County Criminal Court 3

County Courts Building
  1. Denton County Judiciary Minimum Standard Health Protocols
  2. Supreme Court 36th Emergency Order Regarding COVID-19
  3. In-Person Proceeding Schedule
  4. Notice to Vulnerable Populations
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Public Notice

***IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 DO NOT COME TO COURT! PLEASE CONTACT THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR  FOR RESCHEDULE OF COURT DATE***

Current Court Procedures:

Denton County Criminal Court #3 has resumed in person pleas. Zoom pleas can be requested and scheduled with the Court Administrator. Social Distancing procedures will be in place and the number of people allowed in the court will be limited.  All those waiting to enter the courtroom are required to social distance in the hallway until asked to enter the courtroom.  Mask will be required for all in person court proceedings.   

Defendants without Attorneys:

You will need to appear in court on your scheduled court date and choose how you wish to move forward with your case. Failure to appear may result in a warrant issued for your arrest and forfeiture of your bond.

If you wish to apply for a court appointed attorney, please fill out an application.  Once complete, email the application to the Court Administrator here. You will be notified by the Court if you are approved.

Please do not come to court if you feel unwell or have symptoms of COVID-19. If you feel unwell, please notify the court to have your court setting postponed. 

Defendants with Attorneys:

Please consult with your attorney to see if your appearance in court will be necessary.

Attorneys:

  • To Reset a Case: All resets must be e-filed.   Completed resets need to be e-filed with the Denton County Clerk’s Office by 10:00 AM the day of the court setting. Resets will not be accepted by email unless the Court specifically grants the attorney permission to do so. Failure to e-file a reset timely may result in the Court issuing a warrant for your client’s arrest and forfeiture of their bond.

Blank reset forms and reset dates can be found here.

  • Bond Condition Hearings: If your client is set for a Bond Condition Hearing, you may e-file an Additional Conditions of Bond Order after the defendant has read over and signed off on it.
  • To Plea a Case: 

Pleas will be done in person. Please do not e-file paperwork for in person pleas. Completed paperwork can be turned into the Court at the time of plea. Paperwork may also be obtained and completed at the time of plea. Prosecutors will be available in the jury room.

If an attorney would like to appear remotely via Zoom, they will need to schedule a time slot with the Court Administrator.

  1. Once a time slot has been scheduled, the administrator will provide a Zoom invitation via email.
  2. Completed plea paperwork MUST be e-filed by 12:00 PM the day before the day of the plea. Failure to have the paperwork e-filed before this time will result with the plea being reset for the following week.
  3. ALL defendants MUST appear in person in Court at the time of plea

Blank plea paperwork can be found here.

  • To set a Case for Trial: Please contact the Court Administrator, Luke Polich, for a Jury Trial Reset form. Defendant, defense counsel and ADA will need to sign this reset. Defense Counsel can sign for Defendant if Counsel has consulted with the Defendant. Trail dates are pre-entered on the Jury Trial Reset form. If the Court needs to reset the Jury Trial date, new notice with the new dates will be sent via mail
  • Motion Hearings: If you file a motion that will require a hearing, please contact the Court Administrator, Luke Polich, via email or by telephone at 940-349-2180 to schedule a hearing.

Court dates are posted and can be viewed on the Denton County Records Inquiry website.

***IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 DO NOT COME TO COURT! PLEASE CONTACT THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR  FOR RESCHEDULE OF COURT DATE***

WARNING:  Do not attempt to contact a judge - by mail, e-mail, phone, or in person - about any pending or potential lawsuit! Doing so may result in serious consequences.

Check the status of your case