Honorable 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 Coordinator: “Patty” Elola Records Clerk: Jose Roberto “Beto” Treviño
Court Reporter: Irene R. Salazar
Contact information
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
Plea Documents
Dockets
Jan 04, 2022
Civil:
March 23, 2023
March 28, 2023
Criminal:
March 27, 2023
March 29, 2023
March 30, 2023
Honorable Judge
Laura L. Betancourt
974 E. Harrison St.-Judicial Building
Brownsville Texas, 78520
Ph. (956) 544-0856
Fax (956) 504-3678
Court Staff:
Court Coordinator: Karla Leal Records Coordinator: Tomas Quintero
Court Reporter: Roel Rodriguez
Contact Information
All inquiries regarding Criminal Cases, email Court Coordinator at Karla.Leal@co.cameron.tx.us
Forms
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
Honorable 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 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
Forms
Waiver of Arraignment
Plea Blank With Atty
Trial Court’s Certification of Defendant’s Right of Appeal
Misdemeanor Plea Of Guilty/NOLO Contendre
Misdemeanor Plea of Guilty/Nolo Contendre With Attorney
Probate And Guardianship Forms
Guardian and Personal Representative General Information
Guardianship Forms
Physician’s Certificate Medical Examination
Dockets
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
Honorable 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
Probate & Small Estates Affidavit Forms
- Instructions for Dependent Administrator
- Instructions for Independent Administrator
- Instructions for Independent Administrator with Will Annexed
- Instructions for Independent Executor
- Personal Representative General Information
Determination of Heirships
- Checklist for Attorney Ad Litems
- Affidavit of Notice by Applicant in Proceeding to Determine Heirship
- Application to Determine Heirship
- Attorney’s Certificate of Notice in Proceeding to Determine Heirship
- BLANK Order Appointing Attorney Ad Litem
- Distributee’s Conset to Application for Independent Adminstration and Waiver of Notice
- Judgment Determining Heirship WITH IA ORDER
- Judgment Determining Heirship
- Report of Attorney Ad Litem in Heirship Proceeding
- Waiver of Citation – Heirship only
Small Estate Affidavits
Standards for County Court 4 Approval of Attorney Fee Applications
Zoom Instructions for Self-Represented Litigants and Court Participants
Guardianship Forms
Annual Report on the Condition and Well-Being of a Ward
Bill of Rights
Duties as a Guardian of the Estate
Duties as a Guardian of the Person
Guardianship Registration Application (English)
Guardianship Registration Application (Spanish)
Guardianship Checklist for Attorneys filing Guardianships in Cameron County
Physician’s Certificate of Medical Examination
Waiver of Service and Rights to Guardianship Letters
The Guardianship Training Module is now available in Spanish. To access the new version, on the Register a Guardianship page of our website, just click on the button in Spanish.
Dockets
Mar 02, 2023
Mar 03, 2023
Compliance:
April 03, 2023
Eviction:
Guardianship:
Mar 02, 2023
Mar 03, 2023
Bill of Rights
Instructions for Guardian of the Person Estate
JBCC-Guardianship-Reg
Zoom instructions for SRL
Mental Health:
Probate:
Zoom instructions for SRL
Court Policy – Will More Than 4 Years After Death Of The Testator
Court Policy Regarding Pro Se Applications
Small Estate:
Honorable 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 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
Forms
Dockets
Civil:
March 28, 2023
March 29, 2023
Criminal:
Mar 21, 2023
Mar 21, 2023
Mar 21, 2023
Mar 23, 2023
Mar 23, 2023
Mar 23, 2023
Mar 23, 2023