Cameron County Courts at Law

Judge McDonaldHonorable Judge
Arturo A. McDonald, Jr.

974 E. Harrison St.-Judicial Building
Brownsville Texas, 78520
Ph. (956) 544-0855
Fax (956) 548-9542

 

 

 

 

Court Staff:

Court Administrator: Brenda Cantu         Bailiff: Crystal Maldonado
Court Coordinator: “Patty” Elola            Records Clerk: Jose Roberto “Beto” Treviño
Court Reporter: Irene R. Salazar

Contact information

All inquiries regarding Criminal Cases, email Court Coordinator at Patricia.Elola@co.cameron.tx.us

All inquiries regarding Civil and Probate Cases, email Court Administrator at Brenda.Cantu@co.cameron.tx.us

All inquiries regarding Court Docket, email Court Coordinator at Brenda.Cantu@co.cameron.tx.us Court Administrator

All inquiries regarding services, email Court clerk at jose.trevino@co.cameron.tx.us

JudgeLauraBetancourt 200x300Honorable Judge
Laura L. Betancourt

974 E. Harrison St.-Judicial Building
Brownsville Texas, 78520
Ph. (956) 544-0856
Fax (956) 504-3678

 

 

 

 

Court Staff:

Court Administrator: Perla Diaz                  Bailiff: Jose Luis Salinas
Court Coordinator: Karla Leal                      Records Coordinator: Tomas Quintero
Court Reporter: Roel Rodriguez

Contact Information

All inquiries regarding Civil Cases, email Court Administrator at Perla.Diaz@co.cameron.tx.us

All inquiries regarding Criminal Cases, email Court Coordinator at Karla.Leal@co.cameron.tx.us

Dockets

COVID 19 UPDATE
Effective Immediately

All court proceeding for Cameron County Court at Law #2 will be livestreamed through YouTube by clicking  the following link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZFwneQeDFUBxjazQn-Hplw until further notice.

Arraignment:

Civil:
Mar 29, 2023

Criminal:
March 20, 2023
March 21, 2023
March 21, 2023
March 22, 2023
March 23, 2023

March 28, 2023
March 28, 2023
March 29, 2023
March 30, 2023

Gonzales 2791Honorable Judge
David Gonzales III

 

974 E. Harrison St.-  Judicial Building
Brownsville Texas, 78520
Ph. (956) 574-8136
Fax (956) 574-8140

 

 

 

 

Court Staff:
Court Administrator: Nelly Sanchez
Court Coordinator: Sandra Forno Cisneros
Court Reporter: Ms. Bernadette “Bernie” Ballard
Records Coordinator: Graciela Garcia

Records Coordinator:
Bailif: Leofredo Peña

Contact Information:

 

All inquiries regarding Criminal Cases, email Court Administrator at  NSanchez@co.cameron.tx.us

All inquiries regarding Civil Cases, email Court Coordinator at Sandra.Forno2@co.cameron.tx.us

All inquiries regarding services and Criminal information, email Records Coordinator at Sandra.forno2@co.cameron.tx.us

All inquiries regarding transcripts, email Court Report at BKM148@aol.com

All inquiries regarding services and criminal information email records coordinator at Graciela.Garcia01@co.cameron.tx.us

EMERGENCY STANDING ORDER

Civil dockets will be held via Zoom at 9:30 AM on Tuesdays.

Criminal dockets for noncustodial defendants will be held via Zoom at 9:30 AM on Thursdays.

Criminal dockets for defendants in custody will be held via Zoom at 10 AM on Thursdays.

