Fall Judicial Education Session

November 16 - 18, 2022

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Austin
6505 N. I-35
Austin, TX 78752

Online registration is closed. Onsite registration is available.

For more information, contact Ashley Royer or Regan Williams at (800) 456‑5974.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Austin
6505 N. I-35
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 454-3737

Sponsors

The Texas Judicial Academy is a partnership between the Texas Association of Counties and the Texas Tech University School of Law.

Overview

The Fall Judicial Education Session of the Texas Judicial Academy will give you an excellent opportunity to learn from and connect with judges from across the state and to discuss a wide range of topics that affect your judicial duties. The County Judges Education Advisory Committee has specifically designed the curriculum and discussion points for current constitutional county judges. The curriculum will not only constitute an in-depth review of core topics but will also address short topics of interest and introduce you to several cutting-edge programs being used successfully in other jurisdictions.

Reimbursement

This program is partially funded by a Judicial & Court Personnel Training Fund grant administered by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. In accordance with the grant guidelines, judges may be reimbursed for attendance at the Fall Judicial Education Session, the Spring Judicial Education Session or the Texas College of Probate Judges, up to $750 total per fiscal year.

All travel reservations made through third-party vendors (Hotels.com, Expedia.com, Booking.com, etc.) cannot be reimbursed. For more information on reimbursements, please call Ashley Royer at (800) 456-5974. 

Reimbursement requests must be submitted to TAC within 60 days of the event. Any request received after 60 days will not be reimbursed.

Reimbursement may be provided for county judges only.

Who Should Attend

County judges

To encourage open discussion as well as, to facilitate judicial security precautions, ONLY member judges, that session's speaker, and TAC staff are allowed in the meeting rooms during sessions. This would apply, for example, to guests, assistants, spouses, etc. Thank you in advance for your cooperation with this policy.

Registration Information

Registration will open on Sept. 7 at the start of the new fiscal year. The registration fee for this conference is $125.

Registration fees are voluntary and used for expenses that are unallowable or are insufficiently covered by the Judicial & Court Personnel Training Fund grant. This includes speaker fees, materials, meals and social activities. Fees are deposited in a fund for the education of county judges within the general revenue funds of the Texas Association of Counties.

County Judges Education Advisory Committee

Hon. Don Allred, Chair, Oldham County Judge
Hon. Brett Bray, Blanco County Judge
Hon. Stephanie Davis, Comanche County Judge
Hon. Charlie Falcon, Andrews County Judge
Hon. Lucy Hebron, Wood County Judge
Hon. Woodrow "Woody" Gossom Jr., Wichita County Judge
Hon. Justin Lewis, Hill County Judge
Hon. Francisco Ponce, Dimmit County Judge
Hon. Byron Ryder, Leon County Judge
Hon. Jimmy Sylvia, Chambers County Judge
Ms. Jamie Baker, Associate Dean and Director of the Law Library, Texas Tech University School of Law (ex officio)
Mr. Nathan Cradduck, Tom Green County Auditor (ex officio)

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Austin
6505 N. I-35
Austin, TX 78752
(512) 454-3737

You may book your room online, or by calling the DoubleTree Hotel at 512-454-3737 and request a room in the “2022 Fall Judicial Education Session” room block. The group rate is available until October 24. After that date, rates are subject to hotel availability.

Room rate: $140 per night, single/double occupancy
Self-Parking: $10 per night

*Please note the hotel has a parking garage with self-parking only. Valet parking is not available at this hotel.

Tuesday, Nov. 15
3-5 p.m. Registration Desk Open
Wednesday, Nov. 16
7 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration Desk Open
7-8 a.m. Breakfast Buffet
8-8:30 a.m. Welcome & Introductions
8:30-9:30 a.m.

Judicial Discretion and Ethics in Election Years
Speaker: Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, TAC

The ability of judges to exercise discretion in the courtroom is a central tenet of justice and fairness in Texas. This session will review areas where the judge can exercise discretion, offer guidance on when it is appropriate and focus on the special challenges during election cycles.

9:45-10:45 a.m.

Legislative Session: A Look Forward
Speaker: Mr. Noe Barrios, Director of Legislative Services, TAC

This session will explain the TAC Legislative team’s work on several judicial priorities in the upcoming legislative session and provide information on the importance of the role of the county judge in providing feedback and input through the process.

11 a.m.-noon

Retiring Judges Panel
Speakers: Hon. Don Allred, Oldham County Judge
Hon. Jerry Bearden, Mason County Judge
Hon. Nate McDonald, Matagorda County Judge
Hon. Francisco Ponce, Dimmit County Judge
Moderator: Hon. Kim Halfmann, County Relations Officer, TAC

This panel will provide advice and guidance on how to make your courtroom effective while serving the interest of the justice system.

12:15-1:15 p.m.

Working Lunch- DWI Pre-trial & Sentencing Options Discussion by Counties
Speaker: Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, TAC

This roundtable discussion will cover pre-trial and sentencing options in DWI cases to help promote effective change in the defendant and the community while reducing recidivism.

