Criminal Courts
Due to COVID19, defendants must keep track of their next court appearance date on the County’s website, but should not appear in person unless told by their attorney or by the court.
There are very few times when a defendant will need to come to court in person during the COVID pandemic – mainly if they are entering a guilty or no contest plea, and a very few other times if ordered by the court. Almost everything will be handled by your attorney by phone, email, etc. You need to have an attorney.
If you have a criminal case pending in County Court (County Court at Law) or District Court, and you meet certain financial guidelines, you may qualify for an appointed attorney. Call 512-854-9381 Option 5 to apply.
I want to find
Search felony and misdemeanor case settings by: the arrested person’s name, the attorney’s name, the name of the Judge or court #, or the case number.
The Travis County District Clerk’s Office is responsible for jury impaneling. Go to the District Clerk’s jury information page to learn more.
Go to the TCSO inmate information page where inmates currently in custody may be searched by name.
Go to the District Clerk’s case information page where felony case information can be searched by name or cause number.
Go to the County Clerk’s case information page where misdemeanor case information can be searched by arrested person’s name, attorney’s name, and case number.
Attorneys may access felony case records online.
Misdemeanor documents are not currently available online. Go to the County Clerk’s records request page to request records.
Contact Information
Address
Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center509 West 11th St
Austin, TX 78701 (Map)
Phone
(512) 854-9244
The Courthouse Security Section’s mission and goal is to ensure that all who enter any courthouse are free of weapons, contraband or any item deemed a security threat. Those persons refusing to participate in the screening process will be denied access to the building. Confiscated items will not be returned!
View a list of items that you are not allowed to bring into the courthouse
Metered parking is available on all streets surrounding the court house (meters take coins, bills and credit/debit cards).
In addition, the following public lot is available within walking distance: Central Parking System - 510 West 11th Street (between San Antonio & Nueces Streets)
A complete directory of all court and department locations are posted in each elevator and within the main hallway and the Information Booth in the lobby.
Criminal Courts COVID-19 Information
- Travis County Judiciary COVID-19 Operating Plans
- Criminal Courts COVID-19 Preparedness Plan - Effective March 10, 2020
- Virtual Grand Jury Order - Effective September 18, 2020
- Criminal Courts Re-Certification of In-Person Operating Plan – Effective January 11, 2021
- Guidance for All Court Proceedings During COVID-19 Pandemic - Effective October 1, 2020
- Guidance for All Court Proceedings During COVID-19 Pandemic (For Proceedings on or after June 1, 2020)
- Second Amended Emergency Order for All Criminal Courts Regarding COVID-19 - Effective May 12, 2020
- District Courts Standing Order for Personal Bonds on Certain Felony Offenses-Effective March 23, 2020
- District Courts 9th Amended Standing Order Temporarily Suspending the Execution of Warrants for Certain Cases - Effective March 30, 2021
- County Courts at Law Standing Order for Personal Bonds on Certain Misdemeanor Offenses-Effective February 6, 2020
- County Courts at Law 9th Amended Standing Order Temporarily Suspending the Execution of Warrants for Certain Cases - Effective March 30, 2021
- Third Administrative Judicial Region Amended Order Extending Terms of Courts - Effective May 17, 2020
- Third Administrative Judicial Region Order Extending Terms of Courts - Effective May 14, 2020
- Judges, Clerks, and Staff Under Stay-At-Home Orders Travel Authorization - Effective March 26, 2020
- Executive Order No. GA-13 relating to detention in the county and municipal jails - Effective March 29, 2020
- Supreme Court – Fortieth Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (Misc. Docket No. 21-9079)
- Supreme Court – Thirty-Ninth Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (Misc. Docket No. 21-9078)
- Supreme Court – Thirty-Eighth Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (Misc. Docket No. 21-9060)
- Supreme Court – Thirty-Seventh Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (Misc. Docket No. 21-9050)
- Supreme Court – Thirty-Sixth Emergency Order Regarding the COVID-19 State of Disaster (Misc. Docket No. 21-9026)
Helpful Information
Please review the following if accommodations are needed:
Read the Occupational Driver's License Policy.
What is a Court Appointed Attorney?
Court Appointed attorneys are lawyers who provide legal counsel to people who are charged with criminal offenses and cannot afford to pay for an attorney. There is an application process to determine if you qualify for an attorney. Federal Poverty guidelines are used to determine eligibility for the appointment.
How do I apply for a Court Appointed Attorney?
In some cases, an attorney has already been appointed based on your indigence screening with Pretrial Services, which occurred while you were incarcerated.
