Upcoming Events
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Apr 2, 2015
7:30 am - 4:00 pm
J.J Pickle Commons Learning Center
Apr 17, 2015
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Texas Association of Counties - 4th Floor
May 1, 2015
10:00a m
Third Court of Appeals
May 25, 2015
Courts and Judicial Branch Agencies Closed
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Follow our new account @TXCourts - The twitter handle covers news and updates from the judicial branch.

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March 2015
News From the Office of Court Administration
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Rules Update
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On February 19, 2015, in Miscellaneous Docket No. 15-9040, the Supreme Court approved amendments to the Internal Procedural Rules of the Board of Disciplinary Appeals. The amendments require lawyers to file documents electronically by email, incorporate provisions of the statewide e-filing rules, and improve the clarity and organization of the rules.
Also on February 19, in Miscellaneous Docket No. 15-9039, the Court amended Rule I(a)(7) of the Rules Governing Admission to the Bar to update the definition of "chemical dependency" to reference the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
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Submitting Your Monthly Activity Reports - County Courts
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Check out the latest video about submitting your monthly activity reports to the Office of Court Administration.
| Submitting Your Monthly Activity Reports - County Courts |
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Free Spanish interpreters for your court
| Check out our amazing updates Texas Court Remote Interpreters Service video.
| Free Spanish interpreters for your court |
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e-Filing - Phase 4 counties starting to come online
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In the last JCIT meeting, Tyler spoke about the next batch of counties (also called the Phase 4 counties) that would be coming online in the e-Filing system. For most of these counties, e-Filing is a new frontier for them. Several counties from the group have now gone live. Counties will be coming online through the end of April.
The vast majority of Phase 4 counties include those with a mandatory date of January 2016. OCA and JCIT applaud them in coming on well ahead of their mandatory dates. This allows the clerks and their teams to iron out any kinks in their process to ensure a smooth transition from the permissive environment to the mandatory one.
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e-Filing - Don't forget your reports for the $2 fee!
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The legislature requires counties that collect the $2 per transaction cost recovery fee to submit an annual report to OCA that talks about the fee and costs for implementing e-Filing. The $2 Transaction County Fee Certification Form is located at http://www.txcourts.gov/jcit/electronic-filing.aspx and should be submitted by the county once per fiscal year. Of course, if a county does not collect the fee, there is no need to send in the form.
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JCIT Upcoming Meeting
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April 17th, 2015 from 10AM to Noon
Texas Association of Counties (4th Floor)
1210 San Antonio St
Austin, TX 78701
The agenda will be posted to JCIT's website (www.txcourts.gov/JCIT) approximately two weeks prior to the meeting.
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2015 Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) Fair
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The Office of Court Administration (OCA) is co-sponsoring a 2015 Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) Fair, April 2, 2015, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the J.J. Pickle Commons Learning Center, 10100 Burnet Road, Austin, TX. Please register to attend. See documents below for complete details and registration information.
For more information, please contact OCA HUB Coordinator, Veronica M. Strong at (512) 463-1638. For registration, please contact Fred Snell by phone at (512) 465-4177 or by email at Fred.Snell@TXDMV.gov.
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Attorney General Opinion
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Re: Programs to which jurors may donate their juror reimbursement under subsection 61.003(a)(4) of the Government Code
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Appointments
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Governor Greg Abbott today appointed Charles M. Barnard of Wichita Falls as judge of the 89th District Court of Wichita County.
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**NEW**Helping Incarcerated Individuals with Co-Occurring Disorders
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Deadline: March 31, 2015
This Department of Justice Second Chance Act program will help grantees implement or expand: treatment programs for incarcerated adults with co-occurring substance abuse/mental disorders during the reentry and community integration process and screening and assessment programs for co-occurring disorders during incarceration. Eligibility is limited to state, tribal, and local governments. There will be $6 million available for 10 awards of $600,000 each.
Information: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=272748 800/851-3420 email: responsecenter@ncjrs.gov.
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**NEW**Improving the Nation's Criminal Justice Repository
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Deadline: April 20, 2015
This Bureau of Justice Statistics program, the National Criminal History Improvement Progra (NCHIP), improves the nation's safety and security by enhancing the quality and accessibility of criminal history record information and ensuring the nationwide implementation of criminal justice and noncriminal justice background checks. Eligibility is limited to state governments. There will be $48 million available for 47 awards.
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Improving the Justice System
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Deadline: May 22, 2015
This Department of Justice funding is for states to implement the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), which was created by the Pew Charitable Trusts in 2010. Under the JRI model, a governmental working group with bipartisan and inter-branch representation analyzes the correctional populations and its costs, develops cost-effective policy options, and implements reforms to manage correctional populations while enhancing public safety. Eligibility is limited to state/tribal governments. There will be $1.75 million for four awards.
Information: National Criminal Justice Reference Service Response Center, 800/851-3420; responsecenter@ncjrs.gov solicitation: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=271330
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Arkansas Court Security Officer Training
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Arkansas Court Security Officer Training is a highly interactive course featuring virtual simulations of active shooter events, role-playing and scenario-based interactive assessments allowing users to immediately put knowledge into action.
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Judicial Training Resource Links
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About the OCA
OCA is a state agency in the judicial branch that operates under the direction and supervision of the Supreme Court of Texas and the chief justice and is governed primarily by Chapter 72 of the Texas Government Code. www.txcourts.gov
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