Court Employee Appreciation Week and Upcoming Webinars
Thank you so much to all of the court employees for what you do to improve access to justice here in Texas! We all know that the courts couldn’t function without the help of the court staff.
Make sure that you check out the link at the bottom of this email to access a special toolkit focused on showing how much you appreciate your court staff.
Also, another reminder, don’t forget tosign up for a legislative update. We will be holding them all around the state and also virtually.
Upcoming TJCTC Webinars
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
Justice for All: Navigating the Legal Landscape of Animal Cases in the Courtroom
July 18th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
This webinar will address the role of the justice of the peace in animal cruelty cases, as well as other animal-related laws appearing before the court.
In doing so, it will touch upon dangerous dog cases, serious bodily injury cases, civil seizures, appellate process, and thinking outside the box when working with the parties for the greater good of the community.
Did you know that this week is Court Employee Appreciation Week?
The National Association for Court Management (NACM) has created a toolkit to help you show your appreciation to court employees. You can download it on the publications page of the NACM website.
As we finish out these last few days of February, we have several resources to share related to inquests, and some reminders about upcoming webinars and other programs.
Bulletin for Judges Conducting Inquests: Measles Outbreak
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reports the first measles-related death in the ongoing outbreak affecting the South Plains and Panhandle regions. As of February 25, 2025, 124 confirmed cases have been reported since late January, with most occurring in children. Eighteen people have been hospitalized due to complications from the virus. For a detailed breakdown of cases by county, please refer to the DSHS update: Texas Health Services
Under Texas law, a “communicable disease” is defined as an illness transmitted from an infected person, animal, or environmental source. Health & Safety Code § 81.003. If an inquest suggests that a death may be related to a communicable disease, judges are required to report it immediately to the local health authority or the Texas Department of Health. Health & Safety Code § 81.045(c).
Key Indicators of Measles in Cause of Death Investigations Measles is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with infectious droplets or airborne transmission when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Symptoms typically appear 7-14 days after exposure, beginning with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A few days later, a red rash develops, starting on the face and spreading to the rest of the body. Infected individuals are contagious from about four days before the rash appears to four days after. If signs of measles are suspected in an inquest, immediate reporting and further investigation are necessary.
TJCTC is closely monitoring updates from DSHS and will keep you informed as they are provided.
Constable Corner
Webinar from Police One: Unlocking grant opportunities: Funding the future of public safety technology
Tuesday, March 11, at 1 p.m.
Learn how to maximize resources and address critical challenges, including crime scene documentation, crash reconstruction and pre-incident planning.
Note: This is not a TJCTC sponsored webinar, but from a reputable criminal justice training agency.
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.
Restorative Justice Pathways for Juvenile Offenses
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!
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!
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
This month is Heart Health Awareness Month. From learning and teaching about inquests, we know that poor heart health often contributes to cause of death. Here are a few facts about heart health to think about for yourself and share with families when a person passes away as a result of heart disease.
Heart disease is very common. In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups. In 2022, 1 in every 5 deaths in the United States was caused by heart disease.
High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease. Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, which puts them at risk for heart disease and stroke. And just 1 in 4 people with high blood pressure has it under control.
Heart disease is costly. The cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity from heart disease amounted to $252.2 billion between 2019 and 2020.
