UN REAL DIS ORGANIZED FAMILY COURT 246 HARRIS COUNTY TEXAS WHERE ANY THING GOES

I have experienced cases in court 246 for one year. There are attorneys that are late more that 95% of the time. There is often confusion between the judge and the clerk. One saying the attorney has not called the other saying he is in another court. On one occasion the judge said he was in Fort Bend. Fort Bend has a very friendly web site for tracking cases and attorney activity Using my tablet I checked this attorney docket only to find he had two cases active for the month none were scheduled for that week.

 The court simply grant resets to attorneys but punish others harshly for lateness. Court 246 ignored a call from a participant who was in the building and hurried a hearing with the same attorney with a history of lateness in order to rule in his favor. From 16 court appearances this attorney was late 12 tines more than 3 hours, early twice once when he knew the other party was out of State the other when he had a motion to nab a 10 year old refusing to live with her mother. 

On this occasion the court held a hearing even it opposing attorney informed the court that he was in another court and would arrive by 10. The court did not wait for ten oclock stating the other normally late attorney was present so she conducted the hearing. Court 246 has serious integrity problems and is in need of procedural review and investigation. Below is their procedures, just fiction not worth the paper it is written on.

REMEMBER ITS ABOUT THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD. 2 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 246TH Family District Court, Harris County, TX Judge Charley Prine 1. Docket Call M-F 8:00 am – 9:00 am Uncontested Matters and at other times subject to court availability Monday 9:00 am Trial Docket – two week Tuesday 9:00 am Ancillary Matters, Enforcements, DRO, Entry Wednesday 9:00 am

Ancillary Matters, Entry Thursday 9:00 am CPS, FOCAS, Ancillary Matters, Entry Friday 9:00 am Ancillary Matters, PreTrial All hearings may be combined to be heard on the same day.

 2. Late Calls A party or attorney running late to court must notify the clerk at least 30 minutes before docket call. Provide clerk the attorney’s name, cause number, where they are, time estimate before arrival, contact telephone number if more than 30 minutes late. Frequent late calls subject to verification. Frequent late calls due to traffic are unacceptable. Leave earlier.

 3. Scheduling Orders Scheduling Orders are issued 90 days after the case is filed with 90 days’ notice of the trial setting. Pretrial Conference will be held 10 days prior to trial. Follow Scheduling Orders, including but not limited to the following: a. Exchange of exhibit lists, exhibits, witness lists; b. Reasonable cooperation in response to discovery requests; c. Adherence to deadlines; d. Make courtesy calls to court regarding late appearance; e. Speak one at a time particularly with a record is being taken f. Be courteous to court personnel; g. Check files before trial and temporary orders hearings for relevant pleadings and have in front of the file; and h. Certificate of Conference for CPS, for special status, and modification of temporary orders.

 4. Trial or Hearing Reset Ancillary Hearing Resets – The party requesting the reset may reset through the clerk. If multiple parties have set a hearing for same date and time, all parties must agree to reset date. Trial Settings – Motions for Continuance require a hearing and must state specifics about the reason the continuance is requested.

 Agreed Continuances are not automatic but subject to the same requirements. If continuance is granted, a scheduling order must be attached with new pretrial and trial date. Attorney Vacation letters that are timely filed with the Harris County District Clerk are honored without a hearing or motion for continuance.