1:30-2:30 p.m.

Guardianship Docket Management   
Speakers: Hon. Lucy Hebron, Wood County Judge
Hon. Justin Lewis, Hill County Judge
Mr. Jeff Rinard, Director of Enterprise Planning & Regulatory Services, Office of Court Administration

Experienced county judges will join the Office of Court Administration to discuss best practices and resources available in managing the guardianship docket and the responsibilites of the county judge in monitoring and reviewing these cases.

2:45-3:45 p.m.

Juvenile Hearings: Detention to Adjudication
Speaker: Hon. Stephanie Davis, Comanche County Judge

Judge Davis will provide an overview of each juvenile hearing with tips for improving the outcome of juveniles placed in the justice system.

4-5 p.m.

DWI Trial
Speaker: Hon. Deborah Earley, County Attorney, Blanco County

This session will provide a complete overview of a DWI trial, from calling a jury panel and common questions and objections that arise in questioning potential jurors, to the order of the trial, jury instructions in a DWI trial and preserving the record for appeal.

Thursday, Nov. 17
7 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration Desk Open
7-8 a.m. Breakfast Buffet
8-9 a.m.

Contempt Hearings
Speaker: Hon. Susan M. Redford, Executive Director, TAC

This session will provide an overview of when and how to use contempt effectively in your courtroom.

9:15-10:15 a.m.

Judgment NISIs, Bond Forfeitures
Speaker: Ms. Bridget Chapman, Assistant District Attorney, Williamson County

This session will provide an overview of the civil practice in handling the forfeiture of bonds in criminal cases when a defendant fails to appear in court.

10:30-11:30 a.m.

Mental Health Pre-Trial & Specialty Courts
Speakers: Ms. Melissa McRoy Shearer, Director, Travis County Mental Health Public Defender
Ms. Katy Jo Muncie, Director of Defense Services & Outreach, Capital Area Private Defender Service
Ms. Katie Salzer, Assistant County Attorney, Travis County
Hon. Kimberly Williams, Judge, Travis County Court-at-Law #9
Moderator: Mr. Scotty Vasquez, Assistant County Attorney, Travis County

This panel will illustrate how the Travis County Misdemeanor Mental Health Court uses court orders to keep offenders with mental health issues on treatment while avoiding the stigma of conviction. The panel discussion is designed to provide useful tools to take back to your courtroom.

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Lunch on your own
1-2:30 p.m.

Senate Bill 6: Damon Allen Act
Speaker: Mr. Joe Stephens, Chief Public Defender, Concho Valley Public Defenders Office

This session will provide the most up-to-date training on how to comply with the recent legislative changes concerning the Damon Allen Act in Senate Bill 6 that significantly changed magistrate warnings and the issuance of bail bonds.

2:45-4:15 p.m.

Legislative Update: SB 6 and the Public Safety Reporting System
Speaker: Ms. Kelsey Bernstein, Legislative Consultant, TAC

This session will take a deep dive into the legislative changes implemented with the adoption of Senate Bill 6, known as the Damon Allen Act, and the requirements county judges must follow.

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Considerations for Setting Bail
Speakers: Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, TAC

An overview of the practical implication of the process of setting the amount of bail, considerations relating to the release of certain defendants on monetary or personal bond, the importance of a magistrate in criminal cases, and how the county judge has a role in each of these processes.

5:30 p.m. Reception Honoring Fellows of the Texas Judicial Academy
6-8 p.m. Retiring Judges Dinner
All attendees are invited to attend
Friday, Nov. 18
7 a.m.-12 p.m. Registration Desk Open
7-8 a.m. Breakfast Buffet
8-9 a.m.

Rules of Evidence
Speaker: Hon. Ashley Cain Land, County Attorney, Chambers County

This session will review the rules applied in criminal and civil proceedings in county courts and evidentiary issues that commonly arise in county courts.

9-10:15 a.m.

Dispositions in Deferred Adjudication
Speaker: Mr. Andrew Lambert, Auditor II, CRD Compliance and Training Bureau, Texas Department of Public Safety

The Texas Department of Public Safety will provide a presentation on common issues that arise in the ordering of deferred adjudication cases in criminal court, how these cases remain pending in county courts, and resources available to identify and dispose of these cases.

10:30-11:30 a.m.

Mental Health Community Resources
Speakers: Mr. Shawn Edwards, Crisis Intervention Team, Burleson County Sheriff’s Office

This panel will discuss ways that small counties are handling cases involving defendants with mental health issues and ways to implement programs and processes in your county.

11:30 a.m. Adjourn

*Agenda is subject to change.

The Fall Judicial Education Session provides 16 hours of judicial education credit for constitutional county judges. Application is pending with the State Bar of Texas to determine MCLE credit for attorneys.

Continuing Education Types Hours
Judges 16
Attorneys Pending

Please email Regan Williams to cancel your conference registration. You may also fax a notice of cancellation to (512) 477‑1324.

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