as the court is ready to proceed.  Announcements of “conferring” will not be allowed.


      With only a few exceptions the announcement court dates will be the last date your client can enter into a plea agreement with the State of Texas. The Court will not be regularly accepting plea agreements on trial dates.  If your client has decided to enter a change of Plea and enter into a plea bargain agreement with the State, then make sure you have obtained your plea paperwork from the County Attorney’s office prior to your court date and e-filed such with the clerk at least 24 hours before your hearing.

      All Attorney’s will be required to file a proposed Jury Charge for your case on the announcement hearing date unless your client is entering into a plea agreement with the State.

      Attorney forms: (such forms are not required, only available for your assistance)

      • Jury seating chart
      • Election as to punishment
      • Application for community supervision

    Press the enter key or spacebar to expand or collapse the accordion

    Press the enter key or spacebar to expand or collapse the accordion

Press the enter key or spacebar to expand or collapse the accordion

Press the enter key or spacebar to expand or collapse the accordion

Press the enter key or spacebar to expand or collapse the accordion

Press the enter key or spacebar to expand or collapse the accordion