Like most court systems across the country, Tarrant County’s court system is made up of Civil Courts, Criminal Courts, Probate Courts, Magistrate Courts, and finally the JOP, or Justice of Peace. All of these courts are housed within the Civil Courts building, the Tarrant County Courthouse, the Justice Center, and the Criminal Courts Building. PCS Bail Bonds has all the right information in our handy court guide to help keep you in the loop.
Going to Court? What If You or Your Loved One Has Been Arrested?
Once arrested and charged, there is often an opportunity for a defendant to post bail. This will require either payment in full of the requested bail amount, or the defendant to work with a bail bondsman to secure his their release. This is contingent on there not being any other conflicting legal matters.
If Free on Bond
Once the defendant is released on bail, they are obligated to show up to all scheduled court proceedings or else they face penalties, including being thrown in jail. A defendant should hire a lawyer to represent them in court. Should they prove that they are not able to afford a lawyer, then the court will appoint a lawyer to handle the case.
If in Jail
Similar rules apply if a defendant is in jail because they are unable to get bond. An attorney will be appointed to the defendant within 24 hours of them being incarcerated. A defendant is also still allowed to hire a private attorney while they are incarcerated.
What If You Are Not a U.S Citizen?
For non-U.S citizens charged and incarcerated, it is likely there will be a hold on the defendant by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). This hold means the defendant will remain in jail regardless of whether a bond is an option.
Dos and Don’ts in the Courtroom
Clothing
Dressing to appear in court should be treated in the same manner as dressing for a job interview. Items like shorts and T-shirts and clothing that is too tight should be avoided. Collared shirts, pants, dresses, and skirts are more appropriate clothing to wear when in court. Also, chewing gum or wearing hats is not proper courtroom decorum.
Children and Court
This is a sensitive matter. While family is always a good source of support, young children do not benefit in any way from being witness to court proceedings. And if there is even the slightest possibility that you may be arrested in court, it is not an impression you want to leave with your children. If you absolutely must bring your child to the courtroom, arrange to have someone take care of them should the worst happen. If not, the courts can actually have Child Protective Services take custody of your child till something works out.
Courts in Tarrant County, Texas
Location for Tarrant County Courts
All criminal courts in downtown Fort Worth are located inside the Tim Curry Justice Center at 401 W. Belknap, Fort Worth, Texas, 76196.
About the Tarrant County Criminal Courts
There are 10 district courts in Tarrant County that handle felony criminal matters and another 10 county criminal courts that handle misdemeanor criminal cases.
Tarrant County Civil Courts
The clerk is responsible for intaking, processing, and maintaining all civil case matters not exceeding a jurisdictional limit of $200,000. These include cases involving debt, garnishments, injunctions, temporary restraining orders, breach of contract, as well as personal injury cases, plus many more.
Tarrant County District Civil Courts
| 17th District Court Judge Melody Wilkinson Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building – 3rd Floor 100 North Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76196 817-884-1460 | 48th District Court Judge David Evans Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building – 4th Floor 100 North Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76196 817-884-2690 |
| 67th District Court Judge Don Cosby Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building – 4th Floor 100 North Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76196 817-884-1452 | 96th District Court Judge R. H. Wallace, Jr. Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building – 4th Floor 100 North Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76196 817-884-1450 |
| 141st District Court Judge John P. Chupp Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building – 3rd Floor 100 North Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76196 817-884-1992 | 153rd District Court Judge Susan Heygood McCoy Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building – 3rd Floor 100 North Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76196 817-884-2691 |
| 236th District Court Judge Tom Lowe Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building – 5th Floor 100 North Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76196 817-884-1709 | 342nd District Court Judge Wade Birdwell Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building – 5th Floor 100 North Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76196 817-884-2710 |
| 348th District Court Judge Dana Womack Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building – 3rd Floor 100 North Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76196 817-884-2715 | 352nd District Court Judge Mark T. Pittman Tom Vandergriff Civil Courts Building – 4th Floor 100 North Calhoun Street Fort Worth, TX 76196 817-884-2730 |
Tarrant County Civil County Courts
| County Court at Law No. 1 Judge Don Pierson Tarrant County Courthouse 100 West Weatherford Street – Room 490 Fort Worth, TX 76196-0240 817-884-1457 | County Court at Law No. 2 Judge Jennifer Rymell Tarrant County Courthouse 100 West Weatherford Street – Room 240A Fort Worth, TX 76196-0240 817-884-1813 | County Court at Law No. 3 Judge Mike Hrabal Tarrant County Courthouse 100 West Weatherford Street – Room 290A Fort Worth, TX 76196-0240 817-884-1095 |
Tarrant County Family Courts
Note that the same severe weather policy that applies to the Fort Worth Independent School District also applies to Family District Court with regards to closures.
