May court dockets in the 77th and 87th Judicial District Court will be seeing a fair number of changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Judge Deborah Oakes Evans issued an order on Monday, May 4, 2020 that modified the previous order from March 13, 2020 issued in response to the Orders of the Supreme Court of Texas and the Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
District Court Coordinator Misty Lewis explained that, “Judge Evans (87th) is the Administrative Judge for Freestone County, it basically covers both courts.”


Criminal
The Felony Criminal Trial dockets are being cancelled with their dates reset and/or postponed.
Criminal ancillary dockets arrangements and plans are as follows:
–Arraignments – The attorney should file a waiver of arraignment unless there is a reason to appear in court.
— Pre-trials – If attorney has no pretrial to present then an announcement should be made by email or regular mail prior to docket. If an announcement is made, there is no need to appear.
–Motions to Adjudicate/Motion to Revoke Probation (MTA/MRA) hearings – if no agreement is reached prior to the call of the docket, a hearing will be set for an appropriate court docket in June. If a plea agreement is made prior to the call of the docket it will be taken at docket. Paperwork should be completed prior to dock to minimize time and exposure.
–Writs of Habeas Corpus and/or Request for Bond Reduction – these will be heard at docket.
–Pleas – will be taken at ancillary docket, but paperwork should be completed prior to minimize time and exposure.
Hearing on Motions to suppress will be set on appropriate court docket in June.


Civil
All Civil Jury Trial dockets are cancelled with their dates reset and/or postponed.
The currently set civil hearings remain on the docket as scheduled subject to:
–No party objects due to possible exposure, diagnosis, or COVID-19.
–A continuance will be granted if requested due to exposure, diagnoses, or quarantine due to COVID-19.
–A hearing can be reset if any party, counsel or witness is high risk for COVID-19.
–A limit of six participants, counsel, parties and witnesses, is required.
–No new court appearances will be set except for emergency basis on cases involving children, Writs of Habeas Corpus, Protective Orders, Temporary Restraining Orders, and Temporary Injunctions.
These orders are subject to change without notice. Changes will be posted with the District Clerk of the appropriate county and on the County’s website.