webinar – The Docket

October 28, 2025

TJCTC Updates 10.28.2025

Educational Opportunities and Legislative Updates

This edition of Updates includes a special Constable’s Corner and training opportunities, including registration information for TJCTC’s upcoming Justice of the Peace Evictions Workshop this fall and the final webinar in a series of webinars from the Texas State Bar about legislative updates.

We also included some information about an exciting NCSC project that could be really helpful for rural courts.

NCSC Legal Deserts Problem-Solving Project

Is your county a legal desert (a rural area where there isn’t enough legal help for those who need it)? Your court may be the perfect candidate for this new NCSC project providing support and resources to partner courts to help solve problems related to the lack of legal resources.

Don’t wait, look at the website now, because the priority application deadline is November 3, 2025!

Learn More and Apply

Constable’s Corner

TCOLE Training Requirement Reminder

In addition to the continuing basic requirements for a licensed peace officer, constables and their deputies require additional training each 4-year TCOLE cycle including training from LEMIT and TJCTC.

Constable-Specific

Newly Elected Constables:
Must complete Newly Elected Constable training (#3742 – does not include any
ALERRT training hours) thru LEMIT within 2 years of first appointment as Constable.

Constable Continuing Education:
Must complete Continuing Education for Constables (#3743) thru LEMIT each 4-
year training cycle thereafter. The course includes 8 hours of ALERRT training. You
will be required to complete an additional 8 hours of ALERRT training to meet the
16-hour legislative requirement.

Civil Process:
Must complete Civil Process (#1415) through the Justices of the Peace and
Constables of Texas (JPCA) from the Texas Justice Court Training Center (TJCTC)
at Texas State University each 4-year training cycle.

To see the full list of training required for peace officers, including constables and deputies, review THE BRIEFING from TCOLE that came out this October.

HB 5081 Confidential Information for Judges & Court Staff Online

HB 5081 amended the Government Code Chapter 92 to protect the information of “At-Risk Individuals” (which includes judges, clerks, and employees of courts) on public websites. The legislature passed this bill to help protect the privacy and safety of those that run our courts.

To learn more, read the bill online or review the slides on the TJCTC Legislative Updates Page.

Judges, Don’t Miss the Evictions Workshop this Fall!

This judge’s-only workshop will cover all of the new changes to the evictions laws as well as include interactive scenarios about how they will be implemented when they go into effect January 1, 2026.

November 12-14, 2025 via Zoom

Don’t worry, there will be additional workshops and classes for court personnel and constables next spring and summer.

Register Here: Justice of the Peace Virtual Evictions Workshop

State Bar Justice Court Section Webinar

Justice Court Section Legislative Update Part III: All Other Topics

Friday, November 7, 2025, Noon – 1:00 pm CDT

1 Hour MCLE Credit

This final webinar in the series will cover a variety of bills from the most recent legislative session, excluding SB 38 and SB 1333, which were covered in earlier sessions.

Presenter: Rebecca Glisan, TJCTC Director of Curriculum & Staff Attorney

This webinar is welcome to anyone who wants to join!

Note, this webinar is sponsored by the Texas State Bar Justice Court Section and is not an official TJCTC webinar.

October 28, 2025

TJCTC Updates 10.16.2025

Training, Legislative Updates, and a New Tobacco Awareness Program

This edition of Updates includes lots of training opportunities, including registration information for TJCTC’s upcoming Justice of the Peace Evictions Workshop this fall and a great series of webinars from the Texas State Bar about legislative updates.

Don’t forget to read all the way to the bottom to see this week’s Legal Question of the Week and get access to a new, improved E-Cigarette and Tobacco Awareness Program for your courts!

HB 1306 Benefits for JPs

House Bill 1306 amended several code sections to add Death Investigation Professionals (JPs, Medical Examiners, and death investigators) to the list of people who can receive benefits if exposed to contagious diseases.

In addition, the same Death Investigation Professionals were added to code provisions providing medical, survivor, and Worker’s Compensation benefits if they arise from injury or death while executing their duties.

Click the button below to review the bill.

HB 1306

Important E-Cigarette and Tobacco Awareness Program Update

Recently, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) partnered with the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University to develop and release a new, free, online, self-paced E-Cigarette and Tobacco Awareness Program (ETAP) course.

This program replaces the former Texas Youth Tobacco Awareness Program (TYTAP).