| 231st District Court Judge Jesus Nevarez, Jr. Family Law Center – 5th Floor 200 East Weatherford Street Fort Worth, TX 76196-0240 817-884-3796 Associate Judge Lindsay DeVos 817-884-2756 | 233rd District Court Judge William Harris Family Law Center – 5th Floor 200 East Weatherford Street Fort Worth, TX 76196-0227 817-884-1794 Associate Judge Diane Haddock 817-884-1197 | 322nd District Court Judge Nancy Berger Family Law Center – 4th Floor 200 East Weatherford Street Fort Worth, TX 76196-0230 817-884-1427 Associate Judge James Munford 817-884-3030 |
| 324th District Court Judge Jerome S. Hennigan Family Law Center – 4th Floor 200 East Weatherford Street Fort Worth, TX 76196-0232 817-884-1432 Associate Judge Beth Poulos 817-884-1991 | 325th District Court Judge Judith Wells Family Law Center – 5th Floor 200 East Weatherford Street Fort Worth, TX 76196-0233 817-884-1537 Associate Judge Terri White 817-884-1444 | 360th District Court Judge Mike Sinha Family Law Center – 4th Floor 200 East Weatherford Street Fort Worth, TX 76196-0290 817-884-2708 Associate Judge Cynthia Mendoza 817-884-2720 |
IV – D (Child Support) Courts Family Law Center – 1st Floor 200 East Weatherford Fort Worth, TX 76196 |
Juvenile Courts
Juvenile Court hearings are formal proceedings that happen inside the courtroom. It is suggested that you arrive at least 15 minutes early to your scheduled proceeding and speak with your child’s attorney. Please keep in mind the dress code.
323rd District Court – Hearing Child Welfare and Juvenile Delinquency Cases
Scott D. Moore Juvenile Justice Center
2701 Kimbo Road
Fort Worth, TX 76111
817-838-4600
Tarrant County Probate Courts
Probate Courts are for determining the validity of a will, but they actually stretch to involve the administration of estates and splitting of assets, including distribution of those assets to the will’s beneficiaries.
Judges selected countywide preside over probate cases in Tarrant County.
| Probate Court No. 1 Judge Steve M. King Tarrant County Courthouse – Room 260A 100 West Weatherford Street Fort Worth, TX 76196-0242 817-884-1200 | Probate Court No. 2 Judge Patrick W. Ferchill Tarrant County Courthouse – Room 150 100 West Weatherford Street Fort Worth, TX 76196-0242 817-884-1415 |
Justice of the Peace Courts
This is more commonly referred to as “People’s Court.” Eight Justice Courts currently exist in Tarrant County. These courts are for cases not exceeding $10,000 along with other misdemeanor cases. Judges remain in their position for four years until another vote is conducted by voters within their precinct.
| Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Ralph Swearingin Jr. 1895 Courthouse 100 West Weatherford Street Room 450 Fort Worth, TX 76196-0242 817-884-1395 | Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Mary Tom Curnutt Southeast Subcourthouse 700 East Abram Street, Suite 200 Arlington, TX 76010 817-548-3925 | Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace Russ Casey Northeast Courthouse 645 Grapevine Highway Suite 220 Hurst, TX 76054 817-581-3625Southlake Government Complex 1400 Main Street, Suite 220 Southlake, TX 76092 817-481-8112 | Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Jacquelyn Wright Northwest Subcourthouse 6713 Telephone Road, Suite 201 Lake Worth, TX 76135 817-238-4425 |
| Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Sergio L. De Leon Fort Worth Police Administration Building 350 West Belknap, Room 112-C Fort Worth, TX 76196-0247 817-884-1438 | Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace Gary Ritchie Southwest Subcourthouse 6551 Granbury Road Fort Worth, TX 76133 817-370-4525 | Precinct 7 Justice of the Peace Matt Hayes Mansfield Subcourthouse 1100 East Broad Street, Suite 202 Mansfield, TX 76063 817-473-5101 | Precinct 8 Justice of the Peace Lisa R. Woodard Poly Subcourthouse 3500 Miller Avenue Fort Worth, TX 76119 817-531-5625 |
Magistrate Courts
Judge Rainey Webb, Judge Sheila Wynn, Judge Timmie White
Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center – Basement
401 West Belknap Street
Fort Worth, TX 76196
817-884-2998
The Second Court of Appeals, Fort Worth, Texas
Seven justices make up the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth, Texas. They have jurisdiction over courts in 12 counties across north-central Texas. All appeals exceeding $250 are handled in this court, including all appeals minus those in which the death penalty applies. It is also possible for the Second Court of Appeals to have jurisdiction over initial proceedings.
Counties served:
- Archer
- Clay
- Cooke
- Denton
- Hood
- Jack
- Montague
- Parker
- Tarrant
- Wichita
- Wise
- Young
IV-D Courts
These courts hear all of Tarrant County’s child support cases and are funded by both state and federal funds.
Family Law Center -1st Floor 200 East Weatherford Street Fort Worth, TX 76196 |
| IV-D Court No. 1 Associate Judge Steve Owen Court Coordinator: Veronica Rivera – 817-884-2621 Bailiff: Matt Hayden – 817-884-2764 Court Reporter: Serena Davis Administrative Clerk: Scott Elledge – 817-884-1722 Court Fax: 817-884-3594 | IV-D Court No. 2 Associate Judge Cherami Jenkins Court Coordinator: Carmen Norwood-Sims – 817-884-3298 Bailiff: Steve Salas – 817-884-3299 Court Reporter: Serena Davis Administrative Clerk: Scott Elledge – 817-884-1722 Court Fax: 817-212-7243 |
For more information on the courts in Tarrant County, give us a call!