Public access is available at  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-lXsjghvvJn6kLiq7hpzg

Contact Information

All inquiries regarding Criminal Cases, email Court Administrator at NSanchez@co.cameron.tx.us

All inquiries regarding Civil Cases, email Court Coordinator at Sandra.Forno2@co.cameron.tx.us

All inquiries regarding services, and Criminal information, email Records Coordinator at

All inquiries regarding transcripts, email Court Reporter at BKM148@aol.com

Dockets

Criminal Dockets are being held via Zoom on Mondays at 9:30am.
Civil Dockets are being held via Zoom on Tuesdays at 9:30am.
Public Access is available at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-lXsjghvvJn6kLiq7hpzg

Arraignments:
March 23, 2023

Civil:
March 28, 2023

Criminal:
March 27, 2023
March 29, 2023

Judge Garcia Bence 293x300Honorable Judge Sheila Garcia Bence

County Court At Law 4
974 E. Harrison St.
Brownsville, TX, 78520

956-574-8116

 

 

 

 

Court Staff:

Court Administrator: All inquiries regarding Probate Cases, and Small Estate Affidavits, email
Melissa Rocha King; MelissaR.King@co.cameron.tx.us 956-574-8732

Court Coordinator: All inquiries regarding Guardianship and Civil Cases, email
Tanya Miracle; Tanya.Miracle@co.cameron.tx.us  956-574-8116

Court Reporter: Sydnee Schwab; Sydnee.Schwab@co.cameron.tx.us  956-356-6371

Bailiff: Jesse Betancourt; Jesse.Betancourt@co.cameron.tx.us

Court Investigator: All inquiries regarding initial and annual visits to the ward, and Annual Reports, email
Mindy Escamilla; Mindy.Escamilla@co.cameron.tx.us 956-356-6372

Court Auditor: All inquiries regarding the filing of Inventories, Annual Accounts, and Annual Reports email
Krystal Mallen; Krystal.Mallen@co.cameron.tx.us  956-574-8707

COVID UPDATE #3

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

In compliance with the Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals Third Emergency Order prohibiting conducting non-essential proceedings in person contrary to local, state, and national directives, all County Court at Law No. 4  in-person proceedings of any size are delayed until at least June 1.  We will continue to hold essential and non essential dockets on a weekly basis via televideoconferencing.

In compliance with the Office of Court Administration guidance regarding Public Access to Remote Hearings during the COVID-19 Pandemic all Cameron County Court at Law No.4 dockets will be livestreamed on YouTube.  You may watch the proceedings at http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Aex-cTEP7s7PJ1W0t-2DQ

Administrative Order on Personal Service

Administrative Order for Mental Health

Standards for County Court 4 Approval of Attorney Fee Applications

Zoom Instructions for Self-Represented Litigants and Court Participants

JudgeEstelaChavez 261x300Honorable Judge
Estela Chavez – Vasquez

County Court At Law 5
974 E. Harrison St.- Judicial Building
Brownsville Texas, 78520

Ph. (956) 356-6567

 

 

 

 

Court Staff:

Court Administrator (Civil):
Monica Lopez (956) 356-6568

Court Coordinator (Criminal):
Cynthia Esparza (956) 356-6569

Court Reporter:
Rhonda Martin

Bailiff:
Francisco Javier Pineda

Records Coordinator:
Monica Rosendo (956) 356-6567

 

COVID-19 Operating Plan for Cameron County Judiciary

UPDATED – Guidance on Conducting Court Proceedings

SUPREME COURT ISSUES NEW GENERAL EMERGENCY ORDERS REGARDING THE COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER

 Order Regarding Court Proceedings:

Today, the Supreme Court issued the Fifty-Ninth Emergency Order that replaces the previous general emergency order (Fifty-Seventh) that was set to expire on January 1, 2023. The following is a summary of the new order’s provisions.

The new emergency order removes the ability for judges to conduct remote proceedings away from the court’s usual location due to exigent circumstances.  Under the new order, a judge may conduct proceedings away from the court only if conducting proceedings away from the court’s usual location will assist in managing court backlog and: (a) the court serves multiple counties, or (b) a visiting judge is assigned to the court.