To determine if an attorney has already been assigned, search felony and misdemeanor case settings by: the arrested person’s name, the attorney’s name, the name of the Judge or court #, or the case number
If you wish to apply for a court appointed attorney, you must report in person to Blackwell Thurman Criminal Justice Center located at 509 W. 11th Street, 3rd floor Gault Annex, Room 3.100 between the hours of 9:00am – 4:00pm, Monday – Friday.
In Travis County, the appointed attorney for criminal matters is provided by the Capital Area Private Defender Service.
View the Travis County Criminal Court data.
The Texas Fair Defense Act of 2001 requires formal and fair procedures for appointing lawyers to indigent defendants. This plan is filed with the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, and can be found by clicking one of the following link:
When an arrested person is released from jail on a bond, their first setting in the court system is called a first appearance. The bond paperwork given to the arrested person upon release from jail will indicate where and when to report to the courthouse for their first court setting. The first appearance may occur either in the court of jurisdiction or the court administration office.
The Language Access Plan was developed by the Criminal Courts to ensure meaningful access to court services to persons with limited English proficiency.
For more information, view the Language Access Plan.
District Courts
The proposed Local Rules were drafted to govern all criminal cases filed in the District Courts in Travis County, Texas.
Read the proposed local rules of the Criminal District Courts for more information.
County Courts at Law
The Local Rules govern all cases filed in the County Courts at Law in Travis County, Texas; both criminal cases and civil cases.
Read the local rules of the County Courts at Law for more information.
Docket Search
A docket is a list of cases awaiting action in a court. The Criminal Courts provide the following methods to search cases set in the courts.
Contact Us
Physical Address
Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center
509 W. 11th Street
Austin, TX 78701 (Map)
Mailing Address
PO Box 1748
Austin, TX 78767
Phone
(512) 854-9244
Fax
(512) 854-4464
Criminal Court Administrator
Debra Hale
(512) 854-9244
Technology Manager
Mark Erwin
(512) 854-3120
Court Appointment Supervisor
Yolanda Godfrey
(512) 854-3644
Out of County Arrests
Indigent Defense
(512) 854-9244
The Courthouse Security Section’s mission and goal is to ensure that all who enter any courthouse are free of weapons, contraband or any item deemed a security threat. Those persons refusing to participate in the screening process will be denied access to the building. Confiscated items will not be returned!
View a list of items that you are not allowed to bring into the courthouse
Metered parking is available on all streets surrounding the court house (meters take coins, bills and credit/debit cards).
In addition, the following public lot is available within walking distance: Central Parking System - 510 West 11th Street (between San Antonio & Nueces Streets)
A complete directory of all court and department locations are posted in each elevator and within the main hallway and the Information Booth in the lobby.
Open Records Requests
District Court records are maintained by the Travis County District Clerk. County Courts at Law records are maintained by the Travis County Clerk. The District Clerk is also responsible for jury impaneling.
Open Records Requests for the Criminal Courts can be emailed to
[email protected].
Forms
District Forms
- Attorney Appointment Application and Order
- Bond Forfeiture Set Aside
- Bond Increase
- Certification of Appeal
- Competency Restoration
- Motion to Substitute Bond
- Motion to Substitute Counsel
- Motion to Withdraw Counsel
- Motion and Order to have Defendant Examined for Competency
- Plea of Guilty
- Plea of Guilty - No Good Conduct Time for Violent Offenders (per Governor's COVID-19 Emergency Order)
- Plea of True Adjudication of Guilt
- Plea of True Revocation
- Plea of True Revocation or Adjudication
- Restitution Sheet
- Sex Offender Registration
- Standing Discovery Order
- Indigence Form
Spanish Forms
County Forms
- Agreed Order Forfeiting Weapon
- Agreed Order of Incompetency
- Blood Discovery Order
- Consent and Approval of Counsel
- Cumulation of Sentence Order
- Defendant's Right of Appeal
- E-Courtroom User Agreement
- Indigence Form
- Judgment and Sentence
- Judgment of Conviction by Court-Bench Trial
- Jury Waiver for Plea
- Jury Waiver for Bench Trial
- Motion (12:45)
- Motion (12:45) - Addendum
- Motion and Order for Competency Exam
- Motion for Continuance (Defendant)
- Motion for Continuance (State)
- Motion to Dismiss
- Motion to Set Aside Bond Forfeiture Prior to Civil Suit
- Order Refunding Cash Bond Prior to September 2011
- Order Refunding Cash Bond Post to September 2011
- Order to Release Interlock Device
- Personal Bond Guidelines
- Plea Agreement
- Plea of Guilty
- Probation Intake
- Reduction of Charges Agreement
- Request for Intrepreter
- TCCES Referral
- Waiver Agreement (Expunction)
- Waiver of Personal Appearance of Enter Plea
