Spring Judicial Education Session

March 8 - 10, 2023

Overton Hotel & Conference Center
2322 Mac Davis Ln.
Lubbock, TX 79401

Online registration is closed. You may register on site.

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

Overview
Hotel
Scheduled Activities
Agenda
Continuing Education
Cancellation

Overview

The Spring 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. It will also 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 grant guidelines, judges may be reimbursed, up to $750 total per fiscal year, for attendance at the Fall Judicial Education Session, the Spring Judicial Education Session or the Texas College of Probate Judges.

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.

Reimbursements may be provided for county judges only.

Who Should Attend

County judges

To encourage open discussion and to facilitate security, ONLY member judges, that session's speaker and TAC staff will be 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 after 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. 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.

County Judges Education Advisory Committee

Hon. Stephanie Davis, Chair, Comanche County Judge
Hon. Brett Bray, Blanco County Judge
Hon. Charlie Falcon, Andrews County Judge
Hon. Juan Carlos Guerra, Jim Hogg County Judge
Hon. Lisa Johnson, Hemphill County Judge
Hon. Justin Lewis, Hill County Judge
Hon. Robert Newsom, Hopkins County Judge
Hon. Curtis Parrish, Lubbock 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 Library (ex-officio)
Mr. Nathan Cradduck, Tom Green County Auditor (ex-officio)

Overton Hotel & Conference Center
2322 Mac Davis Ln.
Lubbock, TX 79401
(806) 776-7000

The room rate will be the prevailing state government rate for 2023, currently $98/night for single/double occupancy. You may book your room online or call (806) 776‑7000 and request a room in the "Texas Judicial Academy-Spring Judicial" room block. This group rate is available until Feb. 20. After this date, rates are subject to hotel availability.

Wednesday, March 8
5-6 p.m.	Welcome Reception

*Agenda is subject to change.

Tuesday, March 7
Noon-5 p.m.	Registration Desk Open
Wednesday, March 8
7 a.m.-5 p.m.	Registration Desk Open
7-8 a.m.	Breakfast Buffet
8-8:15 a.m.	Welcome & Introductions Speakers: Hon. Susan M. Redford, Executive Director, TAC Hon. Stephanie Davis, Comanche County Judge
8:15-9:15 a.m.	Judicial Discretion and Ethics This session will provide an in-depth ethical discussion and specific rules related to the County's Judges conduct during elections. Speaker: Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, TAC
9:30-10:30 a.m.	Legislative Session - Ongoing efforts 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. Speaker: Mr. Noe Barrios, Director of Legislative Services, TAC
10:45-11:45 a.m.	Experienced Judges Panel This panel will provide advice and guidance on how to make your courtroom effective while serving the interest of the justice system. Speakers: Hon. Brett Bray, Blanco County Judge Hon. Juan Carlos Guerra, Jim Hogg County Judge Hon. Robert Newsom, Hopkins County Judge Hon. Jimmy Sylvia, Chambers County Judge
12-1 p.m.	Working Lunch - DWI Pre-trial & Sentencing Options Discussion by Counties 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. Speaker: Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, TAC
1:15-2:15 p.m.	DWI Trial 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 in a DWI to the order of the trial, jury instructions in a DWI trial, and preserving the record for appeal. Speaker: Hon. Deborah Earley, Blanco County Attorney
2:30-3:30 p.m.	Guardianship Docket Management Experienced County Judges will join the Office of Court Administration to discuss best practices and resources available in managing the Guardianship Docket and the responsibilities of the County Judge in monitoring and reviewing these cases. Speakers: Hon. Justin Lewis, Hill County Judge Hon. Jennifer Martin, Ector County Clerk Mr. Jeff Rinard, Director of Enterprise Planning & Regulatory Services, OCA Hon. Julie Smith, Potter County Clerk
3:45-4:45 p.m.	Juvenile Hearings - Detention to Adjudication Judge Davis will provide an overview of each juvenile hearing with tips for improving the outcomes of juveniles placed in the justice system. Speaker: Hon. Stephanie Davis, Comanche County Judge
4:45 p.m.	Recess
5-6 p.m.	Welcome Reception & Recognition of Fellows of the Texas Judicial Academy
Thursday, March 9
7 a.m.-5 p.m.	Registration Desk Open
7-8 a.m.	Breakfast Buffet
8-9 a.m.	Contempt Hearings This session will provide an overview of when and how to use contempt effectively in your courtroom. Speaker: Hon. Susan M. Redford, Executive Director, TAC
9:15-10:15 a.m.	Judgment Nisis, Bond Forfeitures 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. Speaker: Mr. Neal Burt, Assistant District Attorney, Lubbock County
10:30 a.m.-noon	Senate Bill 6: Damon Allen Act The 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. Speaker: Mr. Mike Thompson, Associate General Counsel, TAC
Noon-1:30 p.m.	Lunch on your own
1:30-3 p.m.	Legislative Update: SB 6 & the Public Safety Reporting System 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. Speakers: Hon. Alan Bristol, County Relations Officer, TAC Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, TAC
3:15-4:15 p.m.	Considerations for Setting Bail An overview of the practical implication of the process of setting the amount of bail, considerations relating to the release of certain defendants on a 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. Speaker: Mr. Joe Stephens, Chief Public Defender, Concho Valley Public Defender
4:30-5:30 p.m.	Mental Health Pre-trial & Specialty Courts 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 a conviction. The panel discussion is designed to provide useful tools to take back to your courtroom. Speaker: Hon. Mark Hocker, Judge, Lubbock County Court at Law #1
5:30 p.m.	Recess
Friday, March 10
7 a.m.-12 p.m.	Registration Desk Open
7-8 a.m.	Breakfast Buffet
8-9 a.m.	Rules of Evidence This session will review the rules applied in criminal and civil proceeding in County Courts and evidentiary issues that commonly arise in County Courts. Speaker: Hon. Ashley Cain Land, Chambers County Attorney
9:15-10:15 a.m.	Judicial Academy Resources This session will provide a review of all the resources available through the Texas Associations of Counties Judicial Academy including an overview of the County Judges Bench Book and online Judicial Videos. Speakers: Hon. Susan M. Redford, Executive Director, TAC Hon. Tramer Woytek, Judicial Resource Liaison, TAC
10:30-11:30 a.m.	Mental Health Community Resources This panel will discuss ways that small counties are handling cases involving defendants with mental health and ways to implement programs and processes in your County. Speaker: Ms. Beth Lawson, Chief Executive Officer, StarCare
11:30 a.m.	Adjourn