Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel Conference Center
1001 E. McCarty Ln.
San Marcos, TX 78666
(512) 392-6450
Sponsor
The Texas Judicial Academy is a partnership between the Texas Association of Counties and the Texas Tech University School of Law.
Overview
The County Court Assistants Training Conference gives the county judge's staff the opportunity to learn more about the management and operation of the judicial and administrative procedures of the judge's office. Our goal is for each person to leave this conference better equipped to assist the county judge in his or her judicial and administrative duties.
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, county judge personnel (one person per county) may be reimbursed for attending the County Court Assistants Training Conference, 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 or email reimbursements@county.org.
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 judge assistants only.
Only one registrant per county will be reimbursed.
Who Should Attend
County judge's secretaries, administrative assistants and court assistants are encouraged to attend.
Registration
Registration 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. These include 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.
Court Assistants Advisory Committee
Ms. Lauren VanDeventer, Chair, Chambers County
Ms. Ms. Donna Cuevas, Madison County
Ms. Lindsey Diaz, Lubbock County
Ms. Candy Estrada, Bee County
Ms. Margaret Ewers, Sherman County
Ms. Charlene Graff, Harrison County
Ms. Amy Peeler, Gonzales County
Ms. Jan Pigford, Houston County
Ms. Marcia Short, Bandera County
Ms. Vanessa Watkins, Carson County
Embassy Suites by Hilton San Marcos Hotel Conference Center
1001 E. McCarty Ln.
San Marcos, TX 78666
(512) 392-6450
The group rate of $132 for this conference is sold out. The hotel has a few rooms left available at $179 per night. Please call the hotel to request a room in the "TAC Court Assistants Training Conference" room block. Please note specific room types cannot be guaranteed and will be booked on a first-come, first-served basis.
Daily breakfast is included in the room rate.
Self-parking is complimentary for attendees of the conference. Valet parking is not available.
Overflow Hotel
Holiday Inn Express & Suites San Marcos (.6 miles from hotel and 3 minute drive)
900 Barnes Dr.
San Marcos, TX 78666
(512) 392-6355
The rate at this overflow hotel is $100 per night plus taxes. You may book your room online or call the hotel directly and ask for the “County Court Assistants Training Conference” rate.
Self-parking is complimentary and the room rate includes a complimentary hot breakfast.
Alternate Hotel Options
Comfort Inn & Suites San Marcos (1.3 miles from hotel and 4 minute drive)
1053 Clovis Barker Dr.
San Marcos, TX 78666
(737) 315-3030
If you'd like to be placed on a wait list for a room at the group rate, please email Regan Williams with the dates you need to stay. Please note that the wait list is not a guarantee for a room. We recommend booking a room at a higher rate or at another hotel until you are notified that a room is available at the group rate.
| Wednesday, Feb. 15 |
| 11 a.m.-5 p.m. |
Registration Desk Open |
| 1-1:15 p.m. |
Welcome & Introductions |
| 1:15-2:15 p.m. |
How to Maximize Support for Your County Judge
Speakers: Ms. Candy Estrada, Executive Assistant, Bee County
Ms. Charlene Graff, Judicial Administrative Assistant, Harrison County
Ms. Jan Pigford, Court Assistant, Houston County
Ms. Vanessa Watkins, Court Assistant, Carson County |
| 2:30-3:30 p.m. |
First Amendment Audits and Open Carry in the Courthouse
Speaker: Hon. Darren Jackson, Law Enforcement Consultant, TAC |
| 3:45-4:45 p.m. |
Commissioners Court Meeting Procedures and Decorum
Speaker: Mr. Drew Williams, Associate General Counsel, TAC |
| 4:45-6 p.m. |
Welcome Reception |
| Thursday, Feb. 16 |
| 6:30-9 a.m. |
Breakfast in Atrium
The hotel provides a free breakfast buffet each morning in the Atrium. Please plan to eat breakfast before coming to the morning sessions. Breakfast will not be provided in the meeting room. |
| 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. |
Registration Desk Open |
| 8-9 a.m. |
County Court Standing Orders, Local Rules and Procedures
Speakers: Hon. Stephanie Davis, Judge, Comanche County
Ms. Connie Harrison, Administrative Assistant, Blanco County
Ms. Lauren VanDeventer, Executive Assistant, Chambers County |
| 9-10 a.m. |
County Court Docket Management
Speaker: Mr. Jeff Rinard, Director of Enterprise Planning & Regulatory Services, Office of Court Administration |
| 10:15-11:15 a.m. |
Mental Health on the Judge’s Motion
Speaker: Hon. Curtis Parrish, Judge, Lubbock County |
| 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. |
Working Lunch
Roundtable discussion by county population size. |
| 1-2:30 p.m. |
Bail Reform Overview
Speakers: Hon. Stephanie Moreno, Judicial Program Manager, TAC
Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, TAC |
| 2:45-3:45 p.m. |
Indigent Defense Plan
Speaker: Mr. Joel Lieurance, Texas Indigent Defense Commission |
| 4-5 p.m. |
The 12 Mighty Geese
Speaker: Mr. Mark Warren, Training Consultant, TAC |
| Friday, Feb. 17 |
| 6:30-9 a.m. |
Breakfast in Atrium
The hotel provides a free breakfast buffet each morning in the Atrium. Please plan to eat breakfast before coming to the morning sessions. Breakfast will not be provided in the meeting room. |
| 7 a.m.-noon |
Registration Desk Open |
| 8-9 a.m. |
Cybersecurity Training
Speaker: Mr. Robert Ruiz, Associate Director of Risk Management Services, TAC |
| 9:15-10:15 a.m. |
Interlocal Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding
Speaker: Mr. Eric Magee, Attorney, Allison Bass & Magee |
| 10:30-11:30 a.m. |
Public Information Act and Records Retention
Speaker: Ms. Katherine Howard, Associate General Counsel, TAC |
*Agenda is subject to change. Please check back for updates.
Please email Regan Williams to cancel your conference registration. You may also fax a notice of cancellation to (512) 477‑1324.