This new program (ETAP) is the only Texas Department of State Health Services-approved e-cigarette and tobacco awareness program to meet the requirements of Health and Safety Code Section 161.253.

ETAP offers (2) separate online tracks that are available statewide and at no cost to users. Those courses include:

ETAP Referral Course: This course is intended for individuals under age 21 who are cited for possession of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes (vapes), and are referred by the courts or their school. It also provides young Texans with the information and skills necessary to quit and avoid tobacco products in the future. Schools and educators are also encouraged to use the ETAP Referral Course as an alternative to school suspension or Disciplinary Alternative Education Program.

ETAP Prevention Course: This course is designed for young Texans in grades 6-12 who are interested in learning about the harmful health effects of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, tobacco industry marketing to young people, and how young people can build a vape free, tobacco free culture in their school. Schools and educators are encouraged to promote the ETAP Prevention Course as a way for students to receive awareness education regarding the harmful effects of tobacco use and vaping.

For questions about the course specifically, please reach out to tobacco.free@dshs.texas.gov.

Learn More About ETAP

Read the Press Release About ETAP

FY2026 Registration

Did you know that registration has already started for (some) FY26 Academic Year Conferences and Workshops??

Registration will open at 8:00 am (Please don’t wake up at midnight…you will be disappointed!) on the following dates:

Justices of the Peace – Open Now!!! Some programs are already full.

Court Personnel – Open Now!!! Programs are full, but some waitlists are open.

Constables & Deputies – October 21, 2025

*Note: Only court personnel notified by TJCTC are eligible for early registration. This registration is for court personnel who were unable to attend a conference last year. If anyone who is not eligible registers, they will be removed from the registration list and may not get a slot during regular registration.

Click the buttons below to see the agendas, dates, and locations of programs.

Justices of the Peace

Court Personnel

Constables & Deputies

Highlight on Evictions & Landlord/Tenant Issues

All conferences this year will feature sessions about evictions and landlord/tenant issues and will be updated with all of the new legislative changes.

There will also be special programming exclusively on these topics. One example is the workshop for justices of the peace:

Justice of the Peace Virtual Evictions Workshop – November 12 – 14, 2025 via Zoom

Legal Question of the Week

Question: If a defendant e-files an inability to pay appeal affidavit, say, on a Thursday, and for various reasons – efile could be down, computer system crashed, etc. – and the court doesn’t get to it until the following Monday, what would be the guiding state in regards to payment into the court registry, the day the party filed it, or the day the court entered it into the case?

Either day would be timely in regards to the appeal, but I want to make sure that when we send the information back to the filer about their registry payment that they have the appropriate time to pay into the registry and not cut them short, but I also want to make sure that we are within the proper time parameters according to the law. Please advise.

Answer: Generally, a document is considered filed when it is submitted through the efile system. In a case like this, when that happens could depend on when the efile system registers it submitted – this would usually be when the filer hit the submit button. If the system was down, it would likely not accept the filing. If there is another issue like the courts computers being down, there is no specific rule or statute allowing the extension of the deadline to pay rent into the registry, other than the general Rule 500.5(c) that allows the court to extend any time period under the Rules except those relating to new trial and appeal for good cause. We believe that the court could consider the issues that you describe to be good cause to extend this deadline.

The notice for the defendant to pay rent into the registry is required to give the defendant 5 days from the filing of the appeal bond or statement of inability to pay. This means, in this case they would have 5 days from whenever the statement of inability to pay court costs was submitted through efile. In these cases, it is important that the clerk accept these cases and send this notice as soon as possible.

It may be worth contacting the efile provider to see if there is a possibility of an automatic notice going out upon submission of an appeal in a non-payment of rent eviction case. Note, this might be even more helpful, if it is possible, when the new eviction laws go into effect in January 2026. The requirement of payment of rent into the registry will be extended to all types of eviction cases, not just non-payment. See Legislative Update Materials at https://www.tjctc.org/legislative.html.

October 3, 2025October 3, 2025

TJCTC Updates 10.3.2025

Happy Friday

We are heading full steam into a new academic year, and lots of information is coming your way. In this edition of Updates you will find information about registering for programs, updated resources, a Legal Question of the Week, and more.