The emergency order continues the ability of courts to require or allow anyone involved in any hearing, deposition, or other proceeding of any kind to participate remotely, such as by teleconferencing, videoconferencing, or other means, and to consider sworn statements made out of court or sworn testimony given remotely.

The following limitations regarding remote jury proceedings found in the prior emergency order are continued in the new order:

  • In district courts, statutory county courts and constitutional county courts, the court must not require lawyers, parties, or jurors to appear remotely for a jury trial, absent agreement of the parties.
  • In justice and municipal courts, the court must not require lawyers, parties, or jurors to appear remotely for a jury trial unless the court has considered on the record or in a written order any objection or motion related to continuing with the jury proceeding at least seven days before the jury proceeding or as soon as practicable if the motion is made or filed within seven days of the jury proceeding.

The order continues the following provisions from the prior order:

  • A timely objection to a remote jury proceeding may be granted for good cause.
  • Except in non-binding jury proceedings, a court may not permit or require petit jurors to appear remotely unless the court ensures that all potential and selected petit jurors have access to technology to participate remotely.
  • OCA must continue issuing and updating best practices and guidance on conducting in-person and remote court proceedings consistent with the order’s provisions.

The Fifty-Ninth Emergency Order expires on February 1, 2023, unless extended by the Chief Justice.

Order Regarding Eviction Diversion Program:

The Supreme Court also issued the Fifty-Eighth Emergency Order. It continues the processes related to actions in which the defendant may have a pending application under the Texas Eviction Diversion Program or may be able to access funds available through local rental assistance programs that were provided under the Fifty-Sixth Emergency Order. The prior order required certain language be included, in substantial or similar form, on all citations in eviction actions to recover possession of residential property. The new order requires that the citation language in the order be included in citations.  The following is a summary of the other key provisions in the order:

  • continues the requirement that a judge confirm whether or not the plaintiff has any pending applications for rental assistance, including applications for rental assistance through the Texas Eviction Diversion Program, or has provided any information or documentation directly to a rental assistance provider for the purpose of receiving rental assistance;
  • continues previous emergency order requirements in cases in which the plaintiff has a pending application for rental assistance (i.e., abate case for 60 days, make the case confidential, inform the parties how to reinstate the case, dismiss the case after the abatement period expires without the need for a party to file a motion or request the court to do so); and
  • provides that if rental assistance is available, the judge should discuss available rental assistance programs and the procedures in the Fifty-Eighth Emergency Order with the parties.

The Fifty-Eighth Emergency Order expires on March 1, 2023, unless extended by the Chief Justice.

REMINDER: ORDER REGARDING LOCAL RULES, FORMS, AND STANDING ORDERS

This is a reminder that the Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals approved amendments to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 3a, Texas Rule of Appellate Procedure 1.2, and Texas Rule of Judicial Administration 10 effective January 1, 2023. (See Misc. Docket No. 22-9081 and No. 22-006.) The amendments remove the requirement that the Supreme Court approve local rules and provide that, beginning January 1, 2023, local rules, forms, and standing orders are not effective unless published on the OCA’s website. Judges should review the Notes and Comments included with the changes to ensure that local rules, forms, and standing orders comply with statutory and rule-based requirements.

Posted documents will be viewable by the public on OCA’s TOPICs website starting January 1, 2023. Additional information regarding the website and webinars is posted here: https://www.txcourts.gov/rules-forms/local-rules-forms-and-standing-orders/.

EMERGENCY STANDING ORDER

Effective immediately Cameron County Court at Law #5 will be having Jail docket
every Tuesday at 9:00am

Contact Information

All inquiries concerning Civil Cases, email Court Administrator at Monica.lopez3@co.cameron.tx.us.

All inquiries concerning Criminal Cases, email Court Coordinator at

Cynthia.esparza@co.cameron.tx.us

All inquiries concerning services and Criminal information, email Court Records at Monica.rosendo@co.cameron.tx.us

All inquiries concerning transcripts, email Court Reporter at Rhonda.martin@co.cameron.tx.us