The Texas Court Remote Interpreter Service (TCRIS) has now completed four months of successful operation, responding to requests from 52 judges in 39 counties for 157 hearings, for quality Spanish interpretation by licensed court interpreters. TCRIS is part of OCA's Language Access Program, funded during the last legislative session to help reduce linguistic barriers to meaningful justice in Texas courts. 

Judge John Payton, a justice of the peace in Collin County, is a frequent user of OCA's free service, usually for plea hearings. Speaking of TCRIS interpreter Leonard Perales, Judge Payton said, "Leonard has been wonderful to work with in the jail process. He interprets effectively and efficiently. Our inmates understand him and he interprets exactly what is said. Leonard has given us a much better option than our commercial provider; I just wish we could have him on weekends. The service provided by Texas Court Remote Interpreter Service is invaluable."

OCA first contacted district and county-level courts regarding the availability of the service, followed by Title IV-D courts and child protection courts, and most recently, justice courts. Most judges are using the audio-only option via a courtroom speakerphone, but some have tried OCA's videoconference option for improved communication. When TCRIS staff isn't taking calls for verbal interpretation, they work on requests for written translations of court documents into Spanish. TCRIS is often available for on-demand requests, but courts are encouraged to schedule in advance whenever possible to guarantee availability. When a court calls to request interpretation services, the calls will go to voicemail when the interpreters are providing services to other courts. Staff, however, will call back as soon as possible.

Full press release here.

In Their Words:

John Creuzot, Retired Dallas County District Judge

Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, Supreme Court of Texas

The Children's Bureau-together with its information service, Child Welfare Information Gateway-is pleased to announce that the 2014 National Foster Care Month website is now live. This year's theme is "Building Blocks Toward Permanent Families."  Given the critical role judges and attorneys play in keeping children safe and families strong we invite you to explore the resources below and share them with colleagues.   The website provides resources with information about supporting permanence through reunification, kinship care, guardianship, and adoption, including resources specifically geared toward foster parents and youth.

Explore resources and help spread the word:

• Encourage colleagues to visit the Strengthening Families Through Permanence and Engaging Families in Case Planning webpages.
• Add a link to your email signature or a widget to your website.
• Share the FAQ handout with colleagues at meetings and conferences.
• Get inspired by real-life stories from families, youth, foster parents, caseworkers, and others.
• Check out the outreach tools offered in the Promote section of the website.

https://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/

On April 14, 2014, in Miscellaneous Docket No. 14-9080, the Supreme Court of Texas approved preliminary amendments to the rule for authenticating "business records" in Texas Rule of Evidence 902(10). Under the current rule, a business-records affidavit and the documents attached to it must be filed with the clerk 14 days before trial. The amendments, which are required by the Act of May 25, 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., ch. 560 (SB 679), replace the 14-day filing requirement with a requirement that the affidavit and records be served on the other parties to the case 30 days before trial. The administrative order invites public comments on the amendments before July 1, 2014. The amendments may change in response to public comments. The final amendments will become effective September 1, 2014.

One beneficial result of the 83rd Legislature is that OCA was granted funding for three new child protection courts and one new child support court. OCA worked with the presiding judges of the administrative judicial regions for many months to place these new courts strategically; those plans also led to some court reconfigurations to relieve some overburdened courts and to accommodate a newly created district court. The last new specialty court was opened last Monday, thereby implementing all of the plans put in place as the result of last session.

Newly created:

Child Support Court, Region 6, El Paso

Phyllis Gonzalez, associate judge

Iris Quiroga, court coordinator

Child Protection Court of West Texas, Region 7, Odessa

Tracey Scown, associate judge

Jennifer Smith, court coordinator

South Plains Foster Care Court No. 2, Region 9, Lubbock

Kara Darnell, associate judge

Libby Caranfa, court coordinator

Child Protection Court of South Central Texas, Region 4, Jourdanton

Melissa DeGerolami, associate judge

Dora Gonzales, court coordinator

New staff and reconfiguration as result of new district court:

Child Protection Court of the Hill Country, Region 3, Llano

Cheryll Mabray, associate judge

Beverly Gatliff, court coordinator

To see all the changes in the Child Protection Courts:  CPC Map

There have been many transitions in specialty courts staff over the past year, due to folks retiring, changing location, and even changing hats within OCA.  To recap:

Child Support Courts

Casey Nortman replaced retired Candice Springer in Denton as court coordinator.

Karen McKnight replaced retired Diane Walters in Austin as court coordinator.

Melynda Collins replaced Aurora Zamora in Uvalde as court coordinator. Aurora is now OCA's court services consultant in Austin.

Eric Rodriguez replaced retired Jim Rausch in San Antonio as associate judge.

Maya Evans replaced retired Aurora Madrigal in Dallas as associate judge.

Maria Perez began training to replace retiring Cecilia Rosas on April 24 in Brownsville as court coordinator.

Child Protection Courts

Delilah Alvarez came on as court coordinator in Edinburg.

Melissa McClenahan replaced retired Karin Bonicoro as associate judge in Child Protection Court of Central Texas.

Delma Ramirez replaced retired Diana Valdes in Midland as court coordinator.

Sharra Cantu replaced Dora Gonzales in the Boerne court as court coordinator.  Dora moved to the new Jourdanton court.

Opinion No. GA-1055

Re: The scope of subsection 51.607(a) of the Government Code concerning the Comptroller of Public Accounts' identification of new or changed court costs and fees (RQ-1162-GA)

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Tom Rugg Sr. of Beaumont as judge of the 58th Judicial District for a term to expire at the next general election. 

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