Our last Update included a very special section related to Special Session Bills that were signed into law on 9/17. If you missed it, you can read it here: https://docket.wp.txstate.edu/2025/09/24/tjctc-updates-9-24-2025/

Office of Court Administration Updates

It will be no surprise that the Office of Court Administration (OCA) was charged with making many updates to the processes and systems that they are responsible for this legislative session. Some new things to check out are: SB 9 Updates that relate to magistration and the PSRS, Clerk Resources (including Court Costs, Fines, and Fees Charts & information about the Protective Order Database), and Standardized Protective Order Forms.

Click the buttons below to review some of these updates on the OCA website.

Clerk Resources

SB 9 Updates from OCA

Standardize d Protective Order Forms

Deskbooks, Forms, and Other Materials Updates

We have received lots of questions about updates to our materials, and rest easy, we are working on it! Several updated forms went live on September 1, and we will continue to roll out updated materials as they are completed.

Note, changes for laws going to effect in January will be implemented and posted in November and December. This includes changes to eviction forms and the Evictions Deskbook.

Remember, you can see when a form, chart, checklist or deskbook was updated on the page where you download it.

Visit the TJCTC Website.

FY2026 Registration

Did you know that registration has already started for (some) FY26 Academic Year Conferences and Workshops??

Registration will open at 8:00 am (Please don’t wake up at midnight…you will be disappointed!) on the following dates:

Justices of the Peace – Open Now!!! Some programs are already full.

Court Personnel – early October 7, 2025 & regular October 14, 2025

Constables & Deputies – October 21, 2025

Click the buttons below to see the agendas, dates, and locations of programs.

Justice of the Peace

Court Personnel

Constables & Deputies

Highlight on Evictions & Landlord/Tenant Issues

All conferences this year will feature sessions about evictions and landlord/tenant issues and will be updated with all of the new legislative changes.

There will also be special programming exclusively on these topics. One example is the workshop for justices of the peace:

Justice of the Peace Virtual Evictions Workshop – November 12 – 14, 2025 via Zoom

State Bar Justice Court Section Webinar

Justice Court Section Legislative Update Part 1: SB 38

Friday, October 17, 2025, Noon – 1:00 pm CDT

1 Hour MCLE Credit

This webinar is the first part of a three-part legislative update series. It will cover a portion of the changes made to Evictions law by SB 38, with the remaining changes to be covered in Part 2

Presenter: Rebecca Glisan, TJCTC Director of Curriculum & Staff Attorney

Note, this webinar is sponsored by the Texas State Bar Justice Court Section and is not an official TJCTC webinar.

Register now!

Legal Question of the Week

Question: A vehicle accident happened in our County both the Plaintiff and Defendant reside in a different county. Will the small claim be filed in our county?

Answer: Venue for a small claim/civil case is chosen initially by the plaintiff. There can be many proper venues for a case. Please review pages 40-41 of the Civil Deskbook to see all the proper venues in a small claim/civil case.

It looks like either of these locations could be a potential proper venue.

September 4, 2025

TJCTC Updates 9.4.2025

New Laws Taking Effect

You may have noticed a new slide on our front page reminding constables that SB 1333 took effect this week, but don’t forget, that’s not the only new law already in effect!

For a full list of bills that have taken effect already, please see the TJCTC Legislative Page and review the materials available to you there. This Update is all about important changes from the legislature, including hot topics still being discussed in the special session, benefits now available to judges and court staff, and Rules updates as a result of the new laws.

Why don’t new court fees and costs go into effect until January 1, 2026?

Government Code Sec. 51.607 requires new or amended court costs and fees (not fines) to go into effect January 1, following the legislative session, even if the bill creating or amending them goes into effect prior to that date.

This is also the statute requiring OCA to create costs and fees charts. (To be updated soon on their website – https://www.txcourts.gov/publications-training/publications/filing-fees-courts-costs/)

What is an example of this from this legislative session?

HB 2282 – Warrant Fee

A warrant fee assessed as costs (when applicable) to a convicted defendant will now be $75 instead of $50.

If the fee is assessed before 1/1/26, the fee is $50. If it is assessed on or after 1/1/26 AND the offense date is on or after 9/1/25, the fee is $75.See the updated CCP Art. 102.011(a) & Gov’t. Code Sec. 51.607.

New Supreme Court Rule

Texas Rule of Judicial Administration 12.5

Effective September 1, 2025, The Texas Supreme Court amended Rule of Judicial Administration 12.5 to give effect to HB 5129.

What changed?

The amendments added more personal/family information into the Rule that will be exempt from disclosure when Judicial Records are requested (note, this is different from the rules regarding disclosure of Case Records).

