Ask the Judge: A short review of column topics
By Judge Steve Walker
Week after week, month after month, this column offers simple tips as to what you should or should not do when you enter the Justice of the Peace Court. In “Ask the Judge” we reference Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 located on Guilbeau Road off Bandera Road in the Northwest quadrant of the county.
All tips offered apply in all four of the JP courts in Bexar County. Precinct 2 has the luxury of housing two Justices of the Peace in one building. Precinct 2’s jurisdiction oversees approximately 300 thousand residents in 184 smaller designated precincts. (ex: 2001, 2002 etc.) Pct 1 has two JPs, but they are housed in two separate locations, one downtown and the other one off SW. Military Drive. Precinct 3 & 4 has only one JP each to cover their jurisdiction. Precinct 3’s court is located in the Tesoro Building off Loop 410 while Precinct 4 is located off IH10 & Rigsby.
Periodically we review previous columns and update them since situations and laws are changed, revised or updated.
We have covered on more than one occasion dockets that include truancy, (failure to attend school) disorderly students, (fighting, cussing, disrupting class) evictions, (failure to pay the monthly rent) small claims, (up to 10-thousand dollars) (filing counter claims) traffic tickets, (moving violations, expired licenses, inspection stickers, & license plates) writs of re-entry, suing the wrong person, pros and cons of hiring an attorney, proper courtroom etiquette, and reviewing the various new laws that went into effect September 1st.
Readers are also reminded that all courts are open to the public and they may visit any court at any time as long as they adhere to court restrictions when they are in the courtroom.
Those restrictions include: turning off your cell phone, removal of hats, and bandannas, young men pulling up their trousers, not talking out loud while court is in session, ladies covered appropriately, no chewing gum, no lounging in the benches and keeping young children under control. If little children get fussy, we remind parents or guardians to quietly escort them into the court hallway until the disruptive behavior is contained.
When everyone abides by the rules and follows courtroom procedure, the dockets move quickly and everyone is afforded their day in court, win, lose, or draw. And always remember, there is an appeals process which is another column in itself.
“Lastly as always, if you are due in court, be sure to show up to court on time. It is in everyone’s best interest.”
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2 Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran and a former Journalist.
By Judge Steve Walker
Week after week, month after month, this column offers simple tips as to what you should or should not do when you enter the Justice of the Peace Court. In “Ask the Judge” we reference Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 located on Guilbeau Road off Bandera Road in the Northwest quadrant of the county.
All tips offered apply in all four of the JP courts in Bexar County. Precinct 2 has the luxury of housing two Justices of the Peace in one building. Precinct 2’s jurisdiction oversees approximately 300 thousand residents in 184 smaller designated precincts. (ex: 2001, 2002 etc.) Pct 1 has two JPs, but they are housed in two separate locations, one downtown and the other one off SW. Military Drive. Precinct 3 & 4 has only one JP each to cover their jurisdiction. Precinct 3’s court is located in the Tesoro Building off Loop 410 while Precinct 4 is located off IH10 & Rigsby.
Periodically we review previous columns and update them since situations and laws are changed, revised or updated.
We have covered on more than one occasion dockets that include truancy, (failure to attend school) disorderly students, (fighting, cussing, disrupting class) evictions, (failure to pay the monthly rent) small claims, (up to 10-thousand dollars) (filing counter claims) traffic tickets, (moving violations, expired licenses, inspection stickers, & license plates) writs of re-entry, suing the wrong person, pros and cons of hiring an attorney, proper courtroom etiquette, and reviewing the various new laws that went into effect September 1st.
Readers are also reminded that all courts are open to the public and they may visit any court at any time as long as they adhere to court restrictions when they are in the courtroom.
Those restrictions include: turning off your cell phone, removal of hats, and bandannas, young men pulling up their trousers, not talking out loud while court is in session, ladies covered appropriately, no chewing gum, no lounging in the benches and keeping young children under control. If little children get fussy, we remind parents or guardians to quietly escort them into the court hallway until the disruptive behavior is contained.
When everyone abides by the rules and follows courtroom procedure, the dockets move quickly and everyone is afforded their day in court, win, lose, or draw. And always remember, there is an appeals process which is another column in itself.
“Lastly as always, if you are due in court, be sure to show up to court on time. It is in everyone’s best interest.”
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2 Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran and a former Journalist.
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