Remote Video Conference Hearings
County Court at Law No. 1 will continue to conduct certain proceedings through remote video conferencing technology (i.e. Z-connect) that help assist with the Court’s backlog. These hearings include, but are not limited, to Uncontested Probate Dockets, Civil Motions Docket, and Criminal Status Dockets. You shall receive notice of your remote video conferencing hearing in criminal cases on the Court issued Criminal Docket Control Order or in civil and probate cases, through email correspondence. You will find the Court’s Video Conferencing Policy and Procedures under the Documents & Form tab of County Court at Law No. 1’s website.
Criminal Dockets
Friday morning Criminal Arraignment Dockets are IN-PERSON. All Defendants and Attorneys are expected to appear in-person at 8:30 a.m., as per the Defendant’s bonding paperwork.
At the Criminal Arraignment Docket, the Court will implement a Criminal Docket Control Order (“DCO”) in all criminal cases scheduled for Arraignment. All dockets applicable to the Defendant’s case will be entered on the DCO. Access to the virtual status conference hearing can be obtained through the QR Code located on the DCO. The Defendant’s failure to appear at a DCO scheduled hearing may result in the issuing of a capias and/or forfeiting of the Defendant’s bond.
Criminal Pleas
If an attorney wishes to plea a Defendant on a date not listed on the DCO, please contact the Court Coordinator. If the Defendant fails to finally dispose of the matter at a plea docket, the DCO shall remain in place and the Defendant is expected to appear at all DCO scheduled hearings. The Defendant’s failure to appear at a DCO scheduled hearing may result in the issuing of a capias and/or forfeiting of the Defendant’s bond. Defense Counsel is expected to have all paperwork completed prior to the plea date but may bring the paperwork with them to the plea docket. Failure to complete the paperwork prior to the plea docket shall result in the case being removed from the plea docket.
Zoom
If you wish to view a live stream of the Court’s Zoom hearings, you may subscribe to the Court at Law No. 1’s YouTube Channel or you may find the channel listed as: @fortbendcountycourtatlawno1.
Per guidance from the Office of Court Administration, this channel adheres to the Open Courts provision of the Texas Constitution.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Sarah Toler, Court Coordinator, at (832) 471-2822 or via email at sarah.toler@fortbendcountytx.gov, and Anita Ayala, Probate Auditor, at (281) 633-7413 or via email at anita.ayala@fortbendcountytx.gov.