Want to see the changes for yourself? Here is the advisory – https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461161/259062.pdf

To review the difference between Judicial Records and Case Records, please see Chapter 2 of the Recordkeeping and Reporting Deskbook on the TJCTC Deskbook Page. Note, while this change is already in effect, the Supreme Court may make additional amendments as a result of public comment. As usual, we will keep you updated if any changes occur.

Legal Question of the Month

What is a Squatter??

Squatters have been a hot topic over the last few years, and a new bill, SB 1333, was even called the “Squatter Bill” by the media and others.

So, what is the legal definition of a squatter?

A squatter is a person who commits a forcible entry and detainer (FED) by entering the real property of another without legal authority or by force and refuses to surrender possession on demand. Property Code Sec. 24.001.

It does not count as a FED if the person enters with the consent of:

– A person in actual possession of the property;

– A tenant at will or by sufferance; or

– A person who acquired possession by forcible entry (a squatter).

So, if a person has consent when they enter, they aren’t a squatter!

This definition is very important for some of the new updates to evictions and landlord/tenant law that we saw out of this legislative session. Many of these updates don’t go into effect until January and will be discussed in detail at legislative updates and upcoming conferences and workshops. However, we have had several questions about SB 1333 that we answered in an email to constables and deputies earlier this week. You can read it on The Docket – https://docket.wp.txstate.edu/2025/08/29/civil-process-updates-8-29-2025-important/.

Mass Fatalities & Disaster Relief

After the devastating floods this summer, inquests and mass fatality trainings have been not only a hot topic at the legislature, but also a topic of concern among justices of the peace. No one wants to be caught off guard going into such a hard situation.

Some good news is that we have several trainings available to help justices of the peace get prepared and know who to call when disaster strikes.

There are two recordings for credit that are related to this topic on the Recordings for Credit Page – Have you heard of TMORT? and Resources for Mass Fatalities.

There is also a great self-paced module with helpful information called Unidentified Bodies on the Self-Paced Module Page.

As always, if any new laws from the special session pass and require additional training, we will keep judges in the loop. In the meantime, we will have multiple inquest classes at our regular conferences for judges to brush up on their skills in addition to our library of online resources.

Have something great to share? Email Amber Myers at a_m1814@txstate.edu.

August 21, 2025

TJCTC Updates 8.21.2025

Mid-Month Updates

Please read this email fully for an important legislative update as well as some great training opportunities (some of them are FREE)!

Important note, if you downloaded Legislative Update Materials prior to 8/21/2025, please re-download the updated version, available today. We apologize, but some new information was provided this week that lead us to change a few slides.

For judges/clerks, changes were made specifically to sections regarding SB 1667, HB 654, and HB 2282. There were no changes made to the 2025 New Fine-Only Offense Chart. For constables/deputies, there were several minor changes made. There were no changes made to the Caselaw Update.

SB 1667 Expunctions

Note: If you attended the 8/19/25 Legislative Update in Corpus Christi, this update includes updated information from our presentation.

This bill applies to expunction petitions filed after 9/1/2025, and made changes to Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A. (Note, this won’t apply to expunctions made other under code provisions, like alcohol offense expunctions.)

It requires district clerks to compile and maintain on their website a list of agencies/entities and their applicable email addresses, so that expunction petitions and orders can be delivered to the appropriate entities electronically.

New Fee: If an agency/entity cannot receive the order electronically, then the court shall charge a $25 fee effective 1/1/2026.

Old Fee: This bill repealed the “Fees in Expunction Proceedings” section. This means that starting 9/1/2025, the $100 fee for CCP Ch. 55A expunctions can no longer be charged. This also means only the new $25 fee discussed above will be charged (after 1/1/2026). Note, this repeal was an error that the legislature is seeking to reverse in the special session. If the new bill passes, the $100 fee will go back into effect 1/1/2026. TJCTC will keep you updated on this situation.

There are also new provisions regarding inspection and disposition of expunction records and retention of mental health records.

Want more info?

Review TJCTC’s legislative update slides on SB 1667

Read SB 1667

Legal Question of the Month

Release of Judgment in Error

A default judgment was granted against the defendant last year. A few months later, there was a Release of Judgment entered in the case. The plaintiff recently realized that the judgment was NOT supposed to be released, they have now submitted a “Motion to Vacate and set aside satisfaction of judgment”. Is this something that is possible, to set aside the release of judgment?

