TJCTC Updates 2.23.2024

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Good Afternoon Judges, Constables, & Court Staff,

With February coming to a close, we wanted to share some more resources, updates, and especially some legal updates with you. 

Updates from Legal

Warrant Teletypes

Can a judge magistrate on the teletype of a warrant, or do they need an actual copy of the warrant?

You are not legally prohibited from magistrating on a teletype when you do not have a copy of the warrant, but it is definitely a best practice to have the warrant. Teletypes can sometimes have incorrect information or not have enough detail, which can then result in errors in setting bail. Here are some examples of potential problems:

  • You might not know if the warrant has been issued by the trial court judge (which would mean you are prohibited from making a bail decision) or by a magistrate (in which case you are required to make a bail decision), and this also impacts how the bail form is filled out in the PSRS.
  • If the teletype says, “no bail,” it is not always clear if it is saying no bail is allowed or just that there is not a recommended dollar amount.
  • Without the details from the warrant, you will often not have enough information about the circumstances under which the offense was committed, which is one of the factors that must be considered when determining bail.

These are just three examples; other problems could arise as well. So while it is not technically required, TJCTC recommends having a copy of the warrant to ensure that you make a good bail decision.

Texas Supreme Court Finalizes Updates for Rule of Judicial Administration 7

Earlier this week, the Texas Supreme Court published their final updates to the Rules of Judicial Administration regarding confidentiality policies.  The new Rule 7.1 requires all courts (including justice courts) to develop a confidentiality policy and rules for training and distributing the policy to court staff. They also helpfully included their own policy which may be used as a model for other courts.

Upcoming Webinars

TAA Lease Update for 2024, hosted by TJCTC (1 civil hr.)

February 23rd from 10:00 – 11:00 a.mTODAY!!!

Join TAA for a review of the latest version of its lease! This class will allow courts to fully understand the terms of the most commonly-used lease in eviction and other landlord-tenant disputes.

Registration link: https://txstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a5eSTV1pSg2vrIosPqOScA#/registration

Implementing SB4: Magistrate’s Order to Return, hosted by TJCTC

Feb 29th from 2 – 3:00 p.m.

Instructor: Bronson Tucker

This webinar will cover SB 4, taking effect on March 4th, which allows magistrates processing defendants charged with Illegal Entry into Texas to issue orders for the defendant to leave the United States. It is critical that magistrates follow the law precisely to avoid liability, and these issues will be covered in this critical course.

Registration: https://txstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3oUM3-19S4C40lTAYHqSRA

Impaired Driving Behavioral Interventions Around the Globe, hosted by The Impaired Driving Behavioral Interventions Interest Group

March 13 at 9:00 am Central Time

This webinar will highlight current evidence based impaired driving behavioral interventions conducted in Iran, Brazil, Canada, and the United States. An interactive panel will follow these presentations including:

  • How best practices and effective interventions can be implemented across the globe.
  • Where are the challenges to implement these strategies?
  • What does research tell us about the effectiveness of pre-trial/pre-sentence interventions for the impaired driver population?
  • Where are the gaps in training and education for these countermeasures?
  • What impaired driving technologies can help with implementation of interventions?

Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_M1A93de1SOa9Nz1lIEmTzQ#/registration

National Center for State Court Updates

NCSC Releases New Guide to Mental Health Diversion

This guide is intended to serve as a resource framework for courts and judges to use to promote and implement diversion strategies for individuals with behavioral health needs in their communities. Ideally, judges would collaborate with a range of system stakeholders to examine the entire diversion continuum but could also focus on one step of the process at a time. This guide focuses on jail diversion systems, post arrest, and pre plea. NCSC also hosted a Mental Health Diversion webinar in December 2023 on “Lessons from the Field.”

Download from the NCSC website.

NCSC Inclusive Language Resources

NCSC updated the Gender Inclusive Language Toolkit to reflect the best practices learned since initially releasing it over a year ago. It has a fresh look and light restructuring, but the message is the same. Check it out!
Also, here is a sample benchcard for quick tips and best practices that you can download. While the bench card is primarily directed to judges, the guidance in it is applicable to all professionals in the legal field.
Finally, if you have not yet watched the Tiny Chat or webinar on the topic, they are great quick references.

Updates from the Judicial Commission on Mental Health (JCMH)

JCMH routinely sends out updates including resources and training that is helpful for justice courts. If you would like to get these updates, subscribe to their email list.

Update on Legal Calls

We have had a large number of calls finding their way into the wrong voicemail inboxes. Remember, please dial 512-347-9927 and press “1” for legal calls. If you don’t, the voicemails end up with our program staff who also have a high call volume. Often times your legal call messages end up lost in their inboxes and don’t get transferred to the legal team for several days.

