Updates 3.12.2025

It has been a busy March so far, with a JP Conference and a Civil Process Conference back-to-back with JPCA Day right in the middle! We had such a great time welcoming so many of you to Austin!

There are several great webinars and trainings coming up, both from TJCTC and other outside groups. Make sure to scroll down all the way to register for the webinars this week. **There is one this week!**

More than 200 JPCA members at the Capitol for JPCA Day!

The Justices of the Peace and Constables Association had a great showing at the Capitol for your annual legislative day. While members of the TJCTC staff didn’t attend, we sure enjoyed seeing you all before and after at our conferences.

As this legislative session is underway, we wanted to remind you all that TJCTC will provide legislative updates late this summer (registration coming soon), but if you are interested on what is going on at the legislature now, contact your JPCA legislative teams – https://jpca.com/legislative/.

Spots filling fast! (Judges Only)

There are still spots open for justices of the peace at the annual Impaired Driving Symposium held July 30-31 in Denton.

Visit the TAC website for more information and to register: https://www.county.org/education-and-events/calendar-of-events/2025/impaired-driving-symposium/overview

Constable Corner

First Responder Wellness Week

This week is Wellness Week, and Lexipol has compiled a week’s worth of trainings, resources, and reminders for you to be the best you can be mentally and physically! Check them out at the Lexipol website by clicking the button below

Note: This is not a TJCTC sponsored training, but from a reputable criminal justice training agency.

FRWW-2025

Webinar from State Bar Justice Court Section: From Court Receivership Application & Hearing to What the Receiver Does After Issuance in Justice Court

Friday, March 21, 2025, Noon – 1 pm

Judge Ralph D. Swearingin, Jr. and Craig Noack will present From Court Receivership Application & Hearing to What the Receiver Does After Issuance in Justice Court. This session will offer 1 hour MCLE credit. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to join the webinar.

Course Description: This presentation will provide some insights from the bench on post-judgment collections and the appointment of receiverships. Additionally, the presentation will provide an in-depth look at the role of a receiver once appointed, including the behind-the-scenes work involved in collaborating with the judgment debtor

Note: This is not a TJCTC sponsored webinar, but from a section of the Texas State Bar Association.

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/1LlWU5qsRx6H8Dv_ZcWpPA#/registration

Upcoming TJCTC Webinars

Restorative Justice Pathways for Juvenile Offenses

THIS WEEK!!! March 14th from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Explore the critical intersection of emotional hygiene, shame, and juvenile behavior in our powerful session. Discover effective restorative justice strategies designed to promote healing, accountability, and meaningful community involvement within the juvenile justice system. Join us to unlock the power of restorative justice!

https://txstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3YYucvTYS_C3ZTEKKMh_bQ#/registration

Law & Literature Webinar

April 10th from 2:00 – 3:00 pm

Do you want to get paid to be part of a book club? Join TJCTC’s webinar to discuss the book “Maid” that intersects the art of storytelling and the legal field.

Judge Brad Cummings from Hopkins County and TJCTC Attorney John Lackey will lead the discussion regarding the book. Also, feel free to watch the Netflix series based on the book and be ready share your thoughts!

Visit an earlier blog post for more information & to register: https://docket.wp.txstate.edu/2025/01/22/law-literature/

Clearing Your Docket While Helping Your Community: An Update

June 5th from 2:00 – 4:00 pm

This webinar will be an overview of strategies to clear criminal case dockets while ensuring that indigent defendants’ rights are protected.

It will include information about Omnibase holds, waiver of fines and fees, community service plans, other indigent assistance strategies, and include relevant legislative updates

https://txstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_spcexLIFROSVykhcZrpsZg#/registration

Rescheduled TAC Training

Judicial Forum on Mental Health (Judges Only)

The Judicial Forum on Mental Health will give county judges and justices of the peace information about the nature of mental illness in the courts, crucial legislative updates and how to create important partnerships.

August 14, 2025 – August 15, 2025

08:00 AM – 05:00 PM

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Austin 6505 N. Interstate 35
Austin, TX 78752

https://www.county.org/education-and-events/calendar-of-events/2025/judicial-forum-on-mental-health/overview

Disability Awareness Month

This month is Disability Awareness Month. Are you doing everything possible to make your court accessible for all court users?