Answer: At this point, it may be best to have a hearing to ensure that there is nothing weird going on or no other mistakes are made, and give notice to both the judgment creditor and judgment debtor.

At the hearing, if the court finds that the release was entered in error, then the court can enter an order withdrawing or striking the release and noting what happened. This will also give the debtor an opportunity to be heard and know what is going on, as they might have no clue any of this happened.

Upcoming Training Opportunities

8th Annual Judicial Summit on Mental Health

Detailed Agenda Available

The 8th Annual Judicial Summit on Mental Health will be held October 7-8, 2025, at the Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria in Houston, Texas. Capacity for our in-person meeting is limited; we have fewer than 100 in-person spots left. Those who are not able to attend the meeting in person will have the opportunity to live-stream the event from their home or office.

Book your hotel room at the Royal Sonesta Houston Galleria by September 12 to get the Summit room block rate.

Don’t forget, registration is free! Register to attend in-person or online: https://web.cvent.com/event/e401bbc3-30ae-401f-be22-b1b385a958b7/regPage:3a358dcf-21b7-414c-ad7b-06220cc77043

TAC RMP Regional Pool Workshops

Various Dates from September 23, 2025 – October 02, 2025 (multi-day)

TAC Risk Management Pool Regional Workshops are scheduled around the state and are designed to be small, intense and topic-specific. These one-day sessions will cover the latest in risk control, human resources and law enforcement.

Who Should Attend?

Elected and appointed officials, decision-makers for the Pool, human resource directors and managers, workers’ compensation managers, and department managers or supervisors.

Registration Fees The workshops are provided at no cost to county officials and staff.

Learn More and Register: https://www.county.org/education-and-events/calendar-of-events/2025/tac-rmp-regional-pool-workshop/overview

Online Training

Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative from NCSC

NCSC has launched an initiative designed to help courts play an active role in raising awareness of human trafficking. CDL Drivers & Courts: On the Road to End Human Trafficking offers judges a tool to address this issue from the bench—a specialized e-learning course that can be assigned to CDL drivers who appear before the court.

The free, self-paced e-learning course educates commercial drivers on how to identify and report signs of human trafficking, understand reporting procedures, and comply with the No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act, which imposes a lifetime CDL disqualification for drivers convicted of human trafficking in a commercial motor vehicle. Participants earn a certificate of completion that can be submitted to the court.

Resources for this initiative, including a judicial bench card, are available at https://www.ncsc.org/cdlhtainfo. Note, if you are a judge or clerk who completes this course and would like TJCTC Credit, please email your certificate to Jessica Foreman at jessforeman@txstate.edu.

Disaster Relief Help

Do members of your community still need disaster relief aid?

You can share the following link to resources from Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid with your community.https://www.trla.org/disaster

August 13, 2025

TJCTC Updates 8.13.2025

Legislative Updates and Other Training

As we come to the end of summer, there are some interesting online learning opportunities and of course legislative updates coming up very soon before we get back into the next year of regularly-scheduled training.

We have received several calls about legislative changes. We are hard at work going through the changes to explain them to you and update materials!

Several of the Legislative Update programs still have seats left:

Beaumont (Judges, Court Personnel, & Civil Process) on August 28

Virtual Civil Process on September 10

Lubbock (Judges & Court Personnel) on September 15

Virtual Judges & Court Personnel on September 17

Some other programs have short wait lists, and you may still get a spot, but it is not guaranteed.

Last Civil Process Conference of 2025

Virtual Civil Process Conference
August 19th – 22nd , 2025.
TCOLE #1415 and TCOLE #3131

Note: This will be the final TJCTC course for TCOLE Civil Process (for elected officials) #1415 for this training cycle.

Register through August 15 by logging in to your TJCTC profile at: https://enroll.tjctc.org/portal/events/reg/participantTypeSelection.do?method=load&entityId=2544790

After August 15, please email Jay Takach at jay.takach@txstate.edu if you are interested in joining.

For the next few months, we will be highlighting legislative changes each time we send out Updates.

Our first highlight is SB 2371, related to credit card skimmers on electronic terminals.

This bill created a new class c offense among other statutes related to credit card skimmers. It went into effect on May 27, 2025.

