Administrative trivia
 SASE's and Faxes:
An SASE is required for any item for which you desire an item to be mailed back to you. Also, due to budget constraints, we will no longer fax outbound to a long distance number except for items which the Administrator considers to be time-critical or less expensive to fax than to mail.

 SASE's TO GET DOCKETS:
We will not send dockets on either civil or criminal settings UNLESS you furnish a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope with sufficient postage. They often require up to $1.20 in postage and require a manila envelope due to size. OR, you can sign up to receive them via email for free. Please see the information on the Yahoo Groups system under Docket Information for further detail.

 WHERE TO SEND PAPERS & ORDERS
Everything should be sent to the office of the District Clerk for the county in which the matter is pending, EXCEPT:
When specifically instructed to send it to Burnet.
Setting notices (Court Coordinator's copy -- which may be mailed/hand-carried or faxed)
Courtesy copies of materials for the Judge's review in preparation for a hearing such as Motions for Summary Judgment and replies thereto.
Courtesy copies of matters to be heard outside of the county of filing.

 JUDGE'S 'SQUAKS'  a/k/a pet peeves ....
Counsel not getting orders/judgments back to the Court in a timely fashion.  If the other side won't approve your form, then submit it to the Court and request signing after five business days if no written objection is received by opposing counsel.
Requesting a setting without first making a genuine attempt to coordinate the date with opposing counsel.
Any Order prepared by counsel should be submitted to opposing counsel for approval as to form.
Attempts by counsel to pass a hearing "by agreement." There are no agreed passes in this district without consent of the Court. Keep in mind that a multi-county, general jurisdiction district does not sit in each county on each docket daily. Scheduling is a problem and a pass just adds to the backlog.
Non-dispositive motions (i.e. other than motions for summary judgment, jurisdictional, abatement, etc) that are filed without consulting opposing counsel and lack a certificate of conference on the motion.
Settling a case on Monday with the panel sitting there. In a multi-county, general jurisdiction court where there is not a steady flow of jury weeks in any one county, this wreaks havoc on the docket and means someone who needed a trial is postponed. PLEASE settle by 4pm on Friday so we can either queue up another case or call off the venire.
Counsel appearing for family law cases without the proposed property division sheet or, where applicable, the financial info sheet being complete. See local rules.

 OFFICE RELOCATION DETAILS:
Short directions to locate our offices in the new annex:
Upon entering the front of the building proceed straight ahead, through the large double doors, pass the two courtrooms. Near the rear of the building you will see a door to the left with a security button. Press and wait to be buzzed in.

Location of Mediation rooms: In the same corridor is one dedicated mediation room. Mediations can be held there and in the library and main jury room (in the same corridor) when a jury trial is not being conducted. An additional mediation "suite" is effected by using a dedicated mediation room in the main hallway together with the grand jury room and jury room number two.

More details:  The move is complete for all of the Burnet County offices from the courthouse to the courthouse annex on Hwy 29 East.  Our offices, the District Clerk and the District Attorney's offices are all relocated to the annex. The Victim Services office of the District Attorney is now also co-located with the DA's office in the annex.  

Directions:  the new courthouse annex is located immediately East of the law enforcement center/jail.  Eastern edge of Burnet on Hwy 29 about a mile East of U.S. 281.