1405 CAMPBELL AVENUE, STE. 101 2020 03 19 PHONE 830-769-3572
JOURDANTON, TX 78026-3421 coordinator@81-218.txcourts.gov
81
ST
AND 218
TH
DISTRICT COURTS
ATASCOSA, FRIO, KARNES LA SALLE & WILSON COUNTIES
VISIT https://81-218.txcourts.gov/ FOR LATEST UPDATES
March 19, 2020
Re: First Directive for Criminal Defendants on Bond in District Court.
In the interest of the safety and welfare of the public, attorneys, defendants, and
courthouse staff, the 81
st
and 218th County Civil District Courts have made the
following decisions regarding the criminal defendants on bond in Atascosa, Frio,
Karnes, La Salle and Wilson Counties.
Beginning Monday, March 23, 2020, personal appearance at criminal dockets
will be limited to defendants who are in custody. Dockets for defendants who
have been released on bond are suspended. Defendants released on bond, who
have completed and filed with the District Clerk the ACKNOWWLEDGEMENT
OF SUSPENSION OF CRIMINAL DOCKETS DUE TO COVID-19 AND
RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP COURT INFORMED OF ADDRESS form,
found below, need not personally appear at previously scheduled dockets.
This directive will remain in effect until further orders are made, or until 30 days
the termination of the state of disaster declared by the Governor in response to
COVID-19, whichever comes first. Visit https://81-218.txcourts.gov/
for the
latest updates.
The District Judges retain the inherent discretion to add or remove a case from
the criminal dockets. The District Judges expect that a system will shortly be in
place to allow criminal matters to be heard by teleconference. This Directive
does not suspend a defendants duty to appear at a teleconference hearing, or
trial.
To the extent allowed by the Texas Supreme Court’s and Texas Court of Criminal
Appeal’s First Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster
, or
subsequent orders, all deadlines and procedures for criminal defendants released
on bond, whether prescribed by statute, rule, or order, are stayed, until further
order, for a period ending not later than 30 days after the Governor’s state of
1405 CAMPBELL AVENUE, STE. 101 2020 03 19 PHONE 830-769-3572
JOURDANTON, TX 78026-3421 coordinator@81-218.txcourts.gov
disaster has been lifted, except to the extent that, after notice and hearing, the
Court lifts the stay in individual cases.
If a party, attorney, staff member, witness or spectator, exhibits any COVID-19
symptoms, including fever, coughing, or sneezing, or has a particularized reason
to believe they have been exposed to COVID-19, the Court ORDERS them to
NOT APPEAR, but notify the Court Coordinator at 830-769-3750, or
coordinator@81-218.txcourts.gov
, for rescheduling.
2020 03 19
CAUSE NO.___________________________
THE STATE OF TEXAS
§
IN THE 81
st
218
th
DISTRICT COURT,
§
v.
§
OF
§
____________________________ Defendant
§
§
ATASCOSA, FRIO, KARNES, LA SALLE
or WILSON COUNTY, TEXAS
ACKNOWWLEDGEMENT OF SUSPENSION OF CRIMINAL DOCKETS DUE TO
COVID-19 AND RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP COURT INFORMED OF ADDRESS
I, the Defendant in this case, am released on bond. I acknowledge that, due to the declared state
of disaster in response to the COVID-19 virus, criminal dockets for those defendants released
on bond have been suspended, ON THE CONDITION THAT THEY COMPLETE THIS FORM
AND RETURN IT TO THE DISTRICT CLERK. I acknowledge that I will be notified, of the
next docket at which I must personally appear, not more than 30 days after the end of the declared
state of disaster, unless I am notified sooner. I acknowledge that, if so notified, I must appear
for court via teleconference. I acknowledge that I need not contact anyone about a setting unless
I have not been notified by 30 days after the end of the declared state of disaster. I acknowledge
that I am still bound by all conditions of my bond. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to
make sure the District Clerk, my attorney, and the Court Coordinator, know of any change in my
address. I declare that the information below is true, and that if it changes I will notify my
attorney, the District Clerk in writing, and the Court Coordinator in writing at 1405 Campbell
Avenue, Jourdanton, Texas 78026, or at coordinator@81-218.txcourts.gov
.
Street Address Mailing Address (if different)
______________________________ ______________________________
______________________________ ______________________________
Mobile Telephone Other Telephone
______________________________ ______________________________
Email Address Signature
______________________________ ______________________________
Date:__________________________