Sec. 607A.102.CRIMINAL OFFENSES. (a) A person commits an offense if the person refuses to allow an inspection of an electronic terminal at the merchant ’s place of business in violation of Section 607A.053. An offense under this subsection is a Class C misdemeanor.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person negligently or recklessly disposes of a skimmer that was installed on an electronic terminal by another person. An offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor.
(c) A person commits an offense if, knowing that an investigation is ongoing or that a criminal proceeding has been commenced and is pending, the person disposes of a skimmer installed on an electronic terminal by another person. An offense under this subsection is a felony of the third degree

Upcoming Training Opportunity

TAC RMP Regional Pool Workshops

Various Dates from September 23, 2025 – October 02, 2025 (multi-day)

Who Should Attend?

Elected and appointed officials, decision-makers for the Pool, human resource directors and managers, workers’ compensation managers, and department managers or supervisors.

Registration Fees

The workshops are provided at no cost to county officials and staff.

Learn More and Register: https://www.county.org/education-and-events/calendar-of-events/2025/tac-rmp-regional-pool-workshop/overview

Online Training

TJCTC Webinar

Lunch and Learn Webinar (court personnel only):
From Lockouts to Light Switches: Understanding Writs of Re-Entry and Restoration in Texas

Tired of evictions? Bring your lunch and join us for a Lunch and Learn covering other common landlord/tenant cases like Writs of Retrieval, Re-Entry, Restoration, and Repair and Remedy. We’ll break down how to process and adjudicate these cases with practical tips and real-world insight.

This webinar is TOMORROW, Thursday, August 14th, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm.

Use this link to register now: https://txstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F4H4R5sQTgmA8C3VuQWB-w

NCSC Webinar

AI evidence in jury trials: Authenticity, admissibility, and roles of the court and juries

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies become more prevalent, state courts are likely to encounter AI-generated evidence, such as deepfakes, reconstructed videos, and synthetic documents.

Join the TRI/NCSC AI Policy Consortium to explore the evidentiary challenges posed by both acknowledged and unacknowledged AI-generated evidence in jury trials. Panelists will examine existing legal frameworks for authentication and admissibility and provide practical guidance for judges and attorneys. Special attention will be paid to the unique responsibilities of courts and juries in evaluating the authenticity and reliability of AI-generated evidence, as well as the potential need for updated jury instructions and judicial guidance.

Learn More and Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZUPPIm9pQLiEo5aV-UR30w?utm_campaign=774425_AI%20evidence%20in%20jury%20trials%3A%20Authenticity%2C%20admissibility%2C%20and%20roles%20of%20the%20court%20and%20juries&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=v-0&dm_i=7L57,GLJT,4VW08I,2OO0Y,1#/registration

National Wellness Month

Did you know that August is National Wellness Month?

Take some time this month to reflect on your wellbeing as well as what you can do at the office and at home to promote wellness for your employees/coworkers and family.

Here is an article from WebMD that discusses all kinds of wellness strategies: https://www.webmdhealthservices.com/blog/august-is-national-wellness-month-lets-make-well-being-a-priority-all-year-long/

This is also a great time to do the 5 Day Challenge to Improve Your Mental Health if you haven’t already (or again if you want a refresher)!

You can find it on the TJCTC Self-Paced Modules Page – https://www.tjctc.org/onlinelearning/selfpacedmodules.html

August 13, 2025

TJCTC Updates 7.8.2025

Returning After the Holiday

As we head into this first week after the July 4th holiday, our thoughts are will those in the Hill Country and across Texas who were affected by the storms and flooding. At the bottom of this email, we have compiled a list of organizations working on the ground that you may be able to utilize or share with members of your community.

Today’s updates include a few legal announcements, including an emergency order affecting the Hill Country in addition to information about upcoming trainings. Note, we have announced an additional virtual Civil Process Conference for those needing to get their TCOLE requirements this cycle.

We have received several calls about legislative changes. We are hard at work going through the changes to explain them to you and update materials! If you missed it, our legislative update programs are open for registration. Sign up at www.tjctc.org/legislative.

Emergency Order

Today the Texas Supreme Court issued a First Emergency Order on the Hill Country Flood State of Disaster.

Key provisions of the order include:

– Court proceedings throughout Texas should be delayed or modified where reasonably necessary to cope with this disaster.

– Pursuant to section 22.0035(b) of the Texas Government Code,3 any statute of
limitations applicable to a civil claim is suspended if the claimant shows that
this disaster prevented the timely filing of the claim.

– Pursuant to section 22.0035(b) of the Texas Government Code, all courts in
Texas should consider disaster-caused delays as good cause for modifying or
suspending any deadline or procedure—whether prescribed by statute, rule, or
order—in any case, civil or criminal.