As always, we are looking forward to seeing you at a program in the upcoming months. We have a very busy Spring full of education events for you lined up from TJCTC!

Thea & the TJCTC Team

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TJCTC Updates 2.9.2024

 

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Good Afternoon Judges, Constables, & Court Staff,

Can you believe we are already well into February? Time flies when you are having fun seeing your colleagues at training! Buckle up, because this is a long list of resources and updates, but all are very worth the read.

 

Accessibility & Access in the Courts

Recently a local attorney reached out to TJCTC to give praise to the Texas justice courts and offer his experiences to help courts ensure access to the courts for people with invisible disabilities and health conditions that might make it harder for them to appear in court.

Staff Attorney Amber Myers interviewed him for an episode of the National Association of State Judicial Educators (NASJE) Spotlight Podcast to share this great information not only with Texas courts but also those nationwide. You can watch the episode on the NASJE YouTube Page.

Also in January, the National Center for State Courts held a webinar about Inclusive Communications for People with Disabilities in Court. If you missed it, the shared resources are below.

Watch the recording of the webinar on the NCSC website: https://www.ncsc.org/consulting-and-research/webinars
Other Resources:

ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments

Access to Justice Knowledge Hub Modules

ABA Article on Supported Decision Making

 

Texas Law Help YouTube Channel

A great resource for self-represented litigants, especially if they speak a language other than English.

https://www.youtube.com/@TexasLawHelpwebsite/videos

 

Upcoming Webinars

TAA Lease Update for 2024, 1 civil hour

February 23rd from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Join TAA for a review of the latest version of its lease! This class will allow courts to fully understand the terms of the most commonly-used lease in eviction and other landlord-tenant disputes.

Registration link: https://txstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a5eSTV1pSg2vrIosPqOScA#/registration

Implementing SB4: Magistrate’s Order to Return

Feb 29th from 2 – 3:00 p.m.

Instructor: Bronson Tucker

This webinar will cover SB 4, taking effect on March 4th, which allows magistrates processing defendants charged with Illegal Entry into Texas to issue orders for the defendant to leave the United States. It is critical that magistrates follow the law precisely to avoid liability, and these issues will be covered in this critical course.

Registration: https://txstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3oUM3-19S4C40lTAYHqSRA

 

*New* Recordings for Credit

Texas State Law Library Online Resources, 1 Hour Civil

Do you know about the resources available on the Texas State Law Library (TSLL) Website? Any Texan can get a free library card and access to these legal resources, so not only can judges, constables, and court staff use these resources for legal research, but the public can as well. Watch this one-hour prerecorded webinar for an overview from TSLL staff.

State of the State: Texas Demographic Trends and Characteristics, hosted by TJCTC

Speaker: Lloyd B. Potter

Do you want to know who is in your county and state? This webinar will provide information on the Texas population, including rural vs urban trends, migration information, and birth rates. It will also cover how Texas compares to other states and projected changes for Texas’ future.

You can find the recording for credit on the TJCTC Recordings for Credit Page under Court and Office Management Webinars. The TSLL also has additional self-help videos on their YouTube Page.

 

National Center for State Courts Releases New Guide to Mental Health Diversion

This guide is intended to serve as a resource framework for courts and judges to use to promote and implement diversion strategies for individuals with behavioral health needs in their communities. Ideally, judges would collaborate with a range of system stakeholders to examine the entire diversion continuum but could also focus on one step of the process at a time. This guide focuses on jail diversion systems, post arrest, and pre plea.

Download from the NCSC website

 

New Attorney General Opinion Regarding School Marshals KP-0454

Summary: A school district board of trustees may designate an individual to carry a handgun for the protection of students and staff by implementing a guardian plan or utilizing a school security officer. Education Code section 37.0811 provides another option for accomplishing this purpose by generally allowing a school board to appoint one or more school marshals for each campus in the district. Subsection 37.0811(c) authorizes a school marshal to possess a handgun on the physical premises of a school, but only in the manner provided by written regulations adopted by the board of trustees. A school marshal possesses a handgun when it is openly carried on the marshal’s duty belt. Therefore, a court would likely conclude that Education Code subsection 37.0811(c) authorizes a board of trustees to adopt regulations that allow a school marshal to duty belt carry a handgun.

 

Update on Legal Calls

We have had a large number of calls finding their way into the wrong voicemail inboxes. Remember, please dial 512-347-9927 and press “1” for legal calls. If you don’t, the voicemails end up with our program staff who also have a high call volume. Often times your legal call messages end up lost in their inboxes and don’t get transferred to the legal team for several days.

 

As always, we are looking forward to seeing you at a program in the upcoming months. We have a very busy Spring full of education events for you lined up from TJCTC!

Thea & the TJCTC Team

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