Do you know that 1 in 4 adults in the United States experience some type of disability at some point in their life?

A disability is a visible or invisible condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities such as eating, sleeping, speaking, hearing, walking, seeing, breathing, caring for one’s self, or working.

We discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act and what court compliance looks like in the recently updated Interpreters Self-Paced Module.

Check out all of the Self-Paced Modules on TJCTC’s Website:

https://www.tjctc.org/onlinelearning/selfpacedmodules.html

November 15, 2024

TJCTC Updates 11.15.2024

Hello!

Happy Friday. We are excited to announce that we are using a new email provider for these e-blasts, so hopefully you will have less trouble receiving them than with our prior software. (It also makes the job of compiling them a bit easier, so we are really crossing our fingers that it works out)!
We have a few resources to share and a big thank you to all of our Inquest Week participants for a great week of virtual training.

Inquest Week

If you missed it, don’t worry, recordings of most sessions will be live in the next few weeks, so look for an update via email soon.

We also want to remind you that we have some great inquest training coming up at both our regular 20-hour conferences and new judge conferences this year.

Juvenile Criminal Diversions

Just a reminder that there is a new self-paced module explaining the new Juvenile/Youth Criminal Diversion requirements in justice courts.

As part of this training, we are sharing sample diversion plans from across the state. Please reach out to mark.zuniga@txstate.edu if you are willing to share yours.

Legal Topic of the Week

Interpreters

If a participant in a court proceeding needs an interpreter for spoken language, or because of a disability affecting their ability to communicate in some other way (American Sign Language, etc.), the court MUST appoint one. Generally, courts will be required to appoint a certified interpreter, but there are limited circumstances where the interpreter does not have to be certified.

A court may appoint a spoken language interpreter who is not a licensed court interpreter:

in a county with less than 50,000 residents;
in a county with more than 50,000 residents if the language is not Spanish and the court finds that there is no licensed court interpreter within 75 miles who can interpret in that language; or
in a county that:
is part of two or more judicial districts, that has two or more district courts with regular terms, and that is part of a district in which a county borders on the international boundary of the United States and the Republic of Mexico;
borders on the international boundary of the United States and the Republic of Mexico and that is in a judicial district composed of four counties;
borders on the international boundary of the United States and the Republic of Mexico and that has three or more district courts or judicial districts wholly within the county; or
borders on the Gulf of Mexico and that has four or more district courts or judicial districts of which two or more courts or districts are wholly within the county.
Government Code §§ 57.002, 57.002(d-1); Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 21.021.

Even if a county is not required to provide the licensed interpreter, they still must provide an interpreter that is qualified by the court as an expert, at least 18 years of age, and that is not a party to the suit. See TX Gov’t Code Section §57.002(e).

Did you know we have a module full of information about Interpreters & Spanish Legal Terminology? You can access it on our Self-Paced Module Page – https://www.tjctc.org/onlinelearning/selfpacedmodules.html.

Do you have questions about this email or have something we should share? Please email Amber Myers at a_m1814@txstate.edu with any questions or content to share.

August 22, 2024August 22, 2024

Online Education Update

Hot Off the Press!

The new Truant Conduct Self-Paced Module went live last night. You can find this module and several other new ones on TJCTC’s Self Paced Module Page.

Did you miss other online learning opportunities released this academic year?

Modules:

Unidentified Bodies Toolkit

Deferred Disposition and DSC Dismissals

Interpreters and Spanish Legal Terminology

Occupational Driver License (ODL)

Find these on TJCTC’s Self-Paced Module Page.

Recordings for Credit:

Juvenile Criminal Diversions *hot topic*

Texas Demographic Trends and Characteristics

Cannabis Legalization and the Impacts on Impaired Driving

2024 Family Violence Update

Have you Heard of TMORT

Mental Health Resources for Judges

Find these on TJCTC’s Recordings for Credit Page.

Happy Learning!

-The TJCTC Team