– All attorneys and litigants are strongly encouraged to cooperate with opposing
counsel, opposing parties, and court personnel to reach agreement on
reasonable extensions of time and any other accommodations made necessary
by this disaster.

The order expires on August 6, 2025, unless extended by the Court.

Access the order at this link: https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1460882/259035.pdf

SB 4 Update

n a ruling last week, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the injunction in place against the execution of Senate Bill 4 from the 2023 legislative session (an immigration law that would allow local police to arrest people they suspect crossed the Texas-Mexico border illegally).

What does this mean?

This means that the laws created by Senate Bill 4 are currently not in effect. If/when there is another update, we will update you.

Read the full order here: https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/24/24-50149-CV1.pdf

Last Civil Process Conference of 2025

Virtual Civil Process Conference
August 19th – 22nd , 2025.
TCOLE #1415 and TCOLE #3131

Note: This will be the final TJCTC course for TCOLE Civil Process (for elected officials) #1415 for this training cycle.

Register by logging in to your TJCTC profile here: https://enroll.tjctc.org/portal/events/reg/participantTypeSelection.do?method=load&entityId=2544790

Impaired Driving Symposium (judges only)

This 8-Hour program will include a range of topics on impaired driving and will include JPs, District Judges, County Judges, and Municipal Judges. Join us from July 30-31 to work with all levels of the judiciary to make Texas roads safer!

This program is sponsored by a generous grant from the Texas Department of Transportation. That means, it is FREE! There is no registration fee and the program comes with 1 free night at the hotel.

Upcoming Training Opportunity

This upcoming conference from Texas Health and Human Services and other partners is a great opportunity for justices of the peace, constables, and other county employees who work in the criminal justice system.

https://txbhjustice.org/the-summit-2025

TAC RMP Regional Pool Workshops

Various Dates from September 23, 2025 – October 02, 2025 (multi-day)

Who Should Attend?

Elected and appointed officials, decision-makers for the Pool, human resource directors and managers, workers’ compensation managers, and department managers or supervisors.

Registration Fees

The workshops are provided at no cost to county officials and staff.

Learn more and register: https://www.county.org/education-and-events/calendar-of-events/2025/tac-rmp-regional-pool-workshop/overview

Upcoming TJCTC Webinars

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.

Resources for Flood Victims

Red Cross – Information about help and reunification be found on their website – https://www.redcross.org/

2-1-1 Texas – https://www.211texas.org/

Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) – https://tdem.texas.gov/

Legal Aid – to find the appropriate legal aid provider visit – https://www.tjctc.org/srl/srl-attorney-search.html

SAMHSA – mental health support – Call SAMHSA at (800) 985-5990 or text 988 to connect with a trained mental health professional.

June 12, 2025

TJCTC Updates 6.12.2025

Training & Updates

We wanted to remind you again about some online training opportunities (at the end of this email), an in-person training opportunity in August, and provide a few updates.

We have also received several calls about legislative changes. If you missed it, our legislative update programs are open for registration! Sign up at www.tjctc.org/legislative.

TLSC Eviction Helpline Closing

The TLSC statewide Eviction Helpline, 855-270-7655, is closing on July 31, 2025 due to funding ending. Anyone who calls the Eviction Helpline after July will hear a voicemail stating the Helpline has closed and directing them to website TexasLawHelp.org for information on what limited legal aid remains available and otherwise how to represent themselves.

It has been brought to our attention that many courts have this information as well as old information about the Texas Eviction Diversion Program in their current eviction citations. Please make sure your court is using the most up-to-date forms and no longer includes this information.

Please refer those asking for legal information to our Self-Represented Litigants Page that includes updated links to resources like TexasLawHelp.org and the Texas State Law Library.

Upcoming Training Opportunity

Impaired Driving Symposium (judges only)

Upcoming TJCTC Webinars

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.

Upcoming Inquest Webinar from Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Registries (EMSTR)

Data Quality Webinar

June 24th from 10:00 – 11:00 am CT

This session from the EMSTR Registry Operations Support Team will focus on the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and Submersion (drowning) programs. This training will cover program inclusion criteria and common questions that come up when reporting these case types.

The sessions will end with a brief Q&A component. Questions regarding the Acute Injury (Trauma Program) are also welcome for Registrars who fulfill both functions. Please register to receive an emailed invitation to join the meeting. Don’t hesitate to reach out ahead of time to injury.web@dshs.texas.gov with any questions or concerns!

Note: This is not a TJCTC webinar, but it is from a reputable source and judges can receive judicial education credit for attending and reporting their attendance to TJCTC.

Upcoming Inquest Webinar from Valor

From Crime Scene to Autopsy: An Insider’s Journey into Death Investigations

June 24th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm CT

Join Valor Technical Cleaning for a powerful, one-time-only forensic science webinar featuring two of the most influential voices in death investigations.

Dr. Michael Baden – World-renowned forensic pathologist, known for his work on the John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Jeffrey Epstein cases.

Joseph J. Kolb, MA – Former death investigator with the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, certified Diplomate of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators, Executive Director of the Southwest Gang Information Center, instructor for the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy and experienced criminal justice instructor.

In this exclusive discussion, these two experts will walk us through the real-life process of death investigations—from the scene to the autopsy room. You’ll gain rare insight into the intersection of field forensics and pathology, directly from the front lines of some of history’s most significant investigations.

Note: This is not a TJCTC webinar, but it is from a reputable source and judges can receive judicial education credit for attending and reporting their attendance to TJCTC.

May 20, 2025

TJCTC Updates 5.19.2025

Online Training & More

This week we have a few resources and legal questions along with some reminders for available online trainings.

Legal Question of the Week

Question: Can a plaintiff in a debt claim file one petition against one Defendant but have multiple claims? Example: Plaintiff ABC Legal filed one petition against Defendant Jane Doe listing count 1 – Discover bank charge off account purchased by ABC Legal. Count 2 – AMEX CC charge off account purchased by ABC Legal. Shouldn’t the plaintiff file a petition for each separate debt?

Answer: Yes, if the case is between the same plaintiff and defendant (looks like it is, because ABC Legal now owns all of the debts), then they can be filed in the same case, even if there are multiple contracts/debts. The plaintiff could also choose to file as two separate cases. It is up to the plaintiff on how they choose to file the case. Note, this applies to all small claims (not just debt claims) – multiple causes of action can be handled in the same case if the total damages fall below $20,000.

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.

Upcoming NCSC Webinars

Courts & Accommodations for Users with Disabilities

Tuesday, May 20 at 2:00 pm CT

This webinar will explore how courts implement accommodations tailored to the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities. We will discuss how courts can handle accommodation requests and provide guidance on best practices for making informed decisions that enhance accessibility. To enrich the learning experience, we will use hypothetical scenarios to illustrate real-world scenarios and the decision-making processes involved.

Note, this webinar is not sponsored by TJCTC, but judges and court personnel may submit proof of attendance for general judicial education credit.

Register to the Webinar: https://ncsc-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oknT1T1GT82-Gt0LAdhBkw?utm_campaign=731104_Whats%20on%20May%2019%20%28new%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=v-0&dm_i=7L57,FO4G,4VW08I,2ICK4,1#/registration

AI-Assisted Translation in the Courts: Exploring Opportunities and Navigating Risks

Wednesday, May 21 at noon CT

In this webinar, we will candidly discuss the potential risks associated with AI translation tools, distinguishing between applications with varying levels of sensitivity — such as translating court forms versus court transcripts. The webinar aims to provide participants with a balanced understanding of the potential benefits and risks of AI-assisted translation in the courts, empowering them to make informed decisions about its implementation and use.

Note, this webinar is not sponsored by TJCTC, but judges and court personnel may submit proof of attendance for general judicial education credit.

Register for the Webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZUPPIm9pQLiEo5aV-UR30w?utm_campaign=731104_Whats%20on%20May%2019%20%28new%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_content=v-0&dm_i=7L57,FO4G,4VW08I,2ICK3,1#/registration

6 Mental Health Tips from Psychologists

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

As we reflect on our mental health this month, why not look to the professionals for the best tips? The American Psychological Association just shared an article called 6 mental health tips psychologists use.

Make sure to also check out the Mental Health Awareness Month content that TJCTC has been sharing on LinkedIn and Facebook. Make sure to follow TJCTC on social media for tips like this as well as office closures and other important updates.

May 9, 2025May 12, 2025

TJCTC Updates 5.9.2025

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 to sign 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

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

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.

Registration Link: https://txstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bo5YIvbJQxucJmrU07lp3Q#/registration

Court Employee Appreciation Toolkit

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.

Download the Toolkit: https://nacmnet.